Work Readiness Placement Program

The Majarlin Work Readiness Program offers community placements in areas of Aged Care and Paediatrics, or a combination, depending on university requirements. These are service learning placements in which students give service to communities in need where there are few health clinicians.

Majarlin offers placement opportunities in early childhood centres, primary schools and aged care facilities. Most facilities are located in Broome, Kununurra, Derby and Fitzroy Crossing. Students may also have day trips to smaller, more remote communities.

Students interested in undertaking a Physio, Speech Pathology or OT placement through the Majarlin Work Readiness Program should ask their university supervisor to liaise with the Student Coordinator at majarlin@nd.edu.au.

What to expect

You will be supervised, mentored, educated and assessed by a registered Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapy Clinical Educator.

On placement with the Majarlin Work Readiness Program (MWRP), you learn to work both autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, communicate effectively, improve your ability to problem solve and increase your work readiness attributes. Following more intensive support earlier in the placement, it is expected that you will work more independently as the placement progresses.

Clinical educators will be available daily (although not on each site continuously) and most of the time, you will be expected to work in pairs to complete clinical work. You will also have the opportunity to travel and work in remote communities for day trips/overnight trips. You will also participate in interdisciplinary education, clinical case studies and clinical reflection sessions.

Majarlin facilitates community relationships through involvement in community programs (eg. Late Night Ball, Clontarf Academy, Garnduwa Football Carnivals) and work within the community and schools.

Please note: This placement is most suited to third or fourth year, or Masters students.

Here are some site descriptors of sites where you might be located for your placement:

  • St Mary's College, Broome

    St Mary’s College is a coeducational Kindergarten - Year 12 Catholic school with a rich history of educating students from across the Kimberley Region for over 100 years. The student population is a rich fabric representing a diversity of cultures and backgrounds. They have a strong partnership with Broome Residential College, enabling many students from remote Aboriginal communities to attend the school while boarding at the residential facility.

    OT students work in the primary school and preschool, with 0-4yr old students in the family centre, and with the special needs class.

  • Broome North Primary School

    Broome North Primary School is an independent public school that caters for children from Kindergarten to Year 6.

    The school, opened in 2015, is a modern facility located on Yawuru land in the coastal town of Broome, part of Western Australia's stunning Kimberley region. Staff employ evidence-based strategies within a defined whole-school approach to maximise the effect they have on student learning. Broome North Primary School embraces all members of our community and strives to maintain a nurturing and welcoming environment that promotes community partnerships.

    Broome North Primary School is 7km from Notre Dame Student Housing. OT students will be provided bikes to ride to this placement.  Past students have hired scooters or cars.

  • Cable Beach Primary School, Broome

    Cable Beach Primary School is an Independent Public School (IPS) and part of the Broome Cluster of Independent Schools.

    The school boasts a number of excellent programs including the successful Mirandu Nyirrwa (Yawuru language for Clever/Learning place), a 0-3 program for Aboriginal students which now incorporates the Department’s Kindilink program for 3-year-old children and their families.

    Cable Beach Primary School also offers an individualised learning program for students with disabilities, in which they receive targeted and supported learning in our Individual Learning Centre with qualified teachers and Education Assistants partnered with mainstream class integration on a daily basis.

    Cable Beach Primary School has implemented Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) to enhance our school culture and improve student behaviour. We aim to teach and guide positive behaviours within a fun, safe and nurturing school environment that is inclusive of all cultures.

    OT students may be placed in this school 4 days a week working within mainstream and special needs classes.

  • La Grange Primary School, Bidyadanga

    La Grange Remote Community School is located in Lagrange Bay in the coastal community of Bidyadanga, 160 km South of Broome in the Kimberley region.

    Bidyadanga is home to five aboriginal language groups; Karajarri, Juwalinny, Mangala, Nyungamarta and Yulpartja. OT students may undertake day visits once a fortnight to Bidyadanga.

    This creates a unique and diverse community; with teachers, parents and community working together to provide every opportunity for the youth of our community. The community is made up of approximately 750 people with roughly 200 students enrolled to attend the school, with 95% of our students coming from an Aboriginal background.

    As the largest remote community schools in the state, La Grange RCS caters to the educational needs of all school-aged children in the Bidyadanga community and classes range from Pre Kindy (2 and 3-year-olds) up to Year 12.

  • Germanus Kent House – Southern Cross Care

    Germanus Kent House provides accommodation and support to 55 residents.

    These facilities have:

    • Fully secure dementia care unit or wing exclusively and specifically for people with dementia or similar behavioural related conditions.
    • Palliative care and actively encouraging enquiries from people who require palliative care. The palliative care program provides pain relief, management of symptoms, counselling and support to ensure the best possible quality of life towards the end of life for the resident.
    • A securely fenced garden area specifically designed for people with dementia and generally attached to the secure dementia unit.

    Students will be working with the site Directors or Service Managers, RNs, care staff, leisure and lifestyle officers and the residents to develop goals, programs and interventions. Students will be supported to practice in a culturally responsive and safe manner, incorporating Aboriginal protocols and communication strategies. The aim is to provide residents with the chance to receive culturally appropriate services to retain strong ties with their friends, family and community.