• What is the Secondment Program?
• What does a secondment involve?
• Available funding
• Interested? What do I do next?
• Testimonials

What is the Secondment Program?

This program is an initiative of the Child Health Networks funded by NSW Health to facilitate networking and enhance the support of NSW Health Allied Health Professionals (AHP) working with children.  It is designed to upskill AHP who have children on their caseload who have tertiary care or specialist needs.  The aim of the program, through the development of clinical skills, is for children to receive care as close to home as possible.

It is envisaged that you will benefit from exposure to the range of clinical conditions, work practices and teaching available at a tertiary paediatric centre/specialist clinic.  The aim of the placement will be to enhance your knowledge and confidence in dealing with children who may have more complex needs than those usually encountered in your own practice, whilst fostering professional relationships across the Child Health Networks. 

What does a secondment involve?

A secondment can be up to five days in length depending on the objectives of the AHP and may include one or a combination of:

• a visit to the paediatric tertiary care hospital/specialist clinic for up to five days to improve your knowledge/skills in a specified area of your paediatric work;
• a visit to the paediatric tertiary care hospital/specialist clinic to observe and participate in the management of a client who has been referred by that department by you, or who will be referred to you by the paediatric tertiary care hospital/specialist clinic;
• networking with a senior clinician at paediatric tertiary care hospital/specialist clinic to provide consultative support;
• Paediatric tertiary care hospital/allied health staff may also be available to outreach to locations to provide clinical support to groups of clinicians. 

Available Funding

Funding may be available to cover reasonable travel and accommodation expenses.  For more information contact your Allied Health Educators. 

Interested? What do I do next?

1. Discuss with your manager your interest in a secondment and what you would like to achieve through participation in the Program.
2. Complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) Form.
   Identify the objectives of the visit, with your manager. These MUST encompass areas in your current paediatric caseload that you would like to improve. Objectives should clearly specify what you wish to achieve from participation in the secondment. Please ensure that your objectives are SMART - specific, measureable, attainable, relevant and timely. Be specific with the objectives listed, for example:

3. Fax or scan and email the completed Expression of Interest form to your CHN Allied Health Educator by the closing date. Once the EOI form has been received it will be reviewed as part of the statewide Secondment Program intake process.  Acceptance for placement will be dependent on interest received, sustainability of the learning objectives and the capacity of the relevant department/clinic to accommodate the request.
4. Applicants will receive notice regarding the outcome of their Expression of Interest within one month of the closing date.

Testimonials

"I considered this to be excellent PD.  Great for clinicians to meet face-to-face rather than teleconferencing all of the time.  Practical and realistic-observing the 'real' life clinic and discussing actual problems/cases.  Demonstrated that we are supported in out roles to pursue skills in paediatric feeding.  Felt very privileged to have someone with [the speech pathologist's] expertise all to ourselves!!"

"This was a  fantastic opportunity to learn from the experts.  I look forward to using the skills I have gained in my clinical practice."

"Sessions and opportunity for hands on were excellent."

"The two days were excellent.  It was fantastic to be able to observe the speech pathology and multidisciplinary team.  Great to be able to discuss caseloads and ask questions."

"The day was valuable.  Thank you for providing regional dietitians the chance to gain specialist knowledge."

"Great exposure to the skills and resources.  Lots of information to read through on my return to [my clinic] and consolidate information to create a resource folder for the physio staff here.  Excellent opportunity to ask lost of questions and observe. Very worthwhile."