Vocational Placement Student Guide

Vocational placement (VP) provides you with the opportunity to undertake practical training and to gain the experience required to demonstrate competency against the outcomes of a nationally recognised qualification.

You are required to complete VP in a suitable workplace. A suitable workplace is an organisation that operates in the relevant industry sector that you are studying (e.g. youth work, early childhood, etc) that has the resources, facilities, equipment and range of work required to complete the tasks as outlined in the VP assessments.

Unless you are currently working or volunteering, it is recommended that you do not begin VP until after you have completed your first unit of study. This gives you time to:

Organise Police, Working with Children Checks and/or other checks, as applicable
Learn core knowledge and appropriate workplace behaviours prior to placement.

Requirements

The following is a list of the potential checks and steps you may be required to take before starting VP. Please note, each course has different requirements and not all of the requirements listed below will be relevant to your chosen course:

Obtain a National Police Check: Strategix will organise this on your behalf and at no cost to you, where required
Complete a Working with Children Check (WWCC): Each state has their own requirements and process, please refer to Working with Children Applications Information Sheet for instructions. You will need to provide evidence of your completed WWCC to Strategix before starting VP. Refer to your learning and/or assessment portal for details
NDIS Worker Screening: Each state has their own requirements and process. Please refer to the NDIS Worker Screening Applications Information Sheet for steps on how to complete this check. Once clearance is gained, Strategix will unlink you from their organisation and you must provide your Host with evidence of the relevant check before starting VP
Flu vaccination: Where it is a requirement of your course, you must organise to receive the flu vaccination. It is available from most Doctors and Chemists. Please consult your General Practitioner before arranging or booking a flu vaccination. You must email a copy of your Vaccination Certificate to Strategix and provide a copy to your VP host
COVID-19 vaccination: Where it is a requirement of your course, you must prove that you are fully immunised before starting VP (including boosters). If you are not already immunised, please consult your General Practitioner before booking the vaccination. Students can check their eligibility for the vaccine here. More information can be found here. You must email a copy of your Vaccination Certificate to Strategix and provide a copy to your VP host.

Course-Specific Requirements

The following table outlines the VP requirements for each course:

_Course	_{Vocational Placement Hours/Time}	_{Trainer Support on VP}
_{Certificate II Courses}
_{Certificate II in Hospitality}	_{12 services}	_{Trainer visits with students and hosts while on vocational placement (usually weekly) to confirm progress and assist with learning.}
_{Certificate II in Health Support}	_Task-Based
_{Certificate II in Community Services}	_{20 hours}
_{Certificate III Courses}
_{Certificate III in Hospitality}	_{36 services}	_{Trainer visits students and hosts as needed and follows up on progression of student regularly.}
_{Certificate III in Health Services Assistance}	_Task-Based
_{Certificate III in Community Services}	_{20 hours}
*_{Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)}**	_{120 hours}	_{VP Coordinator visits students while on placement to offer support and feedback (1-3 visits).} _{Trainer follows up on progression of student regularly.} Note: VP can be completed interstate if necessary.
*_{Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)}**	_{120 hours}
_{Individual Support - Disability Skill Set}	_Task-Based
_{Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care}	_{120 hours}	_{Student organises for trainer to visit while on placement to conduct skills observations (1-3 visits), provide feedback and follow up on progress.}
_{Certificate III in School-Based Education Support}	_{100 hours}
_{Certificate IV Courses}
_{Certificate IV in Disability}	_{120 hours}	_{Trainer visits students and hosts as needed and follows up on the progression of student regularly.}
_{Certificate IV in Ageing Support}	_{120 hours}
_{Certificate IV in Youth Work}	_Task-Based
_{Diploma Courses}
_{Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care}	_{280 hours}	_{Student organises for trainer to visit while on vocational placement to conduct skills observations (1-3 visits), provide feedback and follow up on progress.}
_{Diploma of Youth Work}	_{100 hours}	_{Trainer visits students and hosts as needed and follows up on the progression of student regularly.}
_{Diploma of Community Services}	_{200 hours}
_{Diploma of Nursing}	_{400 hours}	_{Trainers visit with students and hosts while on placement to review progress (ranges depending on placement arrangements, but is usually weekly visits), offer support and assist with learning.}

_{Note: Hosts may also have their own requirement/s.}

_Key:

_{Task-Based – Students are required to complete the tasks, the time required to do so may vary so there are no minimum time frames}
_{Required – Industry standards require this check}
_{May be Required - Students may require depending on the services provided by the Host Employer, the requirements of each State or Territory government and the host’s specific requirements. Please check with your Host Employer prior to starting VP}
_{Not Required – Not required for this VP.}

Insurance

Students will be covered by Strategix’s insurance arrangements while on VP and only during the hours as agreed upon by the host and student. Insurance coverage will only take effect after Strategix has received the signed Vocational Placement Agreement. Currently employed students will fall under the insurance of their employer.

