Mining companies have become increasingly focused on developing environmentally responsible decommissioning and closure techniques of tailings facilities to work towards more sustainable mining practices. With the help of the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) guidelines, the development and implementation of functional and manageable Operation, Maintenance and Surveillance (OMS) manuals for operating tailings facilities have become commonplace. As more tailings facilities are decommissioned and closed, and the expectations of regulators and society continue to grow, the need for further guidance through the application of similar documentation for the management of the post-closure facility also increases. This paper highlights the importance of developing a post-closure OMS manual for the management of closed tailings facilities (and other mining landforms), by way of a post-closure OMS guidebook. It describes initial ideas in the development of post-closure OMS manuals and provides some reasoning, structure and contents for a post-closure OMS manual. It would be encouraged that tailings facility reclamation personnel utilise a universal post-closure OMS guidebook to prepare a site-specific post-closure OMS manual. This paper references a range of sources and first hand experiences by the authors.

The nursing workforce is the backbone of healthcare provision in rural and remote Australia. Introducing student nurses to rural clinical placements is one strategy used to address the shortfall of healthcare workers outside of major cities, with the goal of improving the training, recruitment and retention of nurses in rural areas. The aim of this qualitative, longitudinal study was to better understand personal and professional decision-making around rural nursing practice intentions and subsequent rural employment and retention. The study methodology consisted of repeated semi-structured interviews with student nurses who had completed at least one rural placement and following them on their journey to becoming graduate nurses over a 6-year period. Thematic longitudinal analysis was undertaken, with three main themes developing, each with further subthemes: (1) participants’ satisfaction with rural placements; (2) their challenges with gaining employment; and (3) considerations regarding ‘going rural’ for work. The participants engaged in both prospective and retrospective reflection around several professional, personal, and wider systemic barriers and enablers to rural practice, which are discussed in detail in this paper. The insights from this longitudinal study have the potential to assist the development of a sustainable rural nursing workforce through informing rural workforce programs, strategies and policies.

Objective: Student healthcare worker immunisation ensures the protection of students, their patients and the wider community. This audit assessed allied health students’ records of immunisation against national standards. Methods: This audit examined clinical students’ immunisation records at a University Department of Rural Health and assessed their compliance with the national Australian Immunisation Handbook recommendations. Gaps in processes were assessed through a review of forms, guidelines and stakeholder feedback. Results: Around one‐quarter (26%) of healthcare students provided evidence that they were immunised in line with national standards. Inconsistency of immunisation recommendations across universities, states and disciplines were identified. Conclusions: This audit highlighted gaps in healthcare student immunisation assurance processes at both local and national levels, and we recommend key elements that would be required for a more consistent, streamlined and coordinated approach. Implications for public health: As a pillar of communicable disease control, immunisation compliance continues to pose important public health challenges. Without further work towards coordination of healthcare students’ immunisation assurances, there is a risk of preventable morbidity and mortality in vulnerable communities, as well as suboptimal student and worker safety in an environment that poses high risks.

In the Midwest region of Western Australia, rates of intimate partner and family violence (IPV/FV) are high. We undertook research into social workers’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills as part of addressing this significant public health issue. Social workers come into contact with people experiencing IPV/FV in multiple settings, so their understandings and responses are critical to the prevention and interventions related to violence against women. The goal of the research was to determine the issues that the social workers in this region needed to be addressed that could assist in tackling the problem of IPV/FV. A questionnaire included open-ended questions to capture information on respondents’ profiles, knowledge, attitudes, practices, and education around IPV/FV, with 29 of 37 social workers working in the region responding. We also elicited respondents' recommendations related to training and service delivery. Despite working in many settings, most social workers had contact with people experiencing IPV/FV and had reasonable confidence and knowledge that showed an understanding of the complexity of FV, including why women stay in violent relationships. This paper identified social workers’ need for more education, including during their university training, resources, and service coordination to support best practice delivery of services to people affected by IPV/FV. Training to develop skills for conversations about IPV/FV with clients, around safety planning, and greater access to safe alternative accommodation for those leaving FV were identified priorities.