James Cook University (JCU) student social workers are placed in general practices to learn and help
(L-R): Defence GP Registrar Dr Zach Edwards, JCU Social Work Student Milissa Pyper, Social Work Lecturer Simoane McLennan, and GP Supervisor Dr Michael Clements on their trip to Karumba
JCU designs special GP placement program in Townsville
JCU social work lecturers Simoane McLennan and Dr Ines Zuchowski are leading a Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN)-funded pilot project for social work students to undertake their three months’ placement in general practices.
They have developed a specialised curriculum for student placements in general practices. Five social work students have been on placement in various general practices across Townsville during the first half of 2022.
“For students, these health-based experiences can offer rich learning experience, equipping students with specialised skills and knowledge in the field of primary health care provision,” Dr Zuchowski said.
“This will value-add to their existing social work knowledge and skills repertoire.”
JCU social work student Milissa Pyper visited Karumba as part of her general practice placement at Fairfield Central and Magnetic Island practices.
“I have received support from three general practices that immersed and engaged me in a wide range of valuable learning experiences,” Ms Pyper said.
“It exposed me to communities that I would not have otherwise visited, and to see there is so much work available in a small, isolated community for social work.
“I am learning more about social work practice, networking, and general practices. You see the whole picture and how differently social workers think.
“It is frustrating to see how remote communities have to function with limited support.”
Martin Hazelwood, a final-year social work student, said working in a general practice had been a wonderful experience.
“I feel it is fundamentally important that social workers have an understanding of the medical side. It gives us insight into how the medical aspects impact the people we are working with,” Mr Hazelwood said.
“I am on a steep learning curve ... I am contributing, assisting the GPs and patients with My Aged Care, Veterans Affairs, NDIS, and general matters like being able to connect people to services within the Townsville region.
“GPs are stretched and time conscious. Having that extra time with patients is a wonderful experience that has enabled me to build rapport, trust, and relationships.
“We have seen some really positive outcomes, checking that forms are filled well and meeting the criteria, making referrals, providing information, and advocating for clients’ needs in a holistic, person-centred manner.”
Dr Zuchowski said while students were learning about health, it was an opportunity for general practices to consider how social work could be integrated in the daily task and service delivery within each participating primary health service provider.
“There are increasing demands on GPs that could be met through increased collaboration between GPs and allied health professions such as social work,” she said.
“Placing social work students in general practices is about building and strengthening links between social work and primary health care.”
Dr Zuchowski said social workers needed to better understand how general practices operated and to articulate what they could offer in this space.
The social work student placement in general practices’ curriculum was developed and trialled, and five placements and five reference group meetings were completed.
More than 200 times the students engaged with patients through a variety of communication methods including email, phone, phone telehealth and video meetings, and face-to-face at their homes or at clinics.
At one general practice a student received 25 referrals from 13 GPs, dealt with 37 patients, and 70 interactions as well as was involved with three staff training sessions.
The students helped develop resources for practices, including My Aged Care, dementia and continence assessments, gerontology, older persons mental health, and community services as well as a directory of resources covering aged care and advanced care planning for specific general practices.
Students researched how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient numbers could be increased.
