Youth & community industry partners placement information

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) at Victoria University (VU) includes all activities which engage students in authentic professional practice.

WIL aims to build disciplinary knowledge, skills and understanding, which are also embedded in the curriculum. WIL is an important component of the VU Blend. All courses are expected to include aspects of WIL in the curriculum.

Work Integrated Learning

Embedding WIL in the curriculum is part of our commitment to enhancing employability. It helps to ensure that VU graduates are sought after as highly capable employees and employers.

WIL involves students in learning that links authentic real-world professional experience with disciplinary theory. It is an overarching term for the many experiential learning activities typical of disciplines including:

fieldwork
Practice Integrated Learning
placements
practicum
professional experience
cadetships and internships
client-driven projects
industry-focused research
laboratories
simulations (such as moot courts).

WIL benefits students, teachers, universities, communities and employers. As part of WIL, students develop:

professional, practical and academic skills
enhanced employability
career planning skills and insights
expanded professional networks.

Where WIL is part of deeper, multi-layered partnerships, it can be a bridge to building research partnerships and other types of strong partner relations. And organisations may choose to use WIL for recruitment purposes.

Youth & Community Contacts

Senior Partnerships Manager

Maree Wheelens
Phone: 03 9919 5566
Email: [email protected]

Senior Partnerships Officer

Tanya Nacarov
Phone: 03 9919 5730
Email: [email protected]

Hanna Maxwell
Phone: 03 9919 5562
Email: [email protected]

Course Chair(s)

Jane Hickey (Community Development)
Phone: 03 9919 4049
Email: [email protected]

Jeannie Rea (Criminal Justice)
Phone: 03 9919 8944
Email: [email protected]

WIL in Youth & Community Programs

Students enrolled in Youth and Community programs at VU undertake units of study which include industry placement.

Industry placement provides students with practical experience of professional work and, in collaboration with industry and community sector supervisors and the university academics, students begin to understand and enhance their knowledge of work practice.

These practical experiences are also the basis of students’ critical reflection and theorising.

The Youth and Community Senior Partnerships Officers (see above) coordinate industry placements for students in the:

The Senior Partnerships Officers establish and maintain a large number of industry and community sector partnerships that are used to support placements for students in the 2nd and 3rd years of their course, during which they undertake Work Integrated Learning (WIL) units of study.

They work with and support students to have rewarding and memorable professional practice experiences that will benefit them long into their careers.

Industry Placement

All industry placements are undertaken concurrently with the university academic studies so that students can reflect on their practice and continue to consider how theory and practice interconnect. This model provides students with ongoing contact and support from the university for the duration of their placement.

Required Placement Hours

Students must undertake 400 hours of industry placement in the Community Development and Youth Work courses, structured as two placements each of 200 hours duration.

Criminal Justice students undertake one placement of 200 hours duration in their course.

Placement can occur at any time throughout a given academic year dependent on host organisation needs and student availability. Students will negotiate their placement schedule with the workplace supervisor.

: While on placement, it is expected that students will engage in some project work. The nature of the project work can be negotiated between the student and the host organisation and should fit in with the student’s level of competence and confidence and be of benefit to the organisation.
While the industry placement is focused on students learning practical skills for future employment, they also provide valuable and meaningful contribution to the organisations they are placed within. A student can bring different perspectives and fresh ideas to an organisation and contribute in a material way to its programs, services and resources.
: For placement, the second year of their course focuses on students developing skills for engaging with diverse groups of young people and community.
As this is often the first industry experience the students have had the placement aim is to expand their knowledge of the youth work and community development sectors to further understand industry practice.
The second year placement outcomes can be achieved via multiple placement experiences.
In previous years students have been involved in the following types of projects:
engaging in community groups/programs
surveying community members
developing and facilitating youth summits
playing a key role in organising and attending camps
delivering recreational/sporting activities
organising youth week events
planning and developing a campaign and/or community event
Climate change activism
supporting student welfare initiatives
being involved with homework clubs.
: In third year students enhance the skills and knowledge previously developed, requiring them to exercise a higher degree of autonomy and responsibility. In this industry placement the students complete 200 hours in the one organisation.
The priority is to have students involved in placement that further develops their professional practice and engagement within the sector and provides an opportunity to apply the level of expertise they are rapidly developing within their academic studies.
There is a wide variety of work and projects that students can be involved in while on a third year placement. In previous years students have been involved in the following types of projects:
evaluation of community-based programs or activities
community consultation/needs analysis
documentation of a program model and its impact on the participants
development and implementation of community education programs
NDIS accreditation
development of organisation training programs
case management
volunteer support and development.
: The VU Senior Partnerships Officers work to pre-select and match students with organisations based on the student’s interests and the organisation’s requirements.
Once a match has been identified, the student is informed and expected to contact the host organisation and arrange a placement interview.
Placement Interview
The placement interview is a chance for the host organisation supervisor to meet with student candidates and discuss details about the organisation and the placement opportunity.
The interview might include:
discussion of the organisation’s services, programs and clients
project ideas or research topics
placement expectations
commencement dates and suitable days and times for the placement.
Students are expected to view this as a professional job interview and present their current resume and Working with Children Check/National Police Check (where applicable).
: Supervision and assessment are an important part of the teaching and learning process and should assist the student’s development and allow workplace supervisors and students to together reflect on ways to improve learning outcomes.
As supervision is an integral process for the students while on placement, supervisors are asked to engage students in regular fortnightly supervision sessions which combine the process with educational guidance. During the supervision sessions the placement supervisor can clarify current tasks and responsibilities and discuss the progress of the students’ learning goals.
Supervisors are asked to contribute to a student’s development and progress by supporting a number of processes, as outlined below.
At the commencement of the placement
Supervisors are encouraged to assist and guide the student in developing some personal and professional learning goals related to their professional practice while undertaking the placement. Learning goals need to be realistic and appropriate to the student’s level and experience. The learning goals can be and reviewed during supervision sessions.
Throughout the placement
Supervisors are asked to meet regularly with students, or on an as needs basis to discuss placement progress and to allow students to gain formal feedback about their performance in the workplace.
New learning objectives can be negotiated if any party identifies concerns about the student’s practice, understanding or skills. If there are serious concerns which need to be addressed, a VU Senior Partnerships Officer will facilitate and participate in a review meeting.
: During the placement, students have access to the VU Senior Partnerships Officers, Course Chairs and lecturers, all of whom provide advice, guidance and support as needed. In their classes throughout the year, students engage in discussions to reflect on and analyse their industry experiences. The classes assist students with professionalism, expectations and their roles and responsibilities whist on placement and highlight conflict resolution and occupational health and safety procedures.
Host Organisation and Industry Supervisor Support
VU greatly appreciates host organisations and supervisors providing students with valuable knowledge and skills for their future as professional practitioners. Support and assistance from the university is available to the organisation as required.

