ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½

Yes, if you are an early childhood student and you can answer yes to ALL of the below

1. My centre meets ACECQA Rating of "MEETING" or higher
2. The Director must be aware that if the student is employed as relief staff on a casual basis, the placement is completed in the one room for the duration of the placement full time.
3. My centre has a University Qualified Early Childhood Teacher willing to support my placement
4. My centre is open 5 days a week, 7.5hrs a day
5. I am not the Owner or a Centre Director of the Centre I am applying to complete my placement at. - Completing a placement at a Centre where I am the Owner or Director is deemed a CONFLICT of Interest

Please see the for information on how to apply.

ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ will make every reasonable effort to place you within 90 kilometres or 90 minutes of your registered residential address; however, this cannot be guaranteed. In some cases, limited placement availability may mean you need to travel further, particularly in metropolitan or remote areas. If you are required to travel an extended distance, you may be eligible to apply for a Professional Experience Travel and Accommodation Bursary through SONIA Online.

The Professional Experience placement process begins when you enrol in your Professional Experience unit and ends when your placement has been completed and assessed. The process includes several important steps to help you prepare for and successfully complete your placement:

1. Enrol in your Professional Experience unit (or submit a Unit Approval Request if required).
2. Complete and upload all mandatory placement checks by the published deadline.
3. The Professional Experience team sources and confirms a suitable placement for you.
4. Your placement details are released approximately two weeks before your placement starts.
5. Contact your placement site or mentor before your first day and prepare any required documentation.
6. Complete your placement and stay in contact with your University Adviser during the placement.
7. Submit your final placement report for assessment at the end of your placement.

For a smooth placement experience, make sure your mandatory checks remain valid for the entire placement period and monitor your ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ email and SONIA Online for important updates.

No, you cannot arrange your own Professional Experience placement unless you have received approval from ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ to do so. The Professional Experience team is responsible for sourcing and approving placements to ensure they meet course requirements, accreditation standards and partnership agreements. Contacting schools, early learning centres or other placement providers without approval may affect your placement eligibility.

The Professional Experience calendar is published before the start of each academic year and is updated as required. The calendar includes key dates for placement periods, mandatory requirements, important deadlines and other Professional Experience activities. We recommend checking the calendar regularly to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.

Placements must not be undertaken in a site where a PST has a conflict of interest. Examples of conflict of interest include but are not limited to, the following.  A site: 

• which is their place of employment (excluding Early Childhood Workplace Placements, Conditional Accreditation Placements and Permission to Teach Placements) 
• where they have close relatives attending, employed or working at the site (e.g. partner, parent, sibling, child) 
•  where they are a member or have a close relative on the site’s board. 
• where they are the owner or director of a childcare centre. 
• where they have a close relative who is the owner or director of a childcare centre. 

PSTs are responsible for declaring any sites where they have a Conflict of Interest to the PEx Centre. Conflicts of interest are declared on the Placement Form required for each placement. PSTs must immediately disclose to the PEx Centre if they have been placed in a site where they have a conflict of interest. Not doing so may result in a deferred placement or a Fail Grade. The Director PEx, in consultation with the PEx Centre, reserves the right to withdraw a placement should a PST fail to disclose a conflict of interest.

If you believe you have been allocated to a Professional Experience placement where there is an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest, you must notify the Professional Experience team as soon as possible. Do not contact the placement site or commence your placement until the conflict has been reviewed.

earlychildhood.placements@scu.edu.au

school.placements@scu.edu.au

No, pre-service teachers can only enrol in one professional experience unit per term. Pre-service teachers should seek enrolment, study plan and course progression contact Client Services Team by phone 1800 SC HELP / 1800 72 4357 or email education.enquiry@scu.edu.au.

Out of Zone placements are allocated in an area that is outside the catchment area of Lismore, Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour campuses

Students granted Permission to Teach (PTT) or Conditional Accreditation (CA), and students completing school-based final placements, must complete their Professional Experience across a minimum of two different sites. Students undertaking Early Childhood Professional Experience placements may be able to return to the same site, provided they meet the course requirements and any workplace placement eligibility criteria.

You can contact your mentor teacher as soon as you receive your confirmed placement details, usually 1–2 weeks before your Professional Experience placement starts. Contact your Site Coordinator, Centre Director or mentor teacher only after your placement has been confirmed and as directed by the Professional Experience Centre, unless advised otherwise.

