Work Placement Program (WPP)
There are many reasons why you might want to offer a La Trobe student a work placement. There may be a project that you’ve wanted to undertake but haven’t been able to because of a shortage of resources or you may need additional support at a busy time.
Purpose
The aim of the WPP is to provide students with a meaningful experience so they can enhance graduate attributes, employability skills or discipline specific skills. Students may be given a self contained project, an opportunity to observe management or be integrated into a work place team.
Have you ever wanted to give a student work experience but not known how to use them? Here is what one employer has done with accounting work placements. (PDF 13kb)
Benefits to host organisations
Host organisations have the opportunity to engage with students via the WPP. This program provides employers with opportunities to:
- offer short-term projects to students who have developed relevant knowledge and skills through their studies
- have a student join an existing team for a short period of time to contribute to a current project
- showcase the organisation to potential employees and highlight opportunities available to new graduates
- develop staff mentoring and supervisory skills
- network with students who will be looking for professional positions within the next few years
How host organisations can get involved
The Work Placement Program Coordinator will explain the program and help you determine if a match exists between the proposed experience and the skill set of La Trobe students. Once a match has been determined, the work placement position can be advertised on the Careers and Employment jobs database, (CareerHub), to students across the university.
Once an organisation is familiar with the WPP, they become an approved host organisation and are provided with a password to access CareerHub directly. This saves the organisation time as further positions can be placed directly on the database. However each position must be approved by the Work Placement Program Coordinator before it goes live to students.
Host organisation responsibilities
- design activities/projects for potential WPP students
- identify employability skills students will enhance by participation in the work placement position
- arrange for the position to be advertised on CareerHub
- accept applications directly from all WPP students
- match students to positions, taking into consideration their area of study and the learning outcomes available
- undertake short-listing and selection and make an offer to the successful student. Once the student has accepted the position a representative from the company will inform the Work Placement Program coordinator of the name of the successful student
- inform the successful student that they must complete the Work Placement Form and lodge this with the Career Development Centre before the placement commences
- provide a supervisor for the student who will induct the student into the workplace and inform the student of occupational health and safety procedures
- the supervisor will provide advice and assistance to the student as required
- the student’s supervisor will complete the Work Placement Certificate. This form is important to the student as it will provide evidence of completion of the placement
- complete the work placement assessment form at the conclusion of the placement
La Trobe University responsibilities
The Work Placement Program Coordinator will:
- assist representatives from host organisations to assess the suitability of proposed student tasks/projects.
- promote work placement positions via our job database - CareerHub, to students.
- provide student applicants with information about the program and inform them of the necessary documentation required for participation.
- inform the host organisation when the student is on work placement form has been returned to the Career Development Centre by the student. This will signify to the host organisation that the placement can commence.
- be available to respond to host organisation queries.
How much time can the student spend at the host organisation?
Students can spend up to 4 weeks (20 days) with a single employer; after this time the host organisation can offer the student paid employment if they wish the student to continue with the organisation.
When can a student do work placement?
The period of the WPP can be full-time during the vacation periods or part-time during semester. The part-time fraction must be negotiated with the individual student to fit around their classes (lecturers, tutorials or laboratory classes). Students cannot miss classes and other university commitments in order to complete work placement. See the University Calendar for semester and vacation dates.
Advance approval
The successful students must complete the 'Students on Work Placement Form' and obtain the signature of a member of the teaching staff before the placement begins.
The student will need the following information in order to complete the form:
- contact details of the host organisation
- supervisor’s name
- dates of work placement and an outline of the tasks/activities they will be undertaking.
A member of the teaching staff will need to confirm that the placement is relevant to the student’s area of study and of benefit to their skill or knowledge development.
Further information contact:
Val Sandeman
Manager, Industry and Community Engagement
Ph: 03 9479 2459
Fax: 03 9479 1989
Email: careers@latrobe.edu.au