Architecture and Construction Management
At the University of Newcastle, career-ready placements enable you to work directly with industry and community partners by undertaking a placement relevant to your area of study through your degree.
Career-ready placements are an integral part of all construction management and design (architecture) degrees.
What you need to do
Career-ready placements allows you to integrate real-world skills and experience with theoretical concepts and knowledge obtained during their studies. Additionally, through exposure to current practice, you can reflect on and appreciate the link between curriculum and practice.
As a construction management student, you will complete a total of 16 weeks of career-ready placement experiences before you graduate from your degree. Within construction management, these experiences are referrred to as 'Industrial Experience (IE)'.
| Cohort | Industrial Experience Requirements |
|---|---|
| Pre-2023 students | 16 weeks Industrial Experience |
| 2023 commencing students | Students will complete 16 weeks in total comprising of 12 weeks Industrial Experience, plus 4 weeks as part of the course ARBE3030 Career-ready placement in the Built Environment |
It is your responsibility to find appropriate Industrial Experience opportunities in a field related to your studies. You should look for ways to meet your requirements from the first year of your studies and explore different opportunities that will contribute towards your total IE hours required to graduate.
Please note: Under the Fair Work Act (2009), the University cannot allow any B Construction Management (Honours) student to complete more than the requisite 16 weeks of unpaid experience. Students completing IE in countries other than Australia would need to ensure compliance with local Fair Work laws, if applicable.
Application and approval
All IE applications must be submitted for pre-approval in SONIA before the IE commences. This is to ensure that your IE will satisfy the compulsory requirement of your degree and that you will be covered by the appropriate insurance. As a part of this process, you will also need to work with your host organisation to complete the Industrial Experience Application form located in SONIA.
Types of Industrial Experience
There are different kinds of Industrial Experience. You should refer to the relevant Industrial Experience Manual above for specific details on the activities that qualify as Industrial Experience. Approval will be at the discretion of the IE Coordinator and is not guaranteed.
Industry placement/employment
You can complete all or some of your IE in an industry placement (paid or unpaid) or through relevant employment.
All IE applications must be submitted for pre-approval in SONIA before the IE commences to ensure that your IE will satisfy the compulsory requirement of your degree and that you will be covered by the appropriate insurance. As a part of this process, you will also need to work with your host organisation to complete the IE Application Form which can be found in SONIA.
Students completing unpaid experience will be covered by the University of Newcastle’s insurance once the IE application has been approved. Students who are completing paid IE, or who are employed by the organisation, are not covered by university insurance. The student must confirm insurance coverage with the organisation/employer.
Prior work experience
You may apply to have some or all prior work experience counted towards your Industrial Experience if you have undertaken experience in a suitable built environment profession. For your prior work experience to be considered, please submit an IE Report in SONIA. Approval will be at the discretion of the IE Coordinator and is not guaranteed.
Study abroad program and overseas Industrial Experience
All or part of your IE can be completed overseas, provided the requirements of the type of work for the degree are fulfilled.
First, you must submit an IE Application Form for pre-approval by the IE Coordinator through SONIA, providing a detailed description of what is involved in the study abroad program.
Upon completion of the program, you must submit an IE Report and upload an Alternative IE Attendance Certificate into SONIA once it has been signed by your program coordinator.
For overseas opportunities, please be aware that workplace employment laws and safety standards differ from country to country. We believe it’s important to ensure you’ll be adequately supported in your role. All students considering undertaking an overseas internship or placement should research and select an experience that suits their needs and interests. The University of Newcastle works with providers to enable students to find a relevant opportunity, such as Project Everest, Projects Abroad and CIS Australia. There is also funding available to support international exchange. Visit Global Experience to learn more.
Example
Josie is studying a Bachelor of Construction Management (Building) (Hons) degree and is required to complete 16 weeks of Industrial Experience to graduate with her degree. Josie completes her IE in the following way:
- Industry Placement with a residential construction management firm
- Industry Placement with an industrial construction firm
As a design (architecture) student, you will complete 140 hours of career-ready placement experiences or activities before you graduate from your degree. It is your responsibility to find appropriate opportunities in a field related to your studies.
Please refer to the information and instructions on the ARBE3030 Canvas site. Students must be enrolled in ARBE3030 and have an approved Placement Agreement Form in order to be covered by insurance for unpaid placements. View this information sheet for additional information and frequently asked questions.
SONIA
SONIA is The University of Newcastle’s placement management system. The software supports you in managing your placement quickly and easily. For any enquiries related to SONIA, contact the Professional Experience Unit for the College of Engineering, Science and Environment (CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au).
