Clinical Placements with Older People (CPOP) mentoring program
The Clinical Placements with Older People (CPOP) mentoring program supports nursing students with quality clinical placements. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nursing students, the CPOP program pairs them with experienced mentors who share cultural knowledge, professional guidance, and personalised support. The program is flexible and tailored to each student’s communication style and learning needs, with a strong focus on Cultural Humility and creating Culturally Safe environments.
Key elements include consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Knowledge Holders, completion of the Murra Mullangari Introduction to Cultural Safety course for all clinical facilitators, participation in the Leaders in Indigenous Nursing and Midwifery Education Network (LINMEN) network, close collaboration with university Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander student centres, and partnerships with placement providers serving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Find out more about the program on the University of Canberra Centre for Ageing Research and Translation (CARAT) website. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander nursing students are encouraged to send an expression of interest to [email protected].
AAG’s Manager Policy and Research, Dr Amber Mills, is proud to serve on the CPOP expert advisory committee in support of the work of AAG members Distinguished Professor Diane Gibson (Director CARAT), and founders of the Gerontological Alliance of Nurses Australia (GANA): Professor Kasia Bail (CPOP Academic Lead) and Professor Victoria Traynor (UniSC CPOP Lead).
'Yulang' by Chrystale Langford - Wiradjuri woman, artist and UC nursing alumni
See the CARAT website for more information on The Yulang story, featuring the four handprints of the artist, Chrystale Langford; Professor Tom Calma AO (Kungarakan Elder, Chairperson of the ‘Close the Gap’ Steering Committee 2006, UC Chancellor 2014 – 2023); Prof Kasia Bail; and Prof Victoria Traynor. The Yulang painting was commissioned to launch GANA and continues to spread the ‘ripple effect’ of gerontological nursing, including CPOP’s sister project: Gerontological Nursing Competencies (GNCs).