Building capability of supervisors of health students in rural areas: Whole of community facilitator model of support

Supervisors in healthcare settings in rural Tasmania are willing to host students on placement, however there are many challenges that impact the provision of supervision of students. Challenges include a lack of backfill for those who would like to undertake more formal supervisory roles; perceived lack of support from relevant education providers; complexities related to students’ attending WIL from a range of education providers and disciplines, all with varying requirements. In Tasmania, the introduction of Whole of Community Facilitators (WOCFs) within rural townships has mitigated these challenges. WOCFs provide direction, guidance and mentorship to students and their supervisors, with a focus on building capability of organisations to host students. WOCFs work within a geographic location, rather than a single facility and are employed across a calendar year. Feedback suggests having a single point of contact for students and their supervisors within a rural area is beneficial for each stakeholder group.