Integrating student practicum placements to add value to a funded project

The headspace Nutrition and Physical Activity Capacity Building Project (conducted at the height of COVID-19 lockdowns) aimed to increase the capacity of headspace Launceston to deliver evidence-based nutrition and physical activity interventions through training, research and referral/program mapping. There was opportunity to develop an innovative, cross-disciplinary sub-project, involving an exercise science and a nutrition student, that met the requirements for their final year practicum placement and generated two additional artifacts to provide to headspace Launceston. The students worked together to source, quality assess and provide recommendations for online applications (apps) focusing on physical activity and healthy eating for headspace staff to recommend to clients. Students were supervised by an interprofessional team including an exercise scientist, dietitian and clinical and health psychologist. Students developed a brief report with app recommendations that was included in the final report to the funding provider and developed a presentation for the headspace youth reference group, enabling them to develop their ability to communicate across varied mediums and audiences. This unique practicum placement not only met the unit ILOs; it also offered students real world, interprofessional experience, preparing them for the realities (e.g., interdisciplinary collaboration) of clinical/health service work within Tasmania and was met with positive feedback by the students. More broadly, this approach provides flexible opportunities to value-add to funded projects and strengthen the link been research and teaching, and teaching to practice; thereby enhancing graduate success.