Partnership Roles & Responsibilities

These are the duties and responsibilities of all parties involved in WIL:

: VU provides information, documentation, guidance and support to the student in preparation for and during placement, clarifying all of the placement requirements along the way.
VU also provides information, documentation and advice to the host organisation prior to and during the student’s placement.
Liaison with the host organisation and the student’s supervisor to support the achievement of productive workplace experiences and a successful placement, and to help resolve any matters that might arise, is an important part of VU’s role.
: The student demonstrates a positive attitude and undertakes placement in a professional and diligent manner. They must comply with the policies of VU and the host organisation while being respectful of colleagues, clients and community members.
Students must take account of ethical considerations and observe confidentiality and privacy provisions in the workplace. They should wear appropriate workplace attire and be punctual and reliable.
During placement, the student develops their professional knowledge, skills and practice while participating fully in the day-to-day working life of the organisation. The student must notify the supervisor of any absences. Missed day/s must be made up.
At VU, the student is required to:
attend information sessions and classes for to professional practice/placement
have a current WWCC
have an up to date professional resume
regularly check their VU email and respond professionally and promptly
accept placement offers and attend meetings/interviews.
: The host organisation provides appropriate management and administrative support to enable the student to undertake the professional placement effectively, including designating and providing time for a workplace Supervisor/Mentor to oversee the student’s placement.
The host organisation liaises with VU on the progress of the student’s placement and on the resolution of any matters that might arise during the placement.
: The supervisor guides the student in understanding the working environment of the host organisation, including its workplace policies and procedures.
They act as a role model for the student, operating as a coach, advisor and evaluator and exposing them to relevant aspects of professional life.
The supervisor assists the student in the development of achievable learning and work objectives for the placement and guides the student in workplace practice.
They give feedback that helps the student to analyse and reflect on their work performance.
The supervisor rigorously and fairly evaluates the student’s performance while on placement and gives evidence-based feedback in doing so.
Documents completed by the supervisor, in consultation with the student, include the:
Work Integrated Learning Agreement – completed by the student and supervisor at the beginning of the placement
The Student Completion Report -completed by the supervisor when 200 hours of placement is achieved.

Industry Placement Documents

Work Integrated Learning Agreement (WILA)

The WILA is used to formalise the partnership and placement arrangement among the host organisation, the student and the university. It sets out the terms on which each party will interact for the purposes of the student undertaking their WIL industry placement.

The WILA must be signed by the student and an authorised representative of both the host organisation and of VU (3 signatures in total) prior to placement commencement.

OHS Induction Checklist

Students have obligations to plan and act in the best interest of their own health and safety and for other persons who may be affected by their actions or omissions while on placement.

They are required to be aware of, and comply with, applicable health and safety procedures and practices put in place by the host organisation.

This checklist is used to assist in this process.

Student Completion Reports

The Student Completion Report is completed by the supervisor when 200 hours of placement is achieved.

On completion, the report is forwarded to the VU senior partnership officer and the student.

WWCC & National Police Check

Students are given detailed instructions on how to apply for a ‘Working with Children Card (WWCC)’, which they must have in order to undertake placement in a site where they work with children under 18 years of age.

Some host organisations require a National Police Check. The host will need to advise the student if this is the case.

VU Insurance Policies

These show the insurance coverage for students whilst on professional experience placement, excursions, field assignments, or study tours organised as part of or relevant to the student’s course.

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Youth & community industry partners placement information

Work Integrated Learning

Youth & Community Contacts

Senior Partnerships Manager

Senior Partnerships Officer

Course Chair(s)

WIL in Youth & Community Programs

Industry Placement

Required Placement Hours

Placement Interview

At the commencement of the placement

Throughout the placement

Host Organisation and Industry Supervisor Support