Work Integrated Learning (Student Placement)

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Work Integrated Learning (Student Placement) provides hands-on learning and an opportunity to put theory into action. Placement is a mandatory component for select ACAP courses.

What is WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING?

Work Integrated Learning (also called Placement, Professional Experience, Fieldwork) is unpaid work experience. This is your opportunity to put the theory you are learning in class to practice within a supervised workplace. All placements have strict requirements which must be met to successfully complete the placement. Work Integrated Learning Officers and your discipline will be able to provide you with these requirements.

Which ACAP courses have WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING as part of the curriculum?

Courses which have a compulsory student placement component are:

No other ACAP courses currently have Work Integrated Learning as part of the curriculum.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Counselling, and Bachelor of Psychological Science and Counselling from Trimester 1 2020, carry out a mandatory period of volunteering during their course. The mandatory volunteering must be completed prior to commencing placement in the final year. Further details are provided here on the volunteering web page.

We recommend students enrolled in other courses and wanting a career in human services or a related area consider volunteering whilst studying. This puts you in the best possible position when jobs become available in that agency as they already know you.

Why do students undertake WIL or placements?

ACAP University College has an excellent reputation in the industry for our students being ‘work ready’ when they graduate. Work integrated learning (work placement) gives you the opportunity to put theory into practice in a supervised workplace and develop your skills.

Many ACAP courses are accredited by the professional associations for each discipline. The accreditation requirements for the above courses include completing unpaid student placements. Each course has specific requirements and details are provided when it’s time to prepare for placement.

Please ensure that you prepare and plan for the time needed to complete placements. It may be possible to use your workplace for your placement if it meets the requirements and you can undertake suitable placement activities at work.

Where can students undertake a placement?

This depends on your course and your discipline.

Students have completed placements across a broad range of settings, including public and private hospitals, community health services, mental health services, family and relationship services, schools, aged care providers, disability services, alcohol and other drug services, courts, law firms, prisons and justice organisations, charitable organisations, NDIS providers, aged care services, child and family support organisations, local councils, government agencies, and non-government organisations.

Counselling students may be interested in working in the area of domestic violence, substance abuse, family therapy, correctional work such as re-offending prevention programs, body image and self-esteem, poverty and homelessness, relationships, working with women, working with men, support of the LGBTIQ Community or many other areas where counsellors can make a significant difference.

Students in the discipline of Criminology and Justice may complete a placement in organisations such as Victoria Police and the Department of Justice, as well as various courts, law firms, prisons and many more organisations.

Master of Psychology (Clinical) students undertake two (2) external placements (after completing an internal placement in the ACAP Clinic over three trimesters in a variety of organisations and/or health facilities.

Social Work students undertake two (2) placements and these can be in a wide variety of organisations from human services through to corporate .

Legal Practice students participate in workplace experience, which is a compulsory part of all GDLP courses, providing an invaluable opportunity to put skills and knowledge into practice within 15 days of workplace training.

Undertaking your placement in an agency that offers services in an area of interest to you is the best possible way to get started on your career path. You will build a professional network of contacts in that area. Many ACAP students are successful at gaining employment through their placement.

When and how will I get more information about WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING?

Students can read about placements in their unit outlines and course guides.

Each discipline willcommunicate with students at the most appropriate time, via different formats, to provide all of the information you need to get ready for placement.

Students will be emailed via their ACAP email account. The Webmail Guide includes instructions on how to access your ACAP email, and how to redirect the emails to your private email account.

Should you require further information before that time, or if you have any questions about placement, please contact your discipline.