Information for our partners and their clinics

Welcome and thank you for your interest in hosting a nursing student through APNA’s National Nursing Clinical Placement Program. 

You’ve arrived here because one of our partner organisations has shared this opportunity with your clinic, and we’re delighted to provide all the information you need to decide if hosting a student is right for you. 

APNA is the peak body for primary health care nurses in Australia. Our program connects clinics like yours with nursing students seeking high‑quality, meaningful clinical placement experiences in primary health care settings. 

Hosting a student is a powerful way to contribute to the future nursing workforce while receiving real benefits for your clinic and team.

About the program 

APNA’s National Nursing Clinical Placement Program is designed to be flexible, simple to navigate, and strongly supported. 

Program highlights 

• Placements run all year- host students when it suits you 
• Working with 30+ education providers across Australia 
• Students may be from Bachelor, Diploma, Re‑entry to Practice, Paramedicine
• Financial payment to your clinic:  
  • $500 for a 2‑week placement 
  • $750 for a 3‑week placement 
  • $1,000 for a 4‑week placement 
• Students are insured by APNA and/or their education provider 
• APNA provides supervisor resources, guides, and teaching tools 
• APNA’s Clinical Team (RNs + University Educators) support you 5 days a week 
• All placement logistics occur through InPlace, a user‑friendly placement portal 
• No minimum number of students required- participate as often or as occasionally as you choose 

Why host a student? 

Support the future workforce 

Students gain invaluable hands‑on experience working alongside an experienced RN, using their clinical knowledge and building confidence in real‑world practice. 

Benefits for your team 

• Access to APNA learning resources, templates, and supervision guides that can count towards nurses CPD
• A chance for your RNs to develop leadership, teaching, and assessment skills 
• An opportunity to showcase the depth and impact of primary health care nursing 

Benefits for your clinic 

• A financial contribution of $50 per student, per day 
• No costs to your workplace — students are fully insured 
• A direct recruitment pipeline: many clinics go on to employ their students 
• A flexible program that fits around your capacity and workflow 

Recent feedback shows that most students had never experienced primary health care before their placement- yet nearly 70% consider it a future career afterwards. Hosting truly leaves a lasting impact. Hosting a placement is also a valuable way to meet and mentor potential future team members. 

Workplace and supervisor requirements 

We’ve designed supervisor responsibilities to be simple, structured, and fully supported. 

Workplace eligibility 

• Clinics must hold standard insurances aligned with accreditation requirements 
• Workplaces nominate one or more RNs to supervise (job‑sharing encouraged) 
• All supervisors will receive access to the InPlace placement platform 

Supervisor Eligibility 

• Minimum 2 years’ experience as an RN, or 1 year RN + several years EN experience 
• Completion of a short APNA Supervisor Induction (approx. 30 minutes) 
• A Div 1 RN must supervise the student for at least 38 of 40 hours per week 
• Supervisors complete:  
  • A formative assessment 
  • A summative assessment 
  • Student timesheet approvals 
• No previous supervision experience required — APNA’s Clinical Team supports supervisors to build assessment, teaching, and leadership skills 

Why clinics choose to participate 

Many clinics participate because: 

• It’s meaningful and rewarding work 
• It positions their workplace as a teaching and leadership site 
• They enjoy contributing to the future of the nursing profession 
• It provides a clear, low‑risk pathway for new staff recruitment 
• Students often bring enthusiasm, fresh knowledge, and new ideas 

Your partner organisation recommended your workplace because they believe you would be an excellent environment for student learning. 

Ready to get involved? 

If you were referred by one of our partners and would like to explore becoming a host clinic, we’d love to hear from you. 

Register now

Contact APNA’s Clinical Placement Team 

You can call our team on: 03 9322 9535

Alternatively, you can send us an email at placements@apna.asn.au

Further information and resources

You can also review the attached resources for further information: 

• Program overview 
• Insurance and liability information 
• FAQs