Dr Craig Evans has been nominated for the Staff Career-ready Placement Award in recognition of him facilitating placement for over 155 students in 2024 and providing his expertise for new placement programs across the College of Engineering, Science and Environment. For over a decade, Dr Evans has pioneered career-ready placement initiatives and has overseen the success of the School of Environmental and Life Science’s placement course ENVS3008, through which more than 1000 students have completed an industry placement.

Dr Evans has established a risk assessment process which prioritises student safety and has seen 81 industry partners host students over the last two semesters. His expertise is being drawn on to assist first-time Course Coordinators looking to set up placement courses across the College in 2025. Dr Evans has also worked closely with Careers and Employability to embed learning content, helping students to develop their employability in the School’s placement course.

The industry placement experience has proven to be invaluable for so many of our students as they transition from study to a professional career, with many placements translating directly into employment. Coordinating and administering WIL (career-ready placement) courses can be challenging, but seeing students return from placements with the confidence that they are equipped for the professional world and hearing them relay their experiences with genuine enthusiasm, is the reward.

I never cease to be impressed by how well our students acquit themselves on placement and the overwhelmingly positive feedback from industry hosts – there’s definitely an element of pride in that.

~ Dr Craig Evans

In recognition of her 20 years of experience in developing and strengthening the placement program for Physiotherapy students, Dr Catherine Johnston has been nominated for the Staff Career-ready Placement Award. Dr Johnston has established, led and evaluated innovative career-ready placement activities over many years and has overseen placements for over 1200 students.

To improve student readiness for placement, and enhance the supervisory capabilities of rural clinicians, Dr Johnston updated the curriculum for Physiotherapy students’ first placement to include time spent in a simulated clinical environment with patient actors, working with academic and industry educators. This project has been implemented over a decade and expanded across the footprint of the University’s Department of Rural Health. This has contributed to increased numbers of students participating in long-term rural placements. Dr Johnston’s program has been recognised by the Australian Physiotherapy Council as an exemplar approach to clinical placements in the field.

Immersion in the workplace during placement allows our students to experience the reality of working as a physiotherapist and where they can put into practice the knowledge and skills they have gained during their academic courses. I have been privileged to work with Dr Luke Wakely and the University of Newcaatle's Department of Rural Health (UONDRH) academics and clinicians to grow placement capacity in their footprint.

I am very proud of how effective this project has been in improving student preparation for their first placement and how positive the outcomes have been, and continue to be, for all stakeholders.

~ Dr Catherine Johnston

In recognition of her dedication to encouraging staff and improving processes in the Professional Experience Unit in the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, Raewyn Burden has been nominated for the Staff Career-ready Placement Award. Since stepping in as acting Team Leader in April this year, Raewyn has implemented a centralised record-keeping system and worked closely with the Professional Experience and Systems team to continue to manage placements for thousands of students.

Raewyn has continued to improve relationships with stakeholders including NSW Health to streamline student compliance processes. She has worked hard to ensure the Professional Experience Team collaborates across all University campuses and has implemented regular meetings between staff from various areas of the University to improve the student experience from enrolment to completion of their placement.

There is an amazing team of people at the University who are dedicated to the students and want them to have a positive and relevant experience on placement.

We work extremely hard to build relationships between University staff involved in student placements activities, as well as organisation staff who supervise our students, so our placements are meaningful, relevant and impactful.

~ Raewyn Burden

Associate Professor Tamara Young is being nominated for the Staff Career-ready Placement Award for her leadership in embedding industry-relevant professional development and career-ready experiences into the Newcastle Business School curriculum, equipping students with the skills and confidence to succeed in professional placements and their future careers.

Associate Professor Young led tourism education at the University for over 15 years. In 2023, she established the Bachelor of Tourism, Hospitality and Events degree with industry partnerships and placements a key component of the program. As Vice-Chair of the Council for Australasian Tourism and Hospitality Education, she has led collaboration between university, government and industry sectors across the Hunter which has further benefited the University’s connection with the employment community.

The impact of our commitment to career and life-ready graduates is evident across our region with alumni now leading in their fields and making a positive difference.

Through professional development experiences and curriculum co-designed with industry partners, students become confident and purpose-driven ambassadors equipped with the knowledge and skills to contribute meaningfully across industries and communities.

~Associate Professor Tamara Young