Practical placement FAQs
Below are commonly asked questions about placements of host organisations. If you need more information, please complete our Host Enquiry Form.
Quicklinks
- What fields of study require placement?
- What types of organisations host student placements?
- Are there any agreements or contracts a Host Organisation is required to complete?
- What responsibilities does a Host Organisation have regarding student placement?
- What responsibilities does Chisholm have in regards to student placement?
- What responsibilities does a student have in regards to placement?
- Do students complete any pre-placement requirements?
- What insurance policies does Chisholm hold, and what are the Host Organisation’s responsibilities in regards to insurance?
- Do Host Organisations have to pay a student while on placement?
- Are there assessment requirements while a student is on placement?
- Are students able to be employed while on placement?
- Are Host Organisations paid for student placements?
- What resources or materials are students required to bring on placement?
- How many hours a day does a student need to attend placement?
- How many hours a week can a student attend placement?
- What happens if a student is injured while on placement?
- What happens if a Host Organisation has conduct, discipline, or student suitability concerns?
- I have read all of the above and want to support a student on placement. What is the process?
What fields of study require placement?
There are a several of courses at Chisholm that have a mandatory placement requirement. These courses include:
- Allied Health Assistance
- Business
- Community Pharmacy
- Community Services
- Dental Assistance
- Disability
- Early Childhood
- Employment preparation courses
- Engineering
- Mental Health
- Nursing
- Pathology
- Sterilisation
- Youth Work
- Ageing Support
- Individual Support
What types of organisations host student placements?
Chisholm collaborates with various organisations to offer placement opportunities to its students. These range from big industry providers to small not-for-profits. This diverse range of host partnerships is valuable in ensuring that Chisholm can provide placement opportunities to a wide range of students. Additionally, it helps us to allocate the best-suited student to an organisation based on their specific requirements.
Are there any agreements or contracts a Host Organisation is required to complete?
Yes, every Host Organisation that collaborates with us must complete a placement agreement. This agreement defines the legal roles and responsibilities of both the Host Organisation and Chisholm. It is mandatory for the placement agreement to be completed before a student can start their placement with any Host Organisation. You can find further information regarding placement agreements in our Host Information section.
What responsibilities does a Host Organisation have regarding student placement?
Roles and responsibilities of a Host Organisation in the placement process include;
- To complete and sign the host section of the relevant placement agreement
- To undertake a site induction for the student on Day 1.
- To nominate a supervisor, supervise and support the student responsibly.
- To review and sign the placement hours attendance each day.
- To ensure the student is adequately briefed on host policies and procedures.
- Provide an environment where the student is able to complete their placement tasks, requirements, and assessments.
- Provide appropriate training and learning opportunities that support students in becoming competent in their chosen field.
- 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 that 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.
- To notify the Chisholm Placement Coordinator immediately if the student is not complying with the policies and procedures of the host or is not making satisfactory progress.
- To participate in evaluations and discussions with the student and Chisholm Assessing Teacher and Chisholm Placement Coordinator regarding work undertaken and performance.
- To brief Host Organisation staff on the role of the student on placement.
- To respond to student or Chisholm concerns or complaints in a timely manner.
- To complete and sign all Third-party Reports (where applicable).
What responsibilities does Chisholm have in regards to student placement?
Roles and responsibilities of Chisholm in the placement process include:
- To organise placement for students.
- To complete a Due Diligence (WHS) check annually, or prior to placement occurring if a new host.
- To ensure a current Placement Agreement is in place with any host supporting a student on placement.
- To adequately prepare students to attend and participate in placement.
- To ensure the placement is directly related to the training outcomes of the unit of competency or course and is valuable for vocation and employment outcomes.
- To advise students they are undertaking unpaid work placement and will not be paid any remuneration, payment, or similar benefit (of any form) for the placement
- Ensure that when a Chisholm supervisor attends a Host Organisation's premises to placement, that they are able to produce the necessary workplace requirements (e.g. wwcc) and comply with your Organisation’s visitor rules
- To assess students on placement (excluding some clinical placement types).
- To provide support to students and the Host Organisation during placement, and to respond to host and student concerns or formal complaints in a timely manner.
- To support students to continue to uphold the standards and behavioural expectations set out in Chisholm’s Student Code of Conduct
- To assist the Host to complete all Third-Party Reports (where applicable).
- To maintain appropriate insurance policies covering students while on placement (see below for further information about insurances)
What responsibilities does a student have in regards to placement?
Roles and responsibilities of a student in the placement process include;
- To comply with the attendance requirement of the placement and complete the Student Undertaking Form prior to beginning placement.
- To dress in accordance with workplace guidelines specified by the Host and Chisholm.
- To carry out all reasonable and lawful directions performed under the direction of the nominated host supervisor and comply with the Host Organisation’s policies and procedures.
- To demonstrate sensitivity and discretion toward the clients of the host.
- To actively participate in the learning process, taking a key role in achieving their learning objectives.
- To participate in the assessment processes and discuss placement requirements of placement tasks, activities, and assessments with host supervisor.
- To notify the host or Chisholm Placement Coordinator if there are concerns or issues with the practical placement.
- To notify the host supervisor and Chisholm Placement Coordinator of all absences prior to the commencement of the workday.
