8,000 more aged care placements

New Aged Care Placement Opportunities for Nursing Students – Here’s What You Need to Know

If you’re a nursing student looking for hands-on experience, the Australian Government has just announced an expansion of the Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements Program - a major initiative that could make your clinical placements easier to access. But what does this actually mean for you?

More Placement Opportunities, Less Stress

Finding a good clinical placement can be tough. Maybe you’ve struggled to lock in a spot, or you’ve heard from friends about last-minute cancellations and long waiting lists. The government’s Aged Care Nursing Clinical Placements Program is designed to fix this by providing up to 8,000 nursing students with placements in aged care settings across Australia.

This isn’t just about ticking off your placement hours—it’s a chance to develop real-world skills in a growing healthcare sector. Aged care isn’t just about assisting with daily living; it involves managing complex health conditions, learning about specific care needs, administering medications, and working alongside multidisciplinary teams.

Who Can Apply?

If you’re studying:

• Bachelor of Nursing
• Master of Nursing
• Diploma of Nursing

…you’re eligible to take part in this program.

What’s in It for You?

Aside from gaining essential hands-on experience, this initiative offers:

• More placement spots, making it easier to secure a clinical placement.
• Supervised training with experienced facilitators, so you get guidance and feedback.
• Access to online learning tools, helping you build your knowledge in gerontological care.
• A potential career pathway—aged care is a rapidly expanding field, with high demand for skilled nurses.

How Do You Get Involved?

Placements under this program will be offered through five key providers:

• Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA)
• Pop-Up Health
• University of Canberra
• Hunter Primary Care
• Brightwater Care Group

Your first step? Talk to your university’s nursing faculty to find out if they’re partnering with these organizations. You can also contact the providers directly to see how you can apply.

Why Consider Aged Care?

Let’s be real—aged care doesn’t always get the hype it deserves. But this sector is critical to our healthcare system, and the demand for skilled nurses in aged care is only increasing. Plus, the experience you gain here—such as handling chronic disease management, dementia care, and palliative care—is transferable to so many other areas of nursing.

If you’re looking for a clinical placement that actually prepares you for the realities of nursing, this is an opportunity worth exploring.

Have questions? Check with your university about available placements.