BACKGROUND:
Workforce shortages, high student attrition, and a lack of indigenous health workers challenge healthcare systems globally. Paid student employment models have emerged to provide students with experience while supporting service delivery. These models are increasingly used in midwifery, nursing, and allied health, but their impact on student development and workforce outcomes remains unclear.

OBJECTIVES:
This review aims to assess the effectiveness of paid student employment models in midwifery, nursing, and allied health.

METHODS:
Registered with PROSPERO (CRD420251070851), this systematic review will search CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, and Google Scholar. Included studies will be publications with quantitative data from 2005 onwards examining paid student employment models in midwifery, nursing, and allied health. Paid student employment may either be integrated into the education curriculum or recognised as additional to regular training requirements. Primary outcomes include evaluating effects on student performance, workforce readiness, and retention. Secondary outcomes assess organisational impact, student well-being, and cost-effectiveness. At least two independent reviewers will conduct screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal. Risk of bias will be assessed using Cochrane RoB 2 for randomised studies and ROBINS-I V2 for non-randomised studies. Where data allow, meta-analyses using random-effects models will be performed. Certainty of evidence will be evaluated using GRADE.

RESULTS:
The review is ongoing. Results will summarise student employment models and their impacts on student performance, workforce readiness, and retention. The findings aim to identify evidence gaps and outline implications for workforce planning and education.

CONCLUSIONS:
This review will support guidance for educators, policymakers, and employers on the value and limitations of paid student roles in healthcare.

KEY MESSAGE:
Paid student employment models may bridge education and practice, enhancing student readiness and retention in midwifery, nursing, and allied health. Poster session 3 (Group B)