Yes, you must meet the Working with Children Check or equivalent screening requirements for the state or territory where you complete your Professional Experience placement. If your placement is in a different state or territory from where you live, you may need to obtain an additional clearance before your placement can commence. It is your responsibility to ensure all required Mandatory Placement Checks are completed by the published deadline.

For more information on working with children checks, please visit the .

Yes, if you live near the NSW–Queensland border, you should obtain both a NSW Working with Children Check and a Queensland Blue Card. Professional Experience placements may be allocated in either New South Wales or Queensland, and you must hold the required clearance for the state where you undertake your placement. Having both clearances before placement allocations commence helps avoid delays in securing a placement.

The Placement Form and Pre-service Teacher Agreement are mandatory forms that must be completed as part of your Mandatory Placement Checks before your Professional Experience placement can be allocated.

All Professional Experience forms are available in and must be submitted by the published deadlines.

The Pre-service Teacher Placement Agreement is a mandatory placement check that you must complete before you are eligible to undertake a Professional Experience placement. The agreement becomes available in once enrolled, and you have been added to a placement group. By completing the agreement, you confirm that you understand and agree to comply with the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Faculty of Education Code of Conduct throughout your Professional Experience placement. Failure to complete the agreement will prevent you from participating in any Professional Experience placements.

To apply for a Queensland Blue Card, you must create a , link your account to ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ through , and then submit your Blue Card application through Blue Card Services. If you are not a Queensland resident, you will also need a from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads before you can apply. Allow at least six weeks for your application to be processed and ensure your Blue Card remains valid for the entire duration of your Professional Experience placement.

For more information, please visit the .

You must complete the approved that matches your placement setting and location.

• Early Childhood placements (all states and territories): ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for children’s education/care
• Primary and Secondary placements in ACT, NSW, NT, SA and TAS: ASCIA anaphylaxis e-training for Australasian schools
• Primary and Secondary placements in Queensland: ASCIA Anaphylaxis Training – Queensland Schools Course.
• Primary and Secondary placements in Victoria: ASCIA Anaphylaxis Training – Victorian Schools Course.
• Primary and Secondary placements in Western Australia: ASCIA Anaphylaxis Training – Western Australian Schools Course.

If you live near the NSW–Queensland border (NSW postcodes 2484–2490 or Queensland postcodes 4217–4230), you must complete both the Australasian Schools Course and the Queensland Schools Course. Your certificate is valid for two years and must remain valid for the entire duration of your Professional Experience placement. Once completed, upload your certificate to before the Mandatory Placement Check deadline.

You must complete the approved child protection training that matches your placement setting and the state or territory where you will undertake your Professional Experience placement.

• Early Childhood placements in ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, TAS and WA: and National Child Safety Training.
• Early Childhood placements in Victoria: – Victoria Early Childhood and National Child Safety Training.
• Early Childhood placements in South Australia: – South Australia and National Child Safety Training.
• Primary and Secondary placements in ACT:
• Primary and Secondary placements in NSW, NT, QLD, TAS and WA: .
• Primary and Secondary placements in Victoria: – Victoria Schools.
• Primary and Secondary placements in South Australia: – South Australia.

If you live near the NSW–ACT border, you may be required to complete the Australian Capital Territory Child Protection Training if you are allocated a placement in the ACT. Complete all required training before the Mandatory Placement Check deadline and upload your certificates to .

Yes, you are expected to complete your Professional Experience placement during the scheduled placement dates published in the Professional Experience Calendar. These dates are designed to align with your course requirements and the availability of placement sites. Changes to placement dates are only approved in exceptional circumstances and must be approved by the Professional Experience team before your placement commences.

If your circumstances change and you are unable to complete your placement during the scheduled dates, submit a Placement Adjustment Application as soon as possible.

Part-time Professional Experience placements are only available for Early Childhood placements and must be completed over a minimum of three days per week. The same three days must be attended each week, and the placement must be completed by the required end date unless an approved Placement Adjustment has been granted.

International students must complete all Professional Experience placements full-time (five days per week), regardless of their visa status.

You may be eligible to complete your Professional Experience placement overseas, but you must contact the Professional Experience Centre to check your eligibility before making any arrangements. Contact the Professional Experience Centre at earlychildhood.placements@scu.edu.au or school.placements@scu.edu.au to discuss your eligibility and available options.

