Clinical Facilitation: Essential Skills and Principles

The Clinical Facilitation: Essential Skills and Principles course is a professional development program developed by the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia and New Zealand) and hosted by the University of Melbourne’s Mobile Learning Unit. It is designed for healthcare professionals who are involved in teaching or mentoring preregistration nursing and midwifery students during their clinical placements.

This short course provides a comprehensive foundation in clinical facilitation, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills required to support students effectively in practice environments. Clinical facilitation is a critical aspect of nursing and midwifery education, requiring a balance of clinical expertise, communication skills, and an understanding of adult learning principles. The course emphasizes the importance of regulatory requirements, professional standards, and the role of facilitators in shaping positive student experiences during Professional Experience Placements (PEP).

Learners will explore modules covering stakeholder engagement, effective facilitation strategies, evidence-based practice, authentic assessment, feedback techniques, reflective practice, and wellbeing promotion. Each module integrates interactive content such as videos, case studies, and self-assessment activities, ensuring participants can apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. Assessment is conducted through quizzes embedded within each module, reinforcing learning outcomes and ensuring competency.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the responsibilities of clinical facilitators and their impact on student learning.

• Apply adult learning principles and diverse teaching methods to support students.

• Implement strategies for authentic assessment and effective feedback.

• Promote reflective practice and wellbeing for both students and facilitators.

The course is self-paced, allowing learners to engage at their convenience, with full access to materials for 12 months. This flexibility makes it suitable for busy healthcare professionals working in hospitals, clinics, or academic settings. With a total commitment of approximately 10 hours, the program is concise yet impactful, offering practical strategies that can be immediately applied in clinical education.

Led by experienced educators such as Lucy Rosenberg (UTS) and Dr. Leanne Hunt (Western Sydney University), the course benefits from expert insights into clinical facilitation and student support. Their combined expertise ensures participants receive guidance grounded in both academic research and practical experience.

Ultimately, this course empowers healthcare professionals to become more effective facilitators, enhancing the quality of nursing and midwifery education and contributing to the development of competent, confident graduates ready to meet the demands of modern healthcare.