Insurance
If you are undertaking approved, unpaid Industrial Experience, you are under the University of Newcastle Student Insurance coverage. For further clarification, please contact the University’s Insurance Team (insurance@newcastle.edu.au).
Student Manuals and Policy Information
The student manuals contain all the information regarding placement and must be read thoroughly. Please refer to the College of Engineering, Science and Environment Professional Experience website for more information regarding the placement requirements of your degree.
You must also read the Student Professional Experience Policy, Student Conduct Rule and Code of Conduct to understand your responsibilities while completing your placement.
Sourcing your experience
Now you understand the requirements of a career-ready placement experience, the next step is to prepare yourself to connect with employers. To do so, you will need to put together a strong application to ensure you stand out in a competitive job market.
CareerHub is the university's online job board that links you with industry and provides you with resources to help you with job-seeking.
On CareerHub you can find resources and tools to help you:
- Refine your job search
- Write a job application
- Prepare for an interview
- Develop a LinkedIn profile
- Learn more about an industry
Being confident and well prepared is essential when approaching a potential employer.
As a student, you aren’t expected to know everything. However, doing preliminary research, going in with a positive attitude, and taking initiative will go a long way. Try to find the best contact person in the organisation and approach them directly.
Here are our top tips for approaching employers:
- Use LinkedIn: Complete a search on LinkedIn, using the organisation name and browsing the listed employee with a title that mentions ‘Human Resources’, ‘Hiring Manager’, ‘Recruitment Specialist’, ‘Talent Acquisition' or other similar titles related to the Human Resources function.
- Find the right contact: If you are unable to find the most appropriate person, call the general contact phone number. In the call, ask if there is a specific contact you can speak with about a work placement opportunity within the organisation.
- Contacting via email: Keep your email concise, direct, courteous, and professional. You may find this resource helpful as a guide.
- Contacting via phone: Make sure you look and sound professional. Prepare your spiel ahead of time and be sure to show your passion and interest for the organisation. A Zoom or Skype call can be a great alternative to a phone call and can add a level of personalisation.
- Keep a record: It’s essential to keep yourself organised by keeping track of who you contacted and the status of the conversation. This will be particularly helpful if you’re asked to call back or follow up via email. This Prospective Host Communication Tracker (EXCEL, 21KB)
can help you stay on track.
When sourcing your career-ready placement experience, you may be asked some questions from your host supervisor about their requirements, roles, and responsibilities. You can refer employers to the Career-ready placement for Industry page to aid those discussions and ensure they understand their commitment.
The Application Pack (CESE) (PDF, 191KB)
As an international student, you may find it tricky to navigate the Australian work environment. However, you have access to information and resources that have been developed specifically to help support you in sourcing and preparing for career-ready placement experiences.
Support and resources
While it is your responsibility to organise your Industrial Experience, the Careers Service is available to provide guidance. Some of the services that they provide include:
- Access to CareerHub, an online portal with discipline-related work and work experience opportunities
- Information about job and placement searching strategies
- Assistance aligning your studies and interests with industry opportunities
- Drop-in and appointment-based resume and application checking, plus an interview preparation service
Explore job vacancies in CareerHub
Read more
Access job application and interview resources
Read more
Professional Bodies
To increase your chances of finding the right opportunity, you should consider joining the accrediting professional bodies for your degree (many of which offer free student memberships). Take the opportunity to network at professional events, attend career fairs, and most importantly, seek help if and when you need it!
The Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours) program is accredited by the following professional bodies:
- Australian Institute of Building
- Australian Institute of Building Surveyors
- Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors
- Chartered Institute of Building
- Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
- Australian Institute of Landscape Designers and Managers (AILDM)
- Planning Institute Australia
The Bachelor of Design (Architecture) program is accredited by the following professional bodies:
Contact us
If you are unable to obtain, or finding it difficult to source an industrial experience opportunity, you are encouraged to seek advice from your IE Coordinator (for construction management) or Course Coordinator (for architecture).
For all other enquiries, including SONIA enquiries, please contact:
Professional Experience Unit - College of Engineering, Science and Environment
Email: CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au
Phone: (02) 4921 7302
Location: W357, Callaghan Campus (interactive campus map)
If you would like to meet one of our team face-to-face, please email CESE-PEU@newcastle.edu.au to arrange your appointment. Appointments are available at both Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses.
Need extra help?
The Careers Service offers free support to all current and past students of the University of Newcastle. Visit Careers to learn more and to get in touch.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.