Student Placements at Public Health
Public Health accepts a limited number of student placements who have to complete a required placement/practicum to graduate from their school/academic program.
We offer opportunities for paid student placements and unpaid student placements.
Paid Student Placements
Students are required to complete a paid placement/practicum in order to graduate from their academic program, or are hired by Public Health to provide support to departmental projects as required.
Paid student placements are typically available in the summer months from the beginning of May to the end of August, depending upon the placement position. We post for these positions on our Career Site in early January annually, and we do not accept unsolicited resumes. We do not have opportunities available to accommodate undergraduate co-op student placements within our programs. Alternatively, co-op students can apply to Public Health's paid student placements and use them as their co-op placement, if appropriate.
Paid student placements are offered in the following disciplines, but not limited to:
| Epidemiology |
|
Role: Performs epidemiological and statistical analysis of primary or secondary data sources using applications such as MS Excel, SPSS, SAS, or EpiData. Interprets epidemiological data. Assists with routine epidemiological and analytic work, including tool development, data collection, database management, and data cleaning. Qualifications:
|
| Graduate Students |
|
Role: Assists with the assessment, analysis, planning, evaluation, and policy development, including data collection, group facilitation, community development, data analysis, program implementation, report writing and/or public health communication activities. Qualifications:
|
| Public Health Inspection (General) |
|
Role: Works with certified Public Health Inspectors, conducts inspections and investigation in a general program delivery model to identify and control potential health hazards under the provision of the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) and applicable regulation in food safety, water quality, rabies, infection control, tobacco control. Responds to potential health hazards and complaints. Examines sanitation conditions at various private and public premises. Qualifications:
|
|
Public Health Inspection (Vector-Borne Disease) |
|
Role: Conducts weekly collection and submission of mosquito samples for laboratory analysis. Participates in Vector-Borne Disease monitoring activities including tick dragging. Maintains records of activities performed in the program. Works with certified Public Health Inspectors, conducts inspections and investigation in a general program delivery model to identify and control potential health hazards under the provision of the Health Protection and Promotion Act (HPPA) and applicable regulation in food safety, water quality, rabies, infection control, tobacco control. Responds to potential health hazards and complaints. Examines sanitation conditions at various private and public premises. Qualifications:
|
Unpaid Student Placements
Students are required to complete an unpaid student placement/practicum in order to graduate from their academic program. We accept a limited number of unpaid student placements from academic institutions with whom we have affiliation agreements, and offer them throughout the year in the following disciplines, but not limited to:
| Nursing / Masters of Nursing |
|
These placements are available to students who have a required placement through enrolment in the Bachelor or Masters in Nursing program. Work hours may be outside 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and travel to offsite locations may be required. Nursing students can be placed in many program areas; below are just a few of these areas:
|
| Bachelors of Social Work |
|
This placement is available for students who have a required placement through enrolment in an undergraduate level Social Work program. The focus of this placement is to provide opportunities where possible in the areas of research evaluation, program planning and community development. The student may have the opportunity to contribute to and/or observe assessment, analysis, planning, evaluation and policy development, including data collection, group facilitation, community development, data analysis, program implementation, report writing and/or public health communication activities. |
| Masters of Social Work |
|
This placement is available for students who have a required placement through enrolment in a graduate level Social Work program. The focus of this placement is to provide leadership opportunities in the areas of research evaluation, program planning, community development, group facilitation and policy development. The student assists with the assessment, analysis, planning, evaluation, and policy development, including data collection, group facilitation, community development, data analysis, program implementation, report writing and/or public health communication activities. |
| Paramedic Field |
|
This placement is available to students who have a required placement through enrolment in a Paramedic Program. Student placements are coordinated directly through the academic program and Emergency Medical Services. The focus of the placement is to provide students with practical experiences in an ambulance service within the community, and to review, participate in and analyze emergency situations. First year students will be given the opportunity to ride out as observers only. Second year students will be given the opportunity to ride out, will be given more hands-on experiences, and will participate in basic patient care. |
| Administration |
|
This placement is available to those students who have a required placement through enrolment in a Health Office Administration program at an accredited college or university.
The focus of the placement is to provide client service to members of the public, respond to client's requests for general and specific information, provide administrative support for program and clinical services, enter client information in an electronic medical records system and act as the clinic resource. |
|
Bachelor of Applied Health Information Science (2nd year volunteer requirement) |
|
This placement is available for students who have a volunteer requirement during a second year Bachelor of Applied Health Information Science program. The focus of this placement is to provide opportunities where possible in the areas of information management solutions, privacy, data analysis and project work. |
| Dietetics |
| This placement is available for students who have a required placement through an undergraduate level Dietetics program.
The focus of this placement is to provide opportunities for project work related to healthy eating, social determinants of health related to diet and nutrition, and some exposure to policy development. |
Eligibility criteria for unpaid student placements
To be eligible for an unpaid student placement, you will need to be enrolled in a school/academic program which requires you to complete an unpaid placement/practicum in order to graduate.
Application process for unpaid student placements
Educational institutions typically request unpaid student placements for their students. Some educational institutions encourage their students to find placements on their own. Both are acceptable ways to begin the placement process.
Prior to being considered for an unpaid student placement, all students must complete an application. Please select the form that applies to your academic program:
- Unpaid Nursing Student Application Form (4th year nursing students, Masters of Nursing)
- Unpaid Student Application Form (all NON-nursing disciplines)
The application is used to gather information about your:
- Educational institution
- Program/current year
- Areas of interest
- Anticipated placement start/end dates
- Placement availability
- Academic coordinators
Cover letter/resume - please note that cover letters and resumes are not used to screen applicants, but rather to provide information to the assigned preceptor on your education and work experience in order to better prepare for your orientation.
Placement process for unpaid student placement
The educational institution or the student needs to contact us to request an unpaid student placement. Although students are accepted throughout the year, it is recommended that requests for placements are submitted as follows:
| Placement Period | Deadline for student requests |
| Winter term (January - April) | October 15 |
| Spring/Summer term (May - August) | February 15 |
| Fall term (September - December) | June 15 |
Application - the student completes one of the following application forms:
- Unpaid Nursing Student Application Form (4th year nursing students, Masters of Nursing)
- Unpaid Student Application Form (all NON-nursing disciplines)
Screening - Public Health determines if application is accepted based on the fit of requested placement, the number of unpaid student placement requests, availability of preceptors, and program needs.
Interview - for some unpaid placements, student applicants will be interviewed to collect further information and determine if the student has the knowledge, skills and abilities to complete the placement successfully.
Acceptance/Decline - Public Health confirms/declines the unpaid student placement with educational institution or student. Public Health will do its best to match student's areas of interest to available placements, but this isn't always possible. Students may be placed in placements outside their areas of interest.
Confirmation email - a couple of weeks prior to the start of a confirmed unpaid student placement, students will receive a confirmation email, which includes the start/end dates of placements, assigned preceptor and/or manager and orientation dates.
Contact Us