Undertaking an international placement may affect your placement schedule and course completion date.

Once satisfied that an overseas placement will enable them to graduate with the desired accreditation requirements, the pre-service teacher should complete an "application for overseas placement" (selected from the drop-down box in the forms tab of SONIA). Current accreditation rules note that a final professional experience cannot be completed overseas.

All advice regarding study load, unit availability and course progression needs to be directed to student services on education.enquiry@scu.edu.au.

Access SONIA Online at using your ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ student login details.

To use the SONIA for Students mobile app, log in to SONIA Online, select the cog icon in the top-right corner, then select Connect the SONIA for Students Mobile App and follow the prompts to download and connect the app.

To view your Professional Experience placement details, log in to SONIA Online and select the Placements tab. Your placement details will only be available once you have completed all Mandatory Placement Checks, your placement has been confirmed, and it has been released by the Professional Experience team. Continue to monitor your ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ email and SONIA Online for updates.

Professional Experience placements must be completed during the scheduled placement period. If you have extenuating circumstances that prevent you from undertaking your placement as scheduled, you must submit a Placement Adjustment Application through the Forms tab in . Supporting documentation is required, and all requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Approval is not guaranteed, and you must not change your placement arrangements until your application has been approved.

If you have extenuating circumstances that prevent you from completing your Professional Experience placement during the scheduled placement period, you can apply for a Placement Adjustment through the Forms tab in . Supporting documentation must be provided, and all requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Approval is not guaranteed, and you must not change your placement arrangements until your application has been approved.

Placement adjustments are only considered for approved grounds, such as:

• Health or medical reasons
• Compassionate circumstances
• Religious observances
• Serious unforeseen personal events
• State, National or International sporting or cultural events
• Emergency service or Defence Reserve commitments

Placement adjustments are not approved for holidays, weddings, work commitments, regular childcare arrangements or transport issues.

If you no longer wish to undertake your Professional Experience unit and the census date has not passed, you may be able to withdraw from the unit. Contact Client Services for advice about your enrolment, study plan and the implications of withdrawing before making any changes to your enrolment.

No, attending a wedding is not an approved reason to be absent from your Professional Experience placement or to change your placement dates. Professional Experience placements must be completed during the scheduled placement period, and attendance is mandatory. If you are unable to attend your placement due to exceptional circumstances, you may apply for a Placement Adjustment; however, weddings are not considered grounds for approval.

No, holidays are not considered grounds for delaying a Professional Experience placement. You are expected to complete your placement during the scheduled placement period published in the Professional Experience Calendar. If you are unable to undertake your placement due to exceptional or compassionate circumstances, you may be eligible to apply for a Placement Adjustment, which will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

You are expected to attempt the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) before the end of the first year of your Australian Initial Teacher Education (ITE) qualification. Unless exempt, you must successfully complete and pass both components of the LANTITE before commencing your final Professional Experience unit. This requirement does not apply to students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Education (Early Childhood), Master of Teaching (Early Childhood), or the Graduate Diploma of Teaching (Primary or Secondary).

For more information, please visit Faculty of Education - LANTITE

You may not be able to view your Professional Experience placement details if you have not completed all Mandatory Placement Checks or your placement has not yet been released by the Professional Experience team. Placement details are only released once you have met all mandatory requirements and your placement has been confirmed. Check that your Mandatory Placement Checks have been approved in SONIA Online and monitor your ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ email and SONIA Online for updates.

If your placement details are still unavailable after completing all Mandatory Placement Checks, contact the Professional Experience team for assistance.

Yes, you are required to attend your Professional Experience placement on every scheduled placement day. Professional Experience is a compulsory component of your course, and attendance is mandatory. If you are unable to attend due to illness or other exceptional circumstances, you must follow the absence notification process outlined in the Professional Experience Handbook and make up any missed placement days where required.

If you are absent, you must notify your placement site and University Placement Advisor as soon as possible and follow the absence reporting requirements outlined in the Professional Experience Handbook.

Yes, if you choose to undertake other units while completing your Professional Experience placement, you may have assessment tasks due during your placement. It is your responsibility to manage your study and placement commitments. If you are concerned about your assessment deadlines, contact the relevant Unit Assessor to discuss your circumstances and any available options.

