Clinics & simulation-based learning

Clinical and simulation-based learning is an important part of our health courses at VU, as well as an accreditation requirement for many of them.

Whether it’s working in our on-campus clinics or stepping into simulated labs, you’ll be gaining the skills and confidence you'll need for your career from day one.

Explore what hands-on learning looks like below – or jump into class to get 360º of nursing and paramedicine.

Why simulated learning?

Our high-tech simulation spaces let you step into the shoes of a healthcare professional from day one. Blending theory with practice, simulated learning means our students have opportunities to learn with specific, immediate feedback to help them develop their expertise.

Whether responding to a medical emergency using advanced manikins that mimic real patient responses or tracking your performance in real-time and debriefing with 1:1 feedback from your educator, you’ll build real confidence, real skills, and real understanding. 

Simulated clinical learning at VU is about getting you ready for on-the-job challenges before you begin. You’ll practise clinical decision-making, teamwork, and patient care in high-pressure environments – just like you would in the real world.

Nursing clinical model

Our  nursing clinical model is an innovative program for nursing students designed to enhance clinical learning experience, and offers students opportunities to:

  • experience the true nature and challenges of nursing practice
  • work alongside expert clinicians
  • enjoy positive and supportive clinical learning environments across the spectrum of nursing specialities.

Students are required to complete 100% of their clinical learning hours to be eligible for a certificate of completion and registration.

With state-of-the-art technology, our nursing labs are designed to simulate a hospital environment, featuring high-tech manikins and live video streaming capabilities to allow our students to participate actively in their learning progress.

VU Sunshine Clinical School

The VU Sunshine Clinical School is a purpose-built teaching facility developed for all third year nursing students and all third and fourth year nursing and nidwifery dual-degree students.

This state-of-the-art site includes classroom teaching spaces, nursing and midwifery teaching laboratories, specialist simulation spaces and a Self-Directed Learning space.

Paramedic clinical placement

Paramedic clinical placement is an introduction to the responsibilities and experiences of the ambulance paramedic.

Under the supervision of a clinical instructor, students are progressively introduced to the responsibilities and experiences of the ambulance paramedic.

Placements occur in a variety of settings, including the Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT) sector and Ambulance Victoria, and based on study level, students are given the opportunity to engage with patients as a regular paramedic would.

paramedicine student treating a manikin in an ambulance simulation pod

Sunshine campus in 360°

Want to know how to check vitals and BP? Keen to see how a CNC machine cuts metal with precision? Step into our 360° tour and see what it’s like to be a student at VU!

Discover our on-campus clinics

Psychology Clinic

Students in the Master of Applied Psychology (Clinical Psychology) and Master of Professional Psychology treat clients in the VU Psychology Clinic under the supervision of registered psychologists.

All students are registered Provisional Psychologists, having completed four years of undergrad study.

Read more

Osteopathy Clinic

Senior students in the  Master of Health Science (Osteopathy) treat visitors at the Osteopathy Clinic, under supervision of qualified and registered osteopaths.

All students are undertaking their clinical practice and have completed extensive study of osteopathy in the classroom and laboratory.

Read more

Dermal Clinic

Treatments at our Dermal Clinic are performed by trained students enrolled in the Bachelor of Dermal Sciences.

Our students use the highest quality medical grade equipment in a best practice environment under the supervision of qualified dermal clinicians, and are able to offer a large range of services, treatments and assessments.

Read more