Participating with the Community

Being unfamiliar with the context in which you will be undertaking the rural placement may hamper your learning experience. Taking the time to understand the geographical features, local services and resources that are available to you as a learner will help you to plan for the rural placement. Much of this can be done before you start the placement and once you begin you can use this knowledge to negotiate options and make informed choices.

There are usually information services, such as the local tourist information centre, that can help you understand the social and political environment in which you will find yourself. Another useful source of information is the local paper or gazette. Think about what could be useful to know, what resources could be helpful, and who could share some local knowledge with you.