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#1 Victorian uni for course satisfaction3
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Some degrees prepare you for a career, but few of these degrees are as hands-on as those in medical fields. Medical internships (also known as placements) put future nurses, midwives, doctors and other medically minded students out into the real world, working under the wing of experienced professionals. When you’re a medical intern, you’re not just learning the ropes in a lecture theatre – you’re out there developing your skills with real patients in real medical settings.
If you’re currently undertaking a medical degree or looking to get into one of these degrees in the future, a medical internship or placement might be just around the bend.
To give you a sense of what placement is really like, we asked Deakin University student Matilda Broad to take us through a day in the life of a medical intern.
As part of her Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery double degree, Broad is currently completing 1,600 hours of placement – 800 hours of nursing placement and 800 hours of midwifery. During the two-and-a-half years she has spent in these medical internships, Broad has spent time at hospitals on the Mornington Peninsula, Ballarat, Warrnambool and now, Geelong. It’s busy and full-on but, for those with a passion for the medical field, that’s all part of the fun.
‘Every single one of my placement experiences has been fantastic and that is all thanks to the incredible nurses and midwives working at this very moment,’ Broad says. ‘Placement gives students an exact idea of what will be expected when we graduate and how our days will look on the job. We get to put all our clinical skills into practice, all whilst taking on a full load of patients and learning crucial development skills such as time management and prioritisation.’
Is there a typical day in the life of a medical intern? According to Broad – not exactly. ‘Every day as a midwife is completely different,’ she says. ‘There is no predicting the day of a midwife and while some may deem that terrifying, I find it truly exciting.’
Of course, there are rhythms and regularities to a nursing or midwifery placement. For an example of what a typical day of nursing placement is really like, Broad takes us through the routine of the morning shift.
On the morning shift, Broad’s day starts at 5:45 for the morning handover with nursing staff and a summary of every patient on the ward.
‘I am then paired up with one of the nurses who I will work in collaboration with for the shift,’ Broad says. ‘Being a critical care unit, ICU involves 1-on-1 nursing care, meaning all nurses will take on one patient per shift. Therefore, my preceptor nurse and I make our way to our patient to receive a handover from the night staff and introduce ourselves.’
After handover, it’s time for equipment safety checks and shift planning. ‘This involves medication administration, specific nursing skills such as wound care, patient assessments etc. We then complete a top-to-toe assessment of our patient, assessing all body systems and notifying any changes in the patient’s condition.’
So, what’s up next? Broad explains that the rest of her morning looks different day-to-day. ‘We may have to prepare our patient for surgery, discharge our patient to receive a new admission, or even assist in a code if the unfortunate situation arises,’ she says. ‘The unexpected nature of nursing is why I enjoy it so much!’
In the afternoon, there’s a handover with the afternoon staff. Then, it’s time for lunch (ideally enjoyed outside).
Next, Broad will put together a shift summary. ‘During this time, I also like to reflect on my work for the day and ask my nurse for any feedback,’ she says. ‘Self-reflection is so important towards becoming the best nurse I can be.’
By mid-afternoon, the day’s placement is over and it’s time to unwind. ‘Once the clock hits 3:30pm, I’m done for the day and head home to have some well-deserved reset time,’ Broad says. ‘This normally involves walking my dog, going down to the beach or listening to my vinyls and scrapbooking.’
Broad explains that her evenings tend to wrap up pretty early, especially when she’s worked or is about to work a morning shift. Still, she makes sure to tie up a few loose ends before the next day begins.
‘In the evening after a morning shift, I like to cook dinner for my family and stash away the leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch (you got to save money whenever you can when working full-time unpaid!)’ Broad says. ‘If I can find the energy, I also try to complete some more study. However, it’s generally bedtime not long after dinner, particularly if another 5:45am start is on the cards the next morning!’
Does a day in the life of a medical intern sound appealing to you? If you want to follow in her footsteps, Broad says that the process of finding and applying for placements is relatively simple.
‘Through my degree, we are highly supported in the application process for all placements.’ Broad says. ‘We simply put in our list of preferences for hospitals and once we receive our location, complete the required orientation and if applicable, apply for accommodation/travel grants. For anyone going into nursing and midwifery, much of the organisation required for placements will be done directly between the university and hospital, which is fantastic.’
Whether it’s for nursing, midwifery or any other related field, medical internships are not paid.
However, recent changes known as the Commonwealth Prac Payments have been introduced by the federal government and, from 1 July 2025, some students may be able to access payments of $331.65 per week while completing their placement.
At this stage,, the payments are running as a trial and can only be accessed by meeting certain eligibility criteria. International students are unfortunately not eligible at this stage.
As we saw in Broad’s example, placements and medical internships are typically required for students currently in degrees like nursing and midwifery.
These are undertaken during the degree, meaning that completing an internship while studying is all part of the experience for those looking toward a future medical career.
So, not only can you do an internship while studying, the assistance you’ll get from your university to organise your placement makes this the best time to do an internship.
Generally, internships are only for students – the law in Australia even states that unpaid internships have to be part of university study. Rather than seeking an internship after graduating, you’re best off looking for graduate programs, such as the graduate nursing program offered by the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Medical internships and placements are typically spread across the duration of the degree– usually three years for a single undergraduate degree. Students need to complete a certain number of placement hours (800 for nursing and midwifery, as per Broad’s example) but not all at once. How long your medical internship lasts will largely depend on how quickly you get through the hours.
Placements and internships should definitely be considered work experience worthy of your CV. Not only are they vital for ensuring that you’re upskilled and ready for the demands of life as a nurse or midwife, but they’ll also help future employers get a sense of your skills and experience, even before you land a full-time job.
An internship can definitely lead to a job. In general, internships are great ways to show future employers that you’re ready to take the next step.
For careers like nursing and midwifery, internships or placements are absolutely necessary – you won’t be able to graduate without having completed the necessary hours. Of course, the nature of these medical internships (where you were placed, whether you did any extra placement or volunteer work) could help you stand out from other candidates.
Placements and medical internships are generally organised directly through your degree. The university and hospital will do much of the legwork – all of which is great news for busy students.
Extra opportunities can be found, too. For Deakin University students wondering how to get an internship of their own, this can come through Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs and DeakinTALENT.
If it’s required as part of your degree (like in Broad’s case) you’ll usually be able to get help applying for a placement or medical internship directly through your course – you’ll just need to put in your hospital preferences and complete any required orientation or grant applications. Easy!
If you need help figuring out how to apply for a medical internship in Australia, you can always speak with academic coordinators or WIL specialists at your university.
The experience of a placement or medical internship is vital for aspiring nurses and midwives like Matilda Broad. If you’re thinking about a future in the medical field, take it from Broad – it’s well worth experiencing a day in the life of a medical intern for yourself.
‘Placement gives students an exact idea of what will be expected when we graduate and how our days will look on the job,’ she says. ‘We get to put all our clinical skills into practice, all whilst taking on a full load of patients and learning crucial development skills such as time management and prioritisation. Although it can be difficult when mistakes are made and tiring when you finish at 10pm and are back again at 7am, it is the best place to learn and understand the true role of a nurse/midwife.’
