Who can be a host/placement provider? 

Our host/placement providers range from large industry organisations to smaller not-for-profit organisations.  

If you can offer industry experience to students linked to a Chisholm course and the opportunity for them to successfully meet assessment requirements, you’re most likely suitable to host students. 

To confirm your suitability to become a host, we require prospective hosts to complete a host organisation questionnaire, including a checklist of items for hosts to consider and confirm they have in place before taking on students. 

What are the assessment requirements for student placement? 

As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), we must follow assessment requirements as set by the: 

  • Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) 
  • Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET) 
  • Relevant professional bodies and industry regulators (relating to accreditation and professional registration) 
  • Chisholm’s Educational Quality Framework (EQF). 

Each course has different assessment requirements. These are discussed with hosts to ensure students are assigned tasks and activities during their placement with these assessment requirements in mind. 

Do I get paid for taking students? 

Many of our hosts view taking students on placement as a way of securing the workforce for the future and do not request payment. 

Some hosts, like public hospitals, require payment to take certain types of students on placement. This is governed by the Standardised Schedule of Fees for Clinical Placement of Students in Victorian Public Health Services. 

Other private healthcare organisations may charge a placement fee for certain types of students on placement. This is negotiated by both parties based on fair cost sharing, allowing us and the host to financially plan for placements. This ensures the sustainability of industry entry training. 

Do I have to pay students on placement? 

Under the Fair Work Act a vocational placement “is lawfully unpaid work if it is a placement arranged by an educational training institution, in line with the requirements of the course and the placement is a required component of the course as a whole, and no separate arrangement has been made between the student and the host for the student to receive payment for the work they perform”. 

Therefore, students on placement are not entitled to receive remuneration and hosts are not obliged to make payment or similar benefit (of any form) for a placement.  

Where a student's arrangement with a host entitles them to receive money for the work they perform, the vocational placement will likely have turned into an employment relationship.  Similarly, work arrangements covered by industrial awards or agreements are not vocational placements.  Before offering to make any payments, your organisation should seek professional advice on any potential implications for doing so under employment or industrial laws. 

Am I obliged to offer a student employment at the end of the placement? 

A host is under no obligation to offer a student employment. However, many of our hosts do offer students employment at the end of placement. This is a win/win for the organisation and the student.   

What checks needs to be carried out before students can start placement? 

All students undertaking placements must complete pre-placement checks. The checks vary depending on our requirements, the nature of the tasks and activities to be undertaken by the student while on placement and the host’s workplace requirements. The checks are to protect the safety of our students and the people the students work with while on placement. 

We help coordinate the completion of pre-placement checks and help students to submit evidence they’ve completed these checks to your organisation. Hosts need to inform us of specific pre-placement checks they require students to complete, as soon as possible. This allows our students time to complete the checks before starting placement. 

All pre-placement check information collected from students must only be used for the purpose of facilitating placements. Personal and health information must be managed in accordance with the Chisholm privacy policy and your organisation’s privacy policy. 

What are the host and our responsibilities regarding placement?  

During placement, we, the host and our students have certain roles, obligations and responsibilities that must be met. 

Host organisation obligations are to: 

  • discuss the types of activities that the student(s) will undertake on placement with a member of our placement team. This ensures activities are relevant to the course of study and useful for the vocation and employment outcomes of the unit or course 
  • plan and carry out the student’s agreed program of activities and provide appropriate training and learning experiences for the student undertaking the placement 
  • cooperate and coordinate with a member of our placement team to provide an orientation and induction program for the student 
  • nominate a supervisor responsible for the student while on placement 
  • be satisfied that the student undertaking the placement is suitable for the placement having regard to, amongst other things, the information disclosed by the students to your organisation prior to placement  
  • be responsible for the overall control and discipline of the student while they undertake placement. Ensuring placement is not used as a substitute for employment or the engagement of contractors  
  • comply with relevant privacy laws and maintain confidentiality regarding any confidential information or materials pertaining to student assessments 
  • advise each student of any confidentiality, privacy and other obligations which may apply to them during and, in some cases, after the period of the placement 
  • maintain the confidentiality of any health information that has been disclosed in relation to the student and only disclose this information to another party if treatment is required for a known medical condition or in the case of a medical emergency 
  • maintain your own Public Liability insurance. 

Our obligations are to ensure students undertaking placement obtain and provide your organisation with a copy of all relevant pre-placement checks before starting their placement if required.  

Typical checks include: 

  • Current immunisation records 
  • Working with Children Check 
  • NDIS Worker Screening check or a current National Police Certificate. 

Hosts may also require students to complete additional pre-placement checks specific to their workplace. If that is the case, hosts must let us know as soon as possible so we can coordinate completion of additional checks by students before starting their placement. 

  • ensure that when our staff attend your organisation's premises in relation to placement, obtain and produce a copy of a current National Police Certificate, if requested and comply with your workplace visitor rules 
  • advise students they’re undertaking unpaid work placement and will not be paid any remuneration, payment or similar benefit (of any form) for the placement 
  • supporting students to continue to uphold the standards and behavioural expectations set out in our student code of conduct 
  • engage and consult with hosts about placement arrangements including: 
    • monitoring the student’s performance 
    • completing documentation 
  • contacting students and hosts throughout placement. Ensure problems perceived by the host or the student are addressed in accordance with the host’s and our supporting policies and procedures 
  • maintain appropriate insurance policies covering students while on placement (see below for further information about insurances) 

What are the student’s responsibilities while on placement? 

Prior to any student undertaking a placement with your organisation, we’ll ensure each student has signed a Student Undertaking. This confirms the student’s commitment to your organisation to participate in the placement. 

