Placement is the stage that makes many international students start reconsidering their choice of major — not because the course content is too difficult, but because the reality of placement is very different from their initial expectations. Much of this sense of “disillusionment” comes from a misunderstanding of the true role of placement within Australia’s healthcare system.
1. When placement does not deliver the value international students expect
Many international students enter placement believing it will be a period to clearly build professional skills, receive structured guidance, and gain a competitive advantage for employment after graduation. However, within Australia’s healthcare system, placement is not designed to deliver immediate career value in that way.
In practice, placement:
- Is usually unpaid
- Does not involve intensive, individualised training
- Is not intended to create personal competitive advantages
Instead, placement exists to ensure students can enter the sector safely and appropriately:
- Understanding the real work environment: Placement allows students to directly experience real workplaces, helping them understand how care facilities operate daily, the roles within multidisciplinary teams, and the actual pace of work — aspects that classroom learning cannot fully replicate.
- Learning essential safety procedures: During placement, students become familiar with and practise mandatory procedures such as following instructions, professional communication, information confidentiality, and incident reporting, helping establish safe work habits before entering the industry.
- Meeting entry-level readiness requirements: Completing placement confirms that students have the foundational skills, attitude, and adaptability needed to begin working in entry-level roles, where further training and experience are gained on the job.
Therefore, placement falling short of expectations is not a reflection of poor course quality, but rather a mismatch between its intended purpose and what many international students initially expect.
2. When the real workplace is completely different from the classroom
The contrast between classroom learning and the placement environment is one of the biggest shocks for international students. Placement takes place in real workplaces, where all activities are driven by efficiency, safety, and responsibility toward care recipients.
In real settings:
- Communication is fast, concise, and direct
- There is little time for detailed explanations
- Processes are prioritised over learning experiences
For many international students — especially those unfamiliar with Australia’s healthcare work culture — this can create a feeling of being unsupported or insufficiently guided. However, it is important to understand that placement is not an extension of the classroom, but part of a functioning system where students must proactively observe, adapt, and self-learn.
3. When placement reveals the real pressures of the healthcare sector
Many students begin placement expecting detailed guidance and frequent feedback. In reality, learning during placement largely occurs through observation, repetition, and self-reflection.
- Fast and direct communication: Staff and supervisors communicate briefly and efficiently due to high workloads and time pressure.
- Students are not the centre: Placement is organised around daily operations of the care facility, with care recipients at the centre — not individual learning needs.
- Self-observation and adaptation are essential: Students must actively observe workflows, follow established procedures, and adjust their approach rather than waiting for step-by-step instruction.
Although students are not ultimately responsible for clinical decisions, they are still part of a care system where mistakes can affect real people. This reality leads many international students to realise that Health & Care roles demand far greater resilience, discipline, and responsibility than they initially imagined.
4. When placement helps assess real suitability for the profession
In the early stages, many students maintain enthusiasm and motivation. However, as placement continues over several weeks, the gap between expectations and reality becomes increasingly clear.
- Accumulated fatigue: Placement requires sustained focus, physical stamina, and discipline. Balancing study, adaptation to a new environment, financial pressure, and personal life often leads to cumulative exhaustion — even when tasks are not technically complex.
- Limited workplace connection: Placement students are present only temporarily and are not part of permanent staff, making it harder to build strong professional relationships.
- Doubting the choice of study: Prolonged fatigue and isolation can prompt students to question whether they truly suit the pace, pressure, and nature of the sector. This does not necessarily mean they chose the wrong field, but reflects a natural response to deep exposure to professional reality.
These factors are not negative signals. Instead, placement helps students realistically evaluate:
- Whether they are suited to care environments
- Whether they can commit long-term to the sector or only connect with it in theory
- Whether they need to adjust their study or career pathway earlier rather than later
Recognising misalignment during placement — though uncomfortable — is far better than continuing in the field for years without proper preparation or direction.
5. How students can align expectations with reality
To minimise the gap between expectation and experience, students should:
- Understand the true role of placement: Placement is designed to reflect real professional pressure, clarify one’s position within the care system, and confirm suitability before entering the workforce.
- Prepare essential foundations: Develop basic workplace communication skills, a professional attitude, and mental resilience to adapt to placement demands.
- Have a clear pathway: Discuss placement early with education providers or advisors to ensure it fits within a long-term study and career plan, reducing disappointment during real-world exposure.
For those who understand its purpose from the outset, placement is no longer a shock — but a critical stage that clearly shapes their future career direction.
>> Contact NextGem to receive tailored advice and build a study–career pathway aligned with your abilities and long-term goals.
