Interprofessional learning

Learning together to work together

Learning together to work together

Interprofessional learning (IPL) is about students from different disciplines doing part of their learning together. You will learn with, from and about each other, sharing knowledge and information about patients or clients. IPL is built on the idea that providing high-quality services requires health professionals to work as a team, with a patient-centred approach to care. Teamwork can be limited by poor collaborative skills and ignorance about the role team members and the services they provide. IPL aims to break down some of these barriers.

IPL modules

IPL modules

While on rural placement, you’ll be invited to attend IPL modules with us. Most modules use a scenario to follow a patient through the various stages of diagnosis and treatment, as well as raising the importance of health promotion. Students are required to interact with each other, with academic staff members, clinicians and, in some cases, with mock patients as they move along the care pathway. It's a great chance to meet students from professions other than your own.

Team-based practice

Team-based practice

IPL scenarios often relate to how the health care system operates in regional, rural and remote locations. It is generally considered that rural health care is more interprofessional than in large metropolitan centres, so the rural context is relevant to IPL. At the same time, it is important for all health professionals, no matter where they might work, to understand the value of team-based practice in improving patient outcomes and satisfaction with care.