If the Vocational Placement Agreement is not completed before starting VP, any VP-related assessment you complete, prior to Strategix receiving the Agreement, will not be recognised and you will not be covered under Strategix’s insurance in the event of a workplace accident.

Responsibilities and Obligations

Student Responsibilities

Prior to starting VP:

Find a host willing and able to meet the Host Responsibilities
Ensure VP is voluntary, i.e. not paid, unless already employed in the industry
Complete, sign and return the Vocational Placement Agreement.

During VP:

Do not hinder or disrupt the operations of the host
Understand and observe the host's privacy and be respectful of their operations and regulations
Comply with and uphold Strategix’s rules, regulations and ethics
Complete activities in a timely manner
Book and report all visits and activities to the ‘supervisor’ at the host location
Record your attendance and ask your supervisor to verify your attendance
If asked by the host, provide a summary of any changes or suggestions you would recommend based on your time with them
Ensure all relevant sections of the VP assessment/s are completed.

Host Responsibilities

Provide a safe environment for students to complete activities
Provide an onsite mentor/supervisor
Mentor/supervisor is to verify the satisfactory completion of VP tasks and assessments
Provide information and assistance to the student to complete activities
Provide the required activities as per the training package and VPassessment/s.

Trainer/VP Coordinator Responsibilities

Ensure students have successfully completed VP for the required units of competency
Provide support to the employer and student as required.

Participate in Vocational Placement
STEP 1: Induction
During induction, you will be informed of the VP requirements, including but not limited to:
Requirements to have a current Police and/or Working with Children Check
Attendance requirements
Time limitations to completing VP
Host employer dress requirements
Information on Vocational Placement Agreement forms.
STEP 2: Student Preparation
Obtain a Police and/or Working with Children check. You must update Strategix with its details when it comes through
Meet with suitable hosts to secure a location to complete your placement. Refer to the Find a VP Host section below for tips
Read and sign the Vocational Placement Agreement Form and provide it to your host employer to also sign it. Upload the completed Form to your learning and assessment portal as instructed. This must be done before you start VP
Provide your host with a copy of your Police and/or Working with Children Check (where required)
Read through the VP assessment requirements on your assessment and/or learning portal
*Certificate III Individual Support students only: Individual support students must complete instruction in manual handling covered in the workplace health and safety subject and on the practical days. Failure to attend both of these days may mean that you cannot start VP on the scheduled date.
Please note: The placement of students in VP is at the trainer’s discretion. The trainer may postpone your VP if they feel that you do not have the necessary foundational knowledge and skills to complete VP successfully and safely.
STEP 3: Attend and Complete VP
Attend VP as scheduled in the Course Release Schedule
Ensure the following is completed:
Attendance Record
Student and Mentor Declaration/s
Task Logs / Projects.
Follow all obligations set out by Strategix and the host, e.g. code of conduct etc.
Complete VP within 10 weeks of the last class date or you may be withdrawn from the class, unless previously negotiated with and approved by Strategix management.

Find a VP Host
Start Early: Start looking for a vocational placement host early. It is recommend that you don’t leave it any later than 6 weeks (even this may be a stretch to get in the door for some locations). Other students from other organisations are also looking for placement and some may be booked many months in advance.
Get Help: Ask your family, partner and/or friends who work within the relevant industry sector if their workplace takes students for vocational placement.
Treat it Like a Job Interview:
Prepare a resume titled Vocational Placement Request (unpaid)
Include a letter with your resume (we have a letter template which you can use. Course Coordinator will send this to you)
Dress smart
Go to the organisation of interest to you, don’t phone
Request to see the manager/supervisor.
If you don’t hear back, go back and follow up. Ask if they have had time to review your request and if it is somewhere you really want to be, leave another copy of your resume.
What to Say and Do: When meeting with the manager/supervisor at the organisation of interest, explain the following:
You are a full-time student and require vocational placement to complete your studies
You are a volunteer, so no wages or employment contracts are required
Strategix provides all insurance (Liability, Workers Compensation Insurance and Public Indemnity)
The mentor will be required to sign off on attendance while on VP and verify the tasks/projects completed by you
Information/processes which you may be exposed to or collect or collate information for will be and is kept confidential and will not be used inappropriately or released to unauthorised parties.
If you get limited hours you can still complete your placement, it just may take a little longer to complete. Sometimes, if you are doing real well, they will look at increasing your hours.