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The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success acknowledges Indigenous peoples across Australia as the Traditional Owners of the lands on which the nation’s campuses are situated. With a history spanning more than 60,000 years as the original educators, Indigenous peoples hold a unique place in our nation. We recognise the importance of their knowledge and culture, and reflect the principles of participation, equity, and cultural respect in our work. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and future, and consider it an honour to learn from our Indigenous colleagues, partners, and friends.

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You are reading: The impact of financial aid and preparedness training on students’ engagement, progression, and wellbeing during unpaid practicum placements: a parallel trial

Trial overview

Registered
Users Priority Students: Identifies with at least one equity category
Academic Cap Stage of Intervention: During Higher Education
Chart Line Outcomes: Progression, Engagement

What was trialed

The intervention includes two key components. First, financial support is provided in the form of $500 as a single payment paid directly into the student’s nominated account. The financial aid is expected to alleviate financial strains experienced while the students participate in 4-week practicum components of the coursework.

The second element of the intervention is an educational module designed to proactively address the challenges faced by students while on the practicum beyond financial hardship. The online module has been developed with particular focus on the challenges faced by students from underrepresented cohorts and will assist students to prepare for practicum through a combination of awareness raising and capacity building activities, increasing awareness of supports, and normalising support-seeking behaviours.

The support is expected to ease, at least in part, “placement poverty”, i.e. the financial and non-financial burden on students undertaking unpaid practicum placement. The intervention, in turn, is expected to result in a positive impact on students’ participation, retention, experience, and wellbeing during their practicum placements.

What was found

The results will be available in December 2025.

How the trial was delivered

A parallel trial will be used to compare three approaches to supporting students – the education module only, the financial support payment only, or both the education module and financial support payment. Those in the control group will receive none of these specific supports until the following semester (the trial runs over two consecutive semesters).

Students who have completed one year of study towards the Bachelor of Nursing, or a related pathway into the Bachelor degree, will be recruited to take part in the trial. All those interested in taking part will be categorised into subgroups (strata) with students from equity groups distributed throughout all groups, and these individuals will be randomly assigned evenly to one of the four treatment groups (including the control group)

The University of Notre Dame’s administrative data will be used to determine the impact of the intervention on: retention and withdrawals, student participation, and grades. Online survey tools will be used to determine the impact of the intervention on placement experience and overall wellbeing during their practicum.

The trial will be undertaken at the University of Notre Dame, in Western Australia and New South Wales during Semester 2, 2024 and Semester 1, 2025.