Yes, you can attend excursions and school camps that form part of your Professional Experience placement. If you are asked to attend a school camp or excursion that is more than one day in length, you must:

• Complete the Notification of School Camp/Excursion during Professional Experience Placement form available in the Forms tab of
• Notify your University Placement Adviser (UPA) of the excursion or school camp details.

You are covered by the University's travel, personal accident, public liability and professional indemnity insurance while participating in approved placement activities. University insurance does not cover excursions undertaken outside your approved Professional Experience placement.

Professional Experience Reports and Immersion Log Books are completed in SONIA Online. Your Mentor Teacher will complete the Interim and Final Report in SONIA Online and discuss the feedback with you. You are required to review the report and submit your acknowledgement in SONIA Online. You are no longer required to upload your report to Blackboard or email it to the Professional Experience Centre. You should retain a copy of your completed Professional Experience Report for your records.

If you fail your Professional Experience placement, you will receive a Fail grade for the Professional Experience unit and there is no automatic right to re-enrol in the unit. The Director, Professional Experience will notify you of the outcome and advise when you are eligible to return to placement.

If you receive a Fail grade:

• Contact Client Services to discuss the impact on your study plan and how to re-enrol in the next available offering, if eligible.
• Be aware that you may not be able to progress to your next Professional Experience unit until you have successfully completed the failed unit.
• If you were unable to complete your placement due to approved exceptional circumstances, you may be eligible for a Placement Adjustment and an Incomplete grade instead of a Fail. If approved, you will be able to complete the remaining placement requirements within the approved timeframe.

To request a letter confirming the number of Professional Experience days you have completed for the Queensland College of Teachers (QCT), email the Professional Experience Centre at foeadmin.placements@scu.edu.au. Please include your full name, student ID and the reason for your request to assist with processing.

No, Professional Experience grades cannot be released early. All grades must be approved through the University's assessment and grade approval process before they are released. Grades are published in accordance with the University's official results release timeframes.

Yes, financial support may be available to help with the costs of undertaking your Professional Experience placement. Depending on your circumstances and eligibility, you may be able to access a range of financial assistance, including:

• – Financial assistance for eligible students who are required to travel significant distances or relocate to complete an approved placement.
• Placement Loans – Students undertaking a mandatory Professional Experience placement may be eligible to apply for a placement loan to help manage placement-related expenses.
• Placement Scholarships – ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ is a member of several organisations that offer placement-related scholarships.

If you have a medical condition that may affect your ability to safely and effectively undertake your Professional Experience placement, you must notify the Professional Experience Centre as soon as possible. You should:

• Declare your medical condition or pregnancy on your Placement Form.
• Provide a medical clearance certificate or letter from your GP or specialist practitioner if you are pregnant or have a pre-existing medical condition.
• Contact the Professional Experience Centre if you are registered with Student Equity and Inclusion and have any concerns about your placement or require reasonable adjustments.
• Seek medical advice if you have concerns about your ability to safely undertake your placement or fulfil the required duties.
• Notify your Unit Assessor (before placement) or University Placement Adviser (during placement) if your circumstances change or your medical condition affects your ability to continue your placement.
• Notify the Professional Experience Centre if you are taking prescribed medication that may affect your work performance or conduct during placement. Your placement site may also need to be informed where appropriate.
• Provide a medical clearance certificate before returning to placement if requested following a period where you did not meet the Faculty's Fit for Practice requirements.

Support is available through Student Equity and Inclusion, and all students are expected to meet the University's Inherent Requirements and the Faculty's Fit for Practice requirements before and during Professional Experience.

Self-withdrawal from a Professional Experience placement will generally result in a Fail grade. If you are considering withdrawing from your placement, you must not stop attending or advise your placement site that you are leaving without written University approval.

Before withdrawing, you must:

• Contact your University Placement Adviser (UPA) immediately to discuss your circumstances and available options.
• Complete a Placement Continuation Review with your UPA, Mentor Teacher and/or Unit Assessor.
• Provide supporting documentation if your request is based on special circumstances.
• Submit a Self-withdrawal Form through the Forms tab in , if advised to do so.
• Continue attending your placement until you receive written approval from the University, unless there is an immediate risk to your safety or the safety of others.

