Learning and Development

In addition to our Organisational Orientation program, all new team members are also provided with specific and targeted orientation to your local department and shown where all amenities are located by your supervisor or delegate.

The monthly Organisational Orientation welcomes you as a new team member, to Central Highlands Rural Health.

An important part of introducing Central Highlands Rural Health to all our new people, the Orientation includes:

• Executive presentations on our values, strategy and expectations
• The patient and/or resident journey and the importance of person-centred care
• The important role quality and safety play in Central Highlands Rural Health’s expectations and performance
• Highlights how Central Highlands Rural Health will support you to succeed through a wide-range of functions and services

Central Highlands Rural Health is committed to supporting our people to reach your full potential and be the best that you can be.

The Performance and Development Framework formalises our commitment to people development and seeks to establish a shared understanding of Central Highlands Rural Health’s strategic plan, objectives and strategic priorities and how these align to a team and/or individual’s contribution to the workplace.

As a member of the Central Highlands Rural Health team, you will actively participate in an annual performance and development discussion, as well as regular feedback with your direct supervisor.

The principle aim of the GNP is to support new graduates during your transition from academic learning to professional practice in your first year of employment as a Registered Nurse (RN).

During this time, as a graduate, you will develop the clinical knowledge, skills and values required to become an effective member of the nursing workforce.

The GNP has a structured format enabling new RN graduates to engage in varied learning and development activities whilst working within a supported clinical environment to meet the specific objectives of the GNP. There are study days, coaching sessions, support networking forums, Case presentations and a Quality Project to complete over the 12 month duration.

Support for our graduate nurses has always been provided within a collaborative model with support from our Clinical Support Nurses, Clinical Coaches, experienced nurse colleagues, partner education providers, and our people excellence team.

The GNP is conducted annually, commencing each February.

Find out more about our Graduate Nurse Program.

The Nursing Forum is a monthly forum providing an opportunity for Central Highlands Rural Health nurses to come together to:

• Develop an awareness of professional nursing practice issues
• Promote learning in order to improve nursing practice and patient/resident outcomes
• Reward and recognise nursing staff
• Connect and collaborate with one another

All nursing team members are invited to attend and actively participate in the monthly nursing forums.

At Central Highlands Rural Health we believe in and encourage lifelong learning and professional development through dynamic learning environments where you are supported in achieving your learning and career goals. We support you to:

• Perform your current role effectively, safely and efficiently
• Prepare yourself for future roles
• Realise your full potential

We utilise a “Blended Learning” approach to your development, where learning and development opportunities are aligned to your specific needs

CPD “is how nurses … maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence, and develop the personal and professional qualities required throughout their professional lives”. Retrieved 30 July 2019, from: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/Continuing-professional-development.aspx

At Central Highlands Rural Health, CPD activities including in-service education, study days, workshops, seminars, webinars and short courses are sourced and available to nursing team members in addition to on-the-job clinical support and learning. Further information is available and communicated to team members on a regular basis throughout the year.

Hepburn Health recommends you to keep your current and previous 5 years of CPD records as completion of CPD is your responsibility as per your Standards for Practice.

Nurses and midwives must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), and meet the NMBA’s professional standards in order to practise in Australia.

Professional standards define the practice and behaviour of nurses and midwives and include:

• codes of conduct,
• standards for practice, and
• codes of ethics

Retrieved 30 July 2019, from: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-standards.aspx

At Central Highlands Rural Health we are committed to supporting the clinical learning and development of student nurses through well supported clinical placements within our acute, sub-acute and aged care units. Students  will experience clinical placements in a range of disciplines and can come from a variety of education providers. 

Within all placements you will work with and be supervised by our highly committed and dedicated Nursing and Allied Health staff, in partnership with our Clinical Placement Support Nurse.

All clinical placements are organised through Vic-place, which is a web-based system to assist clinical providers and education providers to allocate students to appropriate placements.

We developed a handbook to prepare you for undertaking placement with us; it is a requirement that you will have reviewed all information as detailed within the handbook before attending your first day of placement. Doing so demonstrates to us that you’re compliant with the professional Standards for Practice in your applicable field.

Information in the handbook is provided in four, easy-to-read sections

• Introduction
• Prior to Placement
• During Placement
• After placement

At Central Highlands Rural Health we partner with our local secondary school and students to provide insights into the Public Health Service industry and our workplaces across our organisation. Specifically we believe in supporting our local students to:

• Develop employability skills
• Explore possible career options
• Understand employer expectations, and
• Increase self-understanding, maturity, independence and self-confidence

We therefore have developed a program enabling Hepburn Health departmental rotations including the following areas:

• Acute / Sub Acute Hospital
• Administration
• Community Health
• Health Information Management
• Hotel Services
• Maintenance
• Residential Aged Care
• Stores / Supply Management

We highly value this program; as the largest employer in our Shire, our local students are our potential future workforce…

Accommodation is available for tertiary health students and visiting health professionals who are impacted by the geographic location of our facilities.

Central Highlands Rural Health has accommodation in Creswick, Daylesford and Kyneton.