The perioperative practice major has been designed to be accessible for all New Zealanders. It is not an Auckland-centric programme. Courses have been designed with online learning options, and students may access clinical placement as close to the students preferred location as possible.
This page provides information to support organisations to attract students to regions outside of Auckland. It is important that regions are proactive in promoting the career pathway for ATs to prospective local students to increase awareness of the profession and the hospital as a future employer.
There are three stages at which an organisation may promote their hospital to prospective students:
The prescribed qualification enabling eligibility to apply to register as an Anaesthetic Technician (AT) is transitioning from a Diploma to a Bachelor of Health Science in Perioperative Practice. With the transition of education models for ATs, and the ongoing lack of awareness of the AT role, future students must be aware of the health profession as a viable career choice. This includes the increased accessibility of the qualification. Active engagement from employers in promoting the profession will contribute towards increasing awareness of the profession and socialising the new academic pathway. It is anticipated that this will capture a broader pool of students from outside of Auckland, and ensure that projected workforce requirements for ATs are met throughout New Zealand. There is strong evidence to suggest those who train local, stay local. The benefit to clinical providers is that students establish relationships with employers, may complete placements locally and remain local upon graduation.
AUT, in collaboration with NZATS, have created a pool of resources which will support employers with increasing awareness of the profession from within their region. The intention of these resources is not to be prescriptive, but to invite innovation whilst maintaining consistent and accurate information. This can be achieved for example, in schools, maraes, at career expos, and by holding information evenings, either online or in person. Advertising of information evenings may be through internal networks, employer career pages and social media channels, Seek, etc. Attendance at these events proposes an opportunity for attendees to learn more about the profession, a prospective employer, and the training pathway. This may also present an opportunity for employers to promote scholarships.
AUT may be approached to support these events from within the regions, however, the focus should be on promoting the profession and prospective employers. Please contact periprac@aut.ac.nz should you wish to discuss this further. All student degree enquiries should be made to fhes.enquiries@aut.ac.nz.
The below resources may be downloaded and printed professionally and used to support in-person events. Additional video content is available and has been provided to each regional Director Allied Health, Scientific and Technical and/or Charge Anaesthetic Technician via USB.
Students may complete clinical placement at a variety of hospitals, and regions, throughout New Zealand. Students are invited to identify their preferred hospital at the beginning of each semester, and AUT allocates students as close to the students preferred hospital as possible.
It is important that students make informed decisions when identifying their preferred provider for clinical placement. AUT manages this.
We invite hospitals to create a ‘Hospital Information’ package. This may include information such as the specialities that may be experienced, clinical learning opportunities (eg. simulation, in-service), department size, social events, and regional information that may attract students. You may also wish to include support initiatives which your hospital may be able to provide, such as accommodation during placement. Presenting your department as an attractive option for students is a great way to socialise the great work your departments do to prospective future employees.
This may be presented as a PowerPoint, a video, or a pdf document/digital brochure. See below for examples. Please forward this to periprac@aut.ac.nz and AUT will share this to students to attract them to you as preferred placement option.
Once students have been allocated a hospital for a placement by AUT, it is important that students receive accurate information to make their first day as seamless as possible. Students want to feel welcomed, and this is part of socialising your department as a supportive learning environment.
We are inviting hospitals to consider creating a concise Welcome Information package to support with any onboarding requirements and accessing clinical placement at your hospital. The document will be forwarded to students, by AUT, prior to attending placement.
An exemplar of material which may be provided to students is provided below.
Other considerations may be important phone numbers, visitor swipe card access, hospital maps, parking, onsite refreshments etc. Each document is dependent on the requirements of each hospital so please feel free to add any pertinent information you wish students to know to make the transition to placement easier.
Peter Larmer
Acting Head of Department
peter.larmer@aut.ac.nz