From student to team member

How supportive placements strengthen the nursing workforce

Join APNA's National Nursing Clinical Placement Program today.

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A successful clinical placement can do more than build skills- it can shape a career. For Navneet Kaur, a student nurse turned full-time clinic nurse, the combination of real-world experience and strong mentorship opened the door to a future in primary health care. 

When Navneet Kaur began her placement at Evans Street Medical Centre, she didn’t realise just how much it would shape her career and the team around her. Thanks to APNA’s National Nursing Clinical Placement Program, Navneet’s path took an unexpected but very positive turn. Today, she’s a valued part of the clinic, working side by side with her mentor and now colleague, experienced primary health care nurse Cynthia Santos. 

A recent interview with Cynthia and Navneet highlighted their journey into nursing, influences on their career paths, the impact of a strong placement experience, and the crucial role of mentorship in shaping the next generation of health care professionals. 

From early influences to finding purpose 

Cynthia’s entry into nursing began as a duty but later transformed into her passion. Born in the Philippines, it was her family, especially her mother, who guided her toward nursing. It wasn’t until she began her first placement that she found her love for the profession. Caring for patients, learning how to heal, and being part of a team became aspects of her job that Cythnia loved. 

Navneet’s path differed. Her first profession was accounting in India, but deep down, she knew health care was where she belonged. When she came to Australia, nursing became the means to make that dream a reality. “It feels like it’s in my DNA, the kindness and caring for someone,” she said, emphasising that it is not merely a job but a lifestyle she chooses.  

Navigating the shift 

For both Cynthia and Navneet, primary health care wasn’t their first stop in their nursing journey.  

Cynthia’s nursing roots are in hospital wards overseas, working in ICU, maternity, and post-operative care. Moving to Australia wasn’t easy. With strong qualifications but no local experience, doors were slow to open.  

“Back home nurses can be anywhere. When I moved here in Australia, and when I got my registration, it’s a bit hard to look for work because everyone is asking for an Australian experience.” Her first break in primary health care came in 2014 at a GP practice, and she has never looked back. 

For Navneet, the shift was just beginning. Working as a Personal Care Assistant gave her exposure, but it was her clinical placement in primary health care that became the turning point. That placement grew into a role where she felt seen, mentored, and genuinely part of a team. 

Navneet, who’d mostly been in hospital wards, was excited to jump into primary care during her placement. “I didn’t realise how much nursing happens outside the hospital until I started this,” she explained, “When I started this placement, in my first week, I was like ‘I don't know anything!’ 

With guidance from the clinic’s nursing team, she quickly started building confidence in her abilities. “Immunisations, wound dressings, care plans. There are lots of things we don't do in hospitals, it's very new for me which I'm liking,” she shared. “The [program] taught me everything from A to Z.” 

The mentor who made a difference 

Behind every great nurse is often a great mentor; for Navneet, that mentor was Cynthia. 

For new nurses stepping into primary health care, having someone like Cynthia to lean on makes the whole experience way less scary and a lot more rewarding. 

Navneet didn’t hesitate to acknowledge the impact. “I still ask Cynthia questions all the time,” she said. “She's so busy like all the nurses here. But they take time to tell me the things very clearly. Cynthia still shares with me material from APNA now like online training and resources.” 

When we asked Cynthia what made Navneet stand out from other past students, she explained, “Navneet is one that is keen to learn. We'll get a lot of students that just want to finish their placement. They don't bother to engage with us or with a patient and learn.”  

Cythnia added that her role as a mentor is only beneficial when students show a positive attitude: “They need to have that care, the compassion to take care of patients.” As we already know, Nav was born with care in her DNA. 

Why placements matter and looking forward 

That support, paired with a welcoming clinic culture, helped Navneet grow fast and gain the confidence to make a bold move: she turned down a hospital grad year to stay in primary health care, where Evans Street Clinic had offered her a full-time role.  

“I love primary health care a lot.” she said. From immunisations and chronic disease management to patient education and wound care, primary health care gave her a full-spectrum view of nursing and the chance to connect deeply with her patients. 

Navneet’s story is a clear example of how powerful placements can be when students are given the opportunity to engage, ask questions, and learn from experienced mentors. 

Her advice to others considering a placement in primary health care? 

“Don’t treat it like it’s just a two-week placement and that its ‘easy’,” she said. “There are so many things to learn. I'm still learning daily on daily basis.” 

Cynthia echoed that sentiment, highlighting the importance of clinics having the capacity and willingness to support students properly. 

“It depends on the clinic and if the nurses are OK to have somebody shadow them or supervise. If there is a lack of nurses, it can be hard to mentor.” she explained, “But I've been a student before and it's good that you do have somebody that is OK to ask questions and can easily explain to you things.”  

Now fully employed and thriving in her role, Navneet continues to grow under the mentorship of the team around her. And while the learning never stops, she’s already thinking about the future—and how she might one day give back. 

“I always say to Cynthia, I want to be a nurse like you.” she said.  

If you’re curious about how APNA’s placement programs work or want to explore how they might support you or your clinic, you can find out more here. 

Cynthia (left) and Navneet (right) working together at Evans Street Medical Clinic. 

The National Nursing Clinical Placement Program is supported with funding from the Department of Disability, Health and Ageing.