General Information

During orientation/induction at placement site TES should be provided with an occupational health and safety briefing. TES  should ensure that they strictly follow the occupational health and safety policies and procedures of the host site at which they are placed.

Students who have an ongoing medical condition that may be exacerbated by participation in the placement should seek medical advice and inform the Course Coordinator.

Students who are pregnant can choose to either complete the placement at the normal time or postpone the placement until an agreed time after the birth.

Students on an RAP are requested to advise their Course Coordinator of any special provisions that required. RAP will specify physical or delivery adjustments that may be required whilst on a placement. Full medical documentation is required to be submitted to Accessibility for registration of the RAP, and subsequent consultation with the Professional Experience  Convenor will ensure student is supported during placement for an equitable outcome. If TES has not applied for RAP via AccessAbility the TES is required to complete the placement under the conditions provided in the course outline and the online Course Handbook.

An incident is something that results in (or potentially results in) harm. It can include physical injury or psychological damage.

In the event of any incident/accident occurring while on placement, it cannot be ignored and the following steps should be taken:

1. Seek medical attention where appropriate
2. Follow the host site’s incident response and reporting procedure
3. Contact ST, Course Coordinator, and the Professional    Experience Unit – peu@newcastle.edu.au or phone: (02) 4055 5504.
4. Complete the Insurance forms available in SONIAOnline, Home page.
5. Complete the Incident Report available in SONIAOnline as soon as possible and email it to HealthAndSafety@newcastle.edu.au copying in peu@newcastle.edu.au.

Students are expected to be in attendance for each day of the professional experience placement, and absences must be accounted for.  There is an expectation students will treat host site as an employer with regard to attendance and absences.

For a complete explanation of the types of Leave, as well as the process for taking leave whilst on placement, please access SONIA Online Home page and select ‘Leave’ from the content list

If ill, injured, have a family emergency or subject to misadventure and need to take leave from the placement, the following is expected:

1. Phone the placement site as early as possible to advise of the absence
2. If ill, obtain a doctor or pharmacy certificate, or other suitable supporting evidence
   1. Only return to your placement site when you have recovered
3. If personal leave other than illness is required, examples of suitable supporting documentation is available to students under the Adverse Circumstances policy (clause 60-66)
4. At the end of absence period (if longer than one day) apply for Adverse Circumstances to support the absence only if absence is not related to a COVID 19 infection/isolation. Initiate the application with your supporting documentation

Enter your absence into your SONIA Online timesheet as ‘1 Day Absent’

TES are required to be appropriately dressed, befitting a professional career. Some sites have strict dress codes, and pre-service teachers are advised to contact the PSC to confirm their specific requirements prior to attending their orientation. TES should be professional in their grooming and dress, therefore smart casual dress is required. TES are expected to meet allocated site's requirements for the duration of  placement. Should there be no policy for staff dress code at the site, reasonable appropriate dress should be discussed and agreed to by the TES, and the SPC.

The Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) is designed to assess initial TESs’ personal literacy and numeracy skills to ensure teachers are equipped to meet the demands of teaching. All students enrolled in an initial teacher education course will be expected to sit and meet the test standard prior to graduation. At the University of Newcastle, TES MUST complete the LANTITE tests prior to commencing the final placement in their program. As the LANTITE tests are administered through an independent organisation and not through the university, questions can be directed to LANTITE Administrator directly https://teacheredtest.acer.edu.au/contact

Confidentiality

It is imperative that TES respect the confidential nature of placement records. TES should not repeat information outside the Site which may harm or embarrass a child, parent or member of the staff, or the Site itself.

Additionally, TES should disguise the name of their Site, children and other identifying features of the placement when completing university assignments or partaking in discussions which may arise during their university classes.

Data Collection

TES will be required to collect samples of students work during their placement to demonstrate the impact on learning. When collecting and distributing this data, teacher education students must follow ethical protocol to ensure privacy and confidentiality requirements are being met. TES should discuss the following with ST/s:

• What information is being collected
• The reason it is being collected
• How the TES plans to use the data

Once this discussion has taken place, the ST should then advice the pre-service teacher of the correct procedures to follow in accordance with the Site’s policies. Any data collected must be de-identified to ensure confidentiality.

Occasionally TES are called to Jury Duty. If this falls within placement dates, you’re Course Coordinator needs to be contacted immediately to organise an exemption letter from the Professional Experience Convenor.

