Short-term International Study Experience (STISE)

India – This community engagement experience is available to second-year occupational therapy students taking unit OTHY204 Occupational Participation and Disability. Activities will take place in Hyderabad and surrounding districts arranged by the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI). Engage collaboratively with local communities and health professionals to provide health promotion, health care and community engagement activities. You will gain insights into the challenges of offering health care in a developing region and a global perspective.

Timor Leste – This is a professional placement in Dili and regional districts available to four third-year occupational therapy students undertaking unit OTHY303 Professional Practice Education 1. You will provide evidence-based occupational therapy assessment and intervention to adults and children accessing the National Hospital Guido Valadares in Dili and Klibur Domin, a non-for-profit organisation. You will also offer education, training and development to hospital staff and community workers. This experience will enable you to develop valuable knowledge and skills in acute, community and culturally diverse settings.

Vietnam – This experience at Hoi An at Children’s Hope in Action (CHIA) is available to four third-year students undertaking unit OTHY303 Professional Practice Education 1. Take part in a full-time clinical, paediatric rehabilitation placement to develop knowledge and skills in acute, community and culturally diverse settings. You will provide evidence-based paediatric occupational therapy assessment and intervention to children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and their families.

Timor Leste – This clinical placement is available to fourth-year physiotherapy students. A full-time clinical placement in a hospital outpatient department will help you develop knowledge and skills in acute, community and culturally diverse settings. You will offer evidence-based physiotherapy assessment and intervention to adults and children in an outpatient setting, working under the supervision of an ACU academic and a Timor Leste (Australia-trained) physiotherapist at the Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares in Dili.

Vanuatu – This clinical placement is available to fourth-year physiotherapy students. Based at the Vila Central Hospital (VC) physiotherapy department, you will provide evidence-based physiotherapy assessment and intervention to people of all ages and abilities, focusing on musculoskeletal conditions. You will also have the opportunity to work in Erakor Village and other surrounding communities in Port Vila, providing physiotherapy services, health education and prevention of injuries and chronic disease.

Vietnam – This clinical placement at Hoi An at Children’s Hope in Action (CHIA) is available to fourth-year physiotherapy students. A full-time clinical, paediatric rehabilitation placement will allow you to develop knowledge and skills in acute, community and culturally diverse settings. You will provide evidence-based physiotherapy assessment and intervention to children with various disabilities and will plan and implement interventions that are patient-centred and case-based.

Chile – A physiotherapy clinical placement exchange program with the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (UC). Undertake a clinical placement in Santiago, Chile under the guidance of UC staff. You will offer evidence-based assessment and management of people with musculoskeletal and neurological or cardiorespiratory conditions.

India – This community engagement experience is for third-year speech pathology students undertaking unit SPHY310 Community Development, Public Health and Speech Pathology. Activities will take place in Hyderabad and surrounding districts arranged by the Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI). Engage collaboratively with local communities and health professionals to provide health promotion, health care and community engagement activities. You will gain insights into the challenges of offering health care in a developing region and a global perspective.

Vietnam – This community engagement experience in Da Nang or Hoi An is for four third-year speech pathology students undertaking unit SPHY310 Community Development, Public Health and Speech Pathology. Engage collaboratively with other allied health students, local communities and health professionals in a paediatric setting. You will offer health promotion, health care and community engagement activities. Gain insights into the challenges of offering health care in a developing region and a global perspective.

Timor Leste – Community engagement and professional practice experience available to third-year students enrolled in the Bachelor of Exercise Science; or Bachelor of Exercise Science/Nutrition Science; or Bachelor of Physical Activity and Health Science; or Bachelor of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Business Administration undertaking unit EXCSC309 Internship and Coaching and Prescription; or EXCS325 Professional Practice in Exercise Science; or EXCSC398 Professional Experience; or EXCSC399 Industry Experience.

You will be part of the Future in Youth program across local and rural primary schools in the Baucau district. You will work with teachers and students to deliver a fun and engaging primary school sport curriculum. You will also work with our partners to experience Timor by visiting schools and working with local primary teachers to teach sport programs and deliver health messages.

