MarLATIN SMALL LETTER ENGgithirri guLATIN SMALL LETTER ENGga'yunarawu ga guLATIN SMALL LETTER ENGga'yunyarawu marLATIN SMALL LETTER ENGgithinyarawu Learning to connect and connecting to learn: Preparing the rural and remote allied health workforce through a co-created student-implemented service in East Arnhem, Australia

Objectives To explore the process of learning for allied health students providing a student-implemented service for older YolLATIN SMALL LETTER ENGu in remote East Arnhem, Northern Territory, Australia. Design An exploratory qualitative study following an 8-week student-implemented service. Setting Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala and surrounding remote Aboriginal communities of the East Arnhem Region of the Northern Territory. Participants Data were collected from: 4 students who implemented the service; 4 professional supervisors, 3 placement coordinators, a YolLATIN SMALL LETTER ENGu cultural consultant and a care manager from a local community organisation, all of whom supported implementation of the service; and 7 older YolLATIN SMALL LETTER ENGu and their families who were recipients of the service. Interventions A student-implemented service for older YolLATIN SMALL LETTER ENGu delivered by allied health students from James Cook University. Clinical, cultural and pastoral supervision and support was provided by Flinders University, James Cook University, Indigenous Allied Health Australia and 2 YolLATIN SMALL LETTER ENGu cultural consultants and 2 local community organisations. Main outcome measures Semi-structured interviews with those who implemented, supported and received the service. Data were analysed thematically using an inductive approach. Results 'Learning to connect and connecting to learn' described how allied health students were learning to provide a service for older YolLATIN SMALL LETTER ENGu. Four interrelated processes connected their learning: 'preparing and supporting', 'bonding and responding', 'growing and enriching' and 'working and weaving'. Conclusion The co-created student-implemented service provided a unique learning opportunity for allied health students on how to provide a culturally safe service in a remote Aboriginal community in northern Australia.