If a university examination is scheduled during placement TES must complete the exam during the  special exam period. If the exam can not be completed during this period, TES will be absent from the Site and will need to make up the whole day missed at the conclusion of placement. Attendance at the exam is considered an Absence from placement and is subject to an application for adverse circumstances via the usual process.  To accompany Application, please apply to your Course Coordinator for supporting document.

If there is a public holiday during the placement, then students are not required to make up the day.

TES should co‐operate with the staff of the Site in the matter of incidental duties, such as sports supervision, playground duty, excursions and artistic, musical, scientific, or literary projects.

TES are NOT permitted to transport students attending placement Site under any circumstances.

TES can attend excursions at the discretion of the PSC. Excursion costs are the responsibility of the TES. TES should complete an “Excursion Notification Form” on the Forms tab of SONIA Online to advise the University of the Excursion as soon as notified of the excursion.

During the professional experience placement, it is possible that teacher unions may undertake industrial action, such as stop work meetings or strikes. If the Supervising Teacher chooses to work at the Site on this day, then the decision on the appropriate course of action should be discussed with the ST and the SPC informed of the TES’s decision.

TES are not required to make up single days or part days lost by industrial action. However, if there is a protracted strike (more than two days) then the Course Coordinator will provide advice on whether/how it will be made up. Any missed days or part days must be recorded on SONIAOnline Timesheet as “Public Holiday/Industrial Action.”

In the event of any unexpected catastrophic events such as pandemics, bushfires, floods or earthquakes, or other instances where a TES’s health or safety have been compromised, students should follow the instructions of State and Local authorities. Safety is paramount.

As soon as possible, TES should communicate with Site and the Professional Experience Unit and Course Coordinator, to provide information relating to status and plans.

TES must continue to monitor university email address for any important updates.

The safety and protection of TES partaking in approved placement activities is a primary concern for UON. However, injuries and losses do occur, and the University has placed a comprehensive insurance portfolio to protect against financial losses which may be incurred because of undertaking approved activities. The insurances include (but are not limited to):

1. Student Personal Accident Insurance
2. Public Liability Cover
3. Professional Indemnity/Medical Malpractice Insurance

Further information regarding the insurance program arranged by the University can be found here:  https://www.newcastle.edu.au/current-staff/our-organisation/governance/assurance-services/insurance

TES Personal Accident Policy

The policy provides cover for TES engaged in approved work experience activities and/or practical placement. It is an accident cover only and does not cover illness or pre‐existing medical conditions.

If an accidental bodily Injury is sustained, the insurer may pay the non‐Medicare medical expenses incurred up to 100% of the actual costs – provided the event giving rise to the bodily injury occurs when you are engaging in approved activity. Non‐Medicare medical expenses means expenses that are not subject to any full or partial Medicare rebate, nor recoverable by the insured person from any other source (including private health cover) and incurred by the insured person within twelve (12) calendar months of sustaining bodily injury for treatment certified necessary.

This policy responds after claims are made on any private medical insurance held by the student.

Public Liability Insurance

UON’s Public Liability cover provides protection for claims made by third parties for damage or injury in those instances where the University may be proven liable. This cover extends to sponsoring employers who accept students on practical placement required by their course.

Professional Indemnity/ Malpractice Insurance

This policy indemnifies the University of Newcastle against legal liability for claims by third parties for breach of professional duty by an employee or any person for whom the University is responsible (e.g., students) resultant from any negligent act, error or omission in conduct of approved University business.

Workers' Compensation Insurance

Students are not deemed to be employees of the University. They would therefore not be entitled to cover under Workers' Compensation Insurance.

Further Questions

Any questions in relation to the above should be directed to Assurance Services ‐ Insurance on 02 4913 8180 or email insurance@newcastle.edu.au

Conflict of Interest on a professional experience placement is any situation where there could be perceived or actual favoritism or over-familiarity towards a TES undertaking placement. TES may not be placed at a Site where a close relative or friend is employed or attends, or where the student has previously worked on a long-term basis, or at the school they attended less than seven (7) years prior.

Such situations may introduce an actual or perceived conflict between personal interests and university duties. All potential questions of potential Conflicts of Interest should be declared and resolved before the placement commences and the PEU will request TES provide conflict of interest locations via the SONIA Online portal prior to being eligible for a placement.

Final approval of a placement location may require discussions between the placement Course Co-ordinator and the Site.