Providing clinical placements for students is essential and there is a shortage of places around Australia. One sector is underused in this area and wants to help. Linda Belardi reports.

In 2009 aged care delivered 4 per cent of all clinical placement days for health students across the country. Health Workforce Australia (HWA) says the sector is significantly underutilised and needs to play a much more prominent and consistent role in student training. The growing importance of aged care in the health system coupled with the need to take pressure off the acute care sector necessitates a much larger role for the industry in the future. Tapping into the aged care sector will require building stronger relationships between universities and providers and strengthening the...