FAQs

Do you need to host a student from your own professional discipline?

Not necessarily. However, where the placement is part of a student’s professional accreditation requirements, their supervision must be facilitated by a professional from their chosen field. If you are unsure, the best approach is to contact the Careers and Employability team on the details listed below.

Should placements be paid or unpaid?

The decision to pay a student or not is up to the host organisation. The Fair Work Act clearly allows students who are required to complete a volume of industrial placement as a formal requirement of their degree, to be unpaid. Where a student is unpaid, the main limitation is a restriction to not undertake more than the minimum amount of placement required for the degree. Should you choose to pay the student for their time on placement they are classed as an employee. They are therefore subject to the same rights and obligations as any other employee of your organisation.

Can students complete the placement at a time to suit your organisation or when a particular project comes up (often on short notice)?

Different programs of study work with different timelines for arranging and undertaking career-ready placements. We can help you with career-ready placement opportunities throughout the year. Some examples include opportunities to provide students with placement for courses run over the summer or winter vacation periods or recognised as prior learning in future course (by prior course coordinator approval).

What if your organisation cannot commit to hosting a student for the entire period of their placement?

The question of the minimum time period that one employer can offer to count towards a student’s career-ready placement hours will vary by course. This is possible in many courses and to enquire about the particular discipline, please contact us via our details listed below.

Does the student need a special clearance to work in your organisation?

This will depend on the nature of your workplace and the work they will undertake. Please help us to ensure any additional documentation particular to your organisation (e.g. a health check, Prohibited Employment Declaration, Working with Children Check or a Criminal Record Check) is completed prior to the student commencing the placement.

When is the placement covered by the university’s insurance?

Students undertaking unpaid industrial experience placements are covered by the University’s Personal Accident & Injury and Public Liability Insurance policies. Students on paid placements are deemed to be employees of the host organisation and as such are entitled to coverage under the host organisation’s insurance policies. Host organisations who issue a student with any portable electronic equipment, do so at their own risk.

Who should you contact if you have further questions about career-ready placements?

For any further questions, please contact the Careers and Employability team on (02) 4921 5588 or email.