Many of our rural members tell us they face challenges when it comes to connecting with graduates and finding associates. Posting job ads in Chiro classifieds or Facebook groups can feel hit-and-miss. Often great opportunities go unseen, and motivated students never discover what rural practice has to offer.
Through the Rural Placement Grant, the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) aims to change that. The grant program is not only to support students to gain hands-on experience in regional, rural, and remote communities, but is also designed to help our rural members to recruit future associates, grow their practices and expand access to chiropractic care.
How it works
We’re developing a database of chiropractors who are interested in supervising students on placement – a Rural Placement Practitioner Directory. Your information will be added to the Directory and made available to placement students and education program placement coordinators, upon request. This may be both for students who are in receipt of an ACA Placement Grant or other eligible students who are seeking a rural placement outside of the Grant program.
By registering your interest, you’ll help create a clearer pathway between educational programs, students, and rural practices. Each program sets its own criteria for placement supervision. Our goal is to make it easier for practices to connect with eligible students who meet those requirements.
Why get involved
Becoming a placement supervisor is a chance to:
- Support the profession’s future by mentoring the next generation of chiropractors.
- Share your experience in a real-world rural practice setting.
- Strengthen your local community’s access to chiropractic care.
- Connect with potential future associates who may return to practice in your region.
Together, lets ensure that rural and remote Australians continue to have access to high-quality chiropractic care and that students see the rewarding, community-driven benefits of rural practice.
Eligibility
The following criteria must be met to become part of our rural placement practitioner network:
You must:
- be an ACA member, in good standing;
- be 4 years or more post-graduation;
- be Ahpra Registered, with no conditions or undertakings on your registration; and
- be located in a MMM 2-7 location [PDF 171.98 KB] as per the Modified Monash Model.
To participate in a student placement, you will additionally need to meet the students educational program requirements. These vary slightly from program to program.