United States of America – This study tour is available to second-year Bachelor of High Performance Sport and Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science students along with postgraduate students enrolled in the Master of High Performance Sport. Travel across the USA to lectures and interactive visits with some of the highest profile organisations in American exercise and sports science.

Indonesia – This experience in Bali is available to any ACU students eligible to enrol in the undergraduate unit NUTR308 Food and Culture Study Tour, or the postgraduate units NUTR609 Food and Culture Study Experience or NUTR603 Engaging with Communities.

This two-to-three-week program is based in Ubud, where you will undertake formal and informal activities including language classes, visiting rice-growing regions, exploring food markets, cooking and discussing traditional culinary culture, sustainable food products, and the impacts of tourism and climate change. You will gain a deep understanding of the issues facing the revolutionary transformation of Bali’s landscapes and contribute to potential solutions. You will provide support to local initiatives through a one-week focused activity such as working with farmers on sustainable farming projects or supporting work to understand and preserve culinary heritage and food practices. 

These experiences are available to second- and third-year Bachelor of Nursing students enrolled in unit NRSG267/NRSG373 Integrating Practice 4/5 students; Bachelor of Midwifery students enrolled in unit MIDW351 Global Perspectives on Midwifery; and Bachelor of Paramedicine students enrolled in unit PARA323 Community Engagement and Paramedic Practice Innovations.

India – This nursing and midwifery professional practice and community engagement placement will allow you to engage collaboratively with local communities and health professionals to provide health promotion, health care and community engagement activities facilitated by the Catholic Health Association of India in Hyderabad. Gain insights into the challenges of offering health care in a developing region and a global perspective.

The Philippines – This nursing professional placement is facilitated by the University of Santo Tomás in Manila. You will be working alongside local health practitioners in clinics, hospitals and community organisations to provide health promotion, health care and community engagement activities.

Vanuatu – This nursing and midwifery professional practice and community engagement placement offers a unique experience in the Port Vila Central Hospital and Emua Village community. Work directly with patients, clients and local health workers to provide clinical care to patients and collaborate with family members.

You will also stay with a family in Emua Village and provide health checks to school children, offer maternal and child care, and any care that is required of community village members while experiencing and learning about NiVan culture.

Timor Leste – This nursing, midwifery and paramedicine professional practice and community engagement placement offers a unique experience to engage with local communities and to work alongside healthcare professionals. Examine the impact of cultural beliefs and practices upon health and wellbeing and evaluate the global trends and developments relating to health and wellbeing in a developing country. You will gain insights into the challenges of offering health care in a developing region and a global perspective.

Cambodia – This nursing professional practice placement in Battambang is facilitated by Challenges Abroad, an NGO organisation. You will take part in health promotion workshops across school and community settings and offer clinical observation in local clinics, including a “pop-up” community clinic providing health checkups.

Chile – the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile in Santiago de Chile facilitate this nursing professional and community engagement placement. Attend lectures on the Chilean healthcare system and the health issues affecting their population. You will also visit public and private healthcare facilities in Santiago and learn about the Indigenous Mapuche community and their traditional health therapies and challenges.

Denmark – (alternate years: offered next in 2025) This nursing professional placement is facilitated by VIA University College at the Aarhus University Hospital. You will experience acute care areas including acute care surgical, acute care medical, acute care rehabilitation and acute care emergency.

Fiji – Take a nursing professional placement at Lautoka Hospital and Ba Hospital in Fiji. You will be working in pairs and rotating across clinical settings under the supervision of an ACU staff member. Gain insights into the challenges of offering health care in a developing region and a global perspective.

Singapore – (alternate years: offered next in 2025) This nursing professional placement offers community health and clinical placements in Singapore facilitated by Ngee-Ann Polytechnic. You will gain experience working alongside local health practitioners offering health promotion and health care.

United States of America

Boston – (alternate years: offered next in 2025) This nursing experience includes an observational placement in a healthcare setting and a week of community engagement activities in partnership with Boston College. You will also attend lectures on the healthcare system to gain a unique perspective and engage with local healthcare professionals as well as nursing students from other countries.

North Carolina – This nursing clinical placement is facilitated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. You will attend lectures on the healthcare system and specific care issues experienced by the American population. You will also visit healthcare facilities to undertake clinical simulation activities.