- To assume responsibility for the completion of all assessment tasks, requirements, and assessments while on placement, and final submissions once placement has been completed.
Do students complete any pre-placement requirements?
Yes, All students must obtain a number for pre-placement compliance requirements before being assigned a placement. These requirements directly relate to industry regulations and standards, and may include:
- Working with Children Check
- Police Check
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Immunisations
The checks protect the safety of our students and the people the students work with while on placement. If a Host Organisation has additional compliance requirements, Chisholm will support students to complete these in addition to their core set of placement compliance requirements. Awareness of these will assist us in ensuring any additional requirements are completed before starting placement. Any pre-placement compliance 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 insurance policies does Chisholm hold, and what are the Host Organisation’s responsibilities in regards to insurance?
Chisholm has a range of insurance policies that cover student placements, including;
- 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 – only applies when the student is enrolled in a Chisholm clinical or non-clinical health course.
Hosts should note that their Organisation will not be covered by Worker's Compensation if a student is injured while on placement. It is recommended for hosts 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 Host Organisations have to pay a student while on placement?
No. As stipulated in 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”
This means that students completing vocational placements that are a mandatory aspect of a course are not eligible to receive payment while completing placement. Where a student's arrangement with a Host Organisation entitles them to receive money for their work, 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.
Are there assessment requirements while a student is on placement?
Yes. 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 student attending placement will have several assessment requirements or tasks that they will need to complete. These requirements or tasks are competency based and ensure that students complete placement with the required level of skills and knowledge to enable them to work within their chosen industry. More information in regards to requirements or tasks and how students are assessed on placement can be found in our Host Guide.
Are students able to be employed while on placement?
Depending on industry regulations, some students can be employed while on placement, or complete placement within their workplace. Host Organisations should consider if the placement and employee requirements can be completed simultaneously, prior to approving an employee’s placement.
If employing a student while on placement, Chisholm will request that you complete an alternative placement agreement that outlines legal rights, responsibilities and obligations for Chisholm, the Host Organisation and the Student, relevant to industrial awards and agreements.
Are Host Organisations paid for student placements?
Generally speaking, Host Organisations are not provided with any type of monetary payment for supporting a student on placement. The exception to this are students completing placement within a clinical setting, such as a hospital. Clinical placements relate to health courses from areas such as nursing, dental, pathology and allied health assistance. Payment for these types of placements is under the directive of the Department of Health. 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 Chisholm and the Host Organisation to plan for placements financially. This also ensures the sustainability of industry entry training. All questions relating to Host payments should be directed to Chisholm, not a student.
What resources or materials are students required to bring on placement?
Students are not required to supply any resources or materials for placement. For many of our courses students will be required to wear a uniform. This ensures that students meet the health and safety requirements of both Chisholm and the Host Organisation.
How many hours a day does a student need to attend placement?
Generally speaking, we request that all students complete a full day of placement (an 8-hour day with 30 minutes lunch break). This ensures that students experience workplace conditions and expectations that replicate what they will most likely experience when working within the industry. There are circumstances however, when a student cannot complete a full day of placement. Placement Coordinators discuss individual student requirements when they arise with the Host Organisation to ensure an altered schedule can be facilitated.
How many hours a week can a student attend placement?
Workplace Health & Safety, Industrial Regulations and placement agreements stipulate that a student in not able to attend placement more than 38 hours a week. Taking breaks and rest periods is important to ensure the student's well-being and prevent burnout. Additionally, students are not recommended to skip lunch to leave earlier, which could negatively impact their health and productivity.
What happens if a student is injured while on placement?
If a student is injured while attending placement the Host Organisation must inform their relevant Placement Coordinator and the student's emergency contact as soon as possible. Any circumstance in which a student is injured (including those that could impact their health, well-being, and safety) must be reported using the Host Organisation’s reporting framework. Incident reports should include the circumstances and any measures taken to address the situation, including measures to support the student in completing the placement. Chisholm reserves the right to withdraw a student from placement if there are concerns about their health, safety, or well-being. Where an incident occurs, a Placement Coordinator will request a copy of reports to ensure any obligations of Chisholm are satisfactorily completed.
What happens if a Host Organisation has conduct, discipline, or student suitability concerns?
Chisholm takes all feedback regarding student behaviour, performance, and suitability seriously. When any concern is raised, Chisholm will work with the Host Organisation to discuss the concerns and support an outcome relevant to the situation, supporting the best outcomes for the Host Organisation and the student.
Depending on the concern, this can include:
- Debriefing with the Host Organisation
- Meeting with a student to discuss concerns
- Behaviour and Performance of Student Contracts
- Strategy development with both Host Organisation and student to provide a chance to reflect and improve on concerns
- Assessed as not competent in the placement, requiring the student to complete a placement at an alternative host
- Removal from placement and student support provided until deemed placement ready
- Immediate termination of placement
Before taking any of these steps regarding concerns, where possible, the Host Organisation should notify their relevant Placement Coordinator so concerns can be addressed.
I have read all of the above and want to support a student on placement. What is the process?
Chisholm requests that all potential Host Organisations complete the Industry Enquiry Form for Student Placements. Once completed, a relevant member of the Placement Team will reach out to discuss your requirements and Chisholm placement opportunities with you.