Student placement obligations and responsibilities are outlined below. 

Prior to commencing placement: 

Students must complete all required pre-placement checks (see question above). This will typically include: 

  • obtaining a valid Working with Children Check 
  • a National Police Check 
  • an NDIS Worker Screening check 
  • completing health screening questionnaires 
  • confirming immunisations are current. 

The checks vary depending on the workplace the student is going to and any specific pre-placement checks required by the host. Students need to understand the results of the checks may impact their eligibility to participate in practical placement. 

Inform a member of our placement team and host of any necessary health information, including details of any known medical conditions which may affect them and any medication or treatment which may be necessary. 

During placement 

  • cooperate and complete all host induction programs, making sure they’ve read and understand the host’s workplace policies, procedures, rules and requirements 
  • demonstrate professional conduct by following our Student Code of Conduct 
  • carry out all reasonable and lawful directions of the host, as directed by the nominated supervisor, and perform work to the best of their ability 
  • demonstrate sensitivity and discretion toward the clients of the host 
  • take a key role in achieving their learning objectives during placement  
  • participate in the assessment processes and discuss placement requirements in the practical placement guide and placement assessments with the host supervisor 
  • contribute effectively to their personal assessment discussions, giving examples of their progress towards competency 
  • regularly evaluate their own progress in practising skills for quality work 
  • have required written work available and up to date 
  • respond positively to feedback from host staff and supervising teachers 
  • implement specific strategies suggested for areas of concern and monitor their own performance 
  • conform to the attendance requirements of the placement 
  • dress in accordance with workplace guidelines specified by the host and Chisholm 
  • notify the host or a member of the Chisholm Placement team if there are concerns or issues with the practical placement 
  • notify the host supervisor and a member of the Chisholm Placement team of all absences prior to the commencement of the workday 
  • submit a work placement logbook consisting of reports and learning activities. 
  • complete all procedures for managing and finalising the placement. 

What happens if an incident occurs while on placement? 

If a student suffers an injury or an incident occurs during placement, the incident must be reported in accordance with the host organisation and our incident reporting protocols. External reporting procedures must also be followed where applicable. 

Host organisations must notify our Placement Coordinator as soon as practicable if the student is absent, injured or becomes unwell while undertaking practical placement  

If, during the placement, the student is directly or indirectly involved in an incident that may compromise their health or safety while on your organisation’s premises, your organisation must as soon as practicable, notify our Placement Coordinator of the incident, the circumstances giving rise to the incident, the effect on the student including any injury to the student and the measures put in place at that time to remedy the situation. The host will keep us informed on an ongoing basis of such measures while the placement continues. We reserve the right to withdraw the student from the placement at any time if there are concerns about a student’s health, safety or welfare 

In case of an emergency, your organisation must contact the student’s emergency contact person and our Placement Coordinator. 

What insurance arrangements need to be in place? 

We have the following insurance policies covering students while on placement: 

  • Group Personal Accident – covering students while on practical placement which includes covering students for non-Medicare medical expenses 
  • Public Liability – amounts which Chisholm is legally liable to pay in respect to personal injury or property damage caused by an occurrence in connection with the operations of Chisholm, including as a result of students while on placement 
  • Combined Medical and Professional Indemnity – which only applies where the student is enrolled in a Chisholm clinical or non-clinical health course. 

Students who are injured while undertaking a placement are not covered under Chisholm’s or the Department of Education and Training’s workers compensation insurance policies but may be eligible to make a claim under other insurance arrangements in place through the Department of Education and Training. 

Hosts are required to hold their own Public Liability Insurance policies, Motor Vehicle and Workers Compensation Insurance policies on terms and at levels suitable for the nature of the risks and scale of the host organisation’s operations. 

Do hosts needs to sign an agreement to take students on placement? 

Yes. To ensure that all parties are fully informed of the rights and obligations covering student placement, a formal agreement will be entered into between all parties: we, the host and the student attending placement. 

This agreement will be either a Student Placement Agreement (SPA) or a Placement Letter Agreement (PLA). The Agreement must be finalised and signed prior to a student going on placement. For more information on host agreements contact us.  

How are student conduct, discipline and suitability issues dealt with on placement? 

If a host organisation believes that any student engaged in placement: 

  • is not competent to perform allotted tasks, 
  • fails to conduct themselves in a safe and professional manner 
  • fails to comply with any Law, the Student Undertaking, a protocol, policy, procedure, guideline or reasonable instruction the host may: 
    1. terminate the practical exercise in which that student is participating with immediate effect; or 
    2. restrict or limit the student's access to clients, stakeholders or third parties with which your organisation has dealings; or 
    3. restrict or limit the tasks that the student performs as part of the placement; or 
    4. direct the student to leave the premises of your organisation and/or refuse the student any further access to the premises of your organisation; and 
    5. take all reasonable steps necessary to ensure that the student complies with an instruction given under this clause. 

Before a host takes any of the steps above, it should (where practicable and safe in the circumstances) first notify our Placement Coordinator so we can assist address the host’s concerns. 

COVID safe plan and COVID vaccinations 

All employers who host a Chisholm student on placement must have a current COVID safe plan as part of their agreement with Chisholm. 

Students attending placement must be up to date with immunisations which includes COVID-19 vaccinations, doses 1,2 and 3 as determined by government and be briefed on host COVID safe plans as part of the student’s induction 

Up to date COVID-19 details are listed on our Coronavirus page.  

InPlace 

InPlace is a web-based software platform for education providers that supports an enterprise model for managing student workplace experiences, such as practical placement. 

Download a copy of the InPlace Fact Sheet for more information.