Following the review, the Director of Professional Experience will determine the outcome. Depending on your circumstances, you may:

• Continue your placement with additional support.
• Be approved to defer your placement to a future placement period.
• Receive a Fail grade for the unit.

If you stop attending your placement without written University approval, this may be treated as abandonment of placement and may result in a Fail grade.

Yes, support is available if you are experiencing difficulties during your Professional Experience placement. If you have concerns about your progress, wellbeing, relationships at your placement site or your ability to meet the placement requirements, you should seek support as early as possible.

Depending on your circumstances, support may include:

• Speaking with your Mentor Teacher about your concerns.
• Contacting your University Placement Adviser (UPA) for guidance and support throughout your placement.
• Receiving additional support through a Development Support Plan (DSP) where appropriate.
• Accessing Student Equity and Inclusion if you require reasonable adjustments or additional support.
• Accessing SCU Student Support Services for wellbeing, counselling or other personal support.

If your circumstances affect your ability to continue your placement, contact your University Placement Adviser (UPA) as soon as possible to discuss the available options before making any decisions about your placement.

Yes, if illness or injury prevents you from commencing your Professional Experience placement during the scheduled placement period, you have several options depending on your circumstances. You should:

• Apply for a Placement Adjustment through the Forms tab in if you need to delay your placement. Supporting medical documentation is required, and approval is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• Contact Client Services if you are considering withdrawing from your Professional Experience unit before the census date. They can provide advice about your enrolment, study plan and the implications of withdrawing.
• Contact the Professional Experience Centre if you are unsure of your options or need advice before making any changes to your placement or enrolment.

If your Professional Experience placement has already commenced, you must not stop attending your placement without written University approval. Contact your University Placement Adviser (UPA) immediately to discuss your circumstances. A Placement Continuation Review will be undertaken to determine the most appropriate outcome, which may include continuing your placement, implementing additional support, approving a self-withdrawal, or deferring your placement. Self-withdrawal without written approval or ceasing attendance may result in a Fail grade.

Yes, if you are registered with Equity and Inclusion and require reasonable adjustments for your Professional Experience placement, you should notify the Professional Experience team as early as possible. Early notification allows the team to consider your approved adjustments during the placement allocation process. Registering with Equity and Inclusion does not automatically notify the Professional Experience team or guarantee that all adjustments can be accommodated in every placement setting.

Provide details of your special requirements to the Placement Team via earlychildhood.placements@scu.edu.au or school.placements@scu.edu.au.

If you are sick and unable to attend your Professional Experience placement, you must notify your placement site as early as possible and make up any missed placement days at the end of your current placement. You are also required to complete and submit a Make-up Day Form through the Forms tab in

If you are absent:

• For one or two consecutive days: Submit a Make-up Day Form. A medical certificate is not required.
• For three to five consecutive days: Submit a Make-up Day Form and provide a medical certificate.
• For more than five consecutive days: Submit a Make-up Day Form and provide a medical certificate. Your ability to continue the placement will be assessed by the University in consultation with your placement site.

Unexplained absences or failure to submit a required Make-up Day Form or approved Placement Adjustment Application may be treated as abandonment of your Professional Experience placement. This will result in a Fail grade for the placement and the PEx unit. 

Yes, if you are pregnant or have a pre-existing medical condition, you must notify the Professional Experience team. You are also required to provide a medical clearance certificate or letter from your GP or specialist practitioner before undertaking your Professional Experience placement.

If you are injured during your Professional Experience placement, you must report the incident as soon as possible and complete the required University and placement site reporting processes. You should:

• Notify your Mentor Teacher, Site Coordinator or Centre Director immediately.
• Submit an Incident/Hazard Report within 24 hours using either:
  • the RiskWare online reporting system; or
  • the RiskWare pocketSafety mobile app.
• Complete the placement site's incident report, with assistance from your Mentor Teacher, Site Coordinator or Centre Director if required.
• Notify your University Placement Adviser (UPA) if your injury may affect your ability to continue your placement or complete your placement requirements.

The  provides placement providers, students, and staff with a simple way to raise informal complaints related to Faculty of Education professional experience placements. Submissions are reviewed confidentially and escalated as needed to ensure appropriate follow-up and support. In the Faculty of Education, we encourage open communication to help strengthen our placement partnerships and student learning experiences.