FAQs: Secondary Placements

You will need to provide the workplace learning team with your placement information via InPlace so that the team can source an appropriate placement for you. Please follow these steps:

Please ensure you have completed the following:

1. Student Agreement
2. Anaphylaxis Certificate
3. Child Protection Certificate
4. Working With Children Certificate

Log in to InPlace and upload all mandatory documents and submit your online placement application. Once you have submitted your placement application in InPlace a member of the workplace learning team will contact you to discuss your placement.

We also recommend you upload a 1 to 2 page Curriculum Vitae (CV).  By uploading your CV you are consenting to the workplace learning team sharing this information with Schools for the purpose of securing a placement for you.  The CV should be of the same standard you would submit to a Principal when seeking employment as a teacher (work experience, qualifications, previous professional experience, extracurricular skills, and special interests). The NSW Department of Education and Communities has some helpful guidelines for writing a CV on their website.

I cannot see my EPT Subject in Inplace and therefore cannot add the required information. Why would this be? 

There are two common reasons why this may be occurring:

1. There is sometimes a delay of up to 24hrs between when you have enrolled in a subject and when it shows up in InPlace.
2. Your enrolment for the EPT subject may be in a prior session. For example, you may be enrolled in EPT442 in the 201830 Session but seeking to do your placement in 201860. When this occurs, we need to manually link you to the current session.

Please make contact with the Workplace Learning Team Education-WPL@csu.edu.au if your enrolment relates to a previous session.

Can I  contact schools myself?

You are prohibited from making direct approaches to schools in NSW. If your placement is overseas or interstate, the Workplace Learning Team will discuss school contact issues with you.

How long will it take for my placement to be sourced?

Once a school has been approached it can take up to a week for the school to indicate whether a placement can be offered. The school needs to consult with teaching staff which can be difficult  due to staff availability. We understand it can be an anxious time awaiting confirmation, and we ask for your patience during this process.

Where will placements be located?

As an online student you can nominate preferred locations for your placement. You need to be aware that professional experience may require you to travel and /or live away from home. It is important, therefore, that you undertake in advance the necessary planning and budgeting to ensure you are able to fulfil the professional experience requirements of the course.

When will  I hear from the Workplace Learning Team?

A team member will contact you within the week to discuss your application.

In some cases, schools may revoke their offer for placement and this can occur at any time prior to placement and for a variety of reasons – staffing issues, problems with the classroom etc. If  this does occur, we will make contact with you immediately to arrange another placement. Please be aware this placement may not necessarily be in the same location or at a location of your choosing.

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Can I do a  professional experience at my old school?

You may not be placed where you have been a past pupil.  You will also  not be placed where you have a close personal contact. This includes where a member of your immediate or extended family is currently enrolled or employed or has previously been enrolled or employed.

Can I do my placement in the school where I work?

You may not be placed where you are currently employed or have previously been employed, whether as a paid employee or as a volunteer.

Can I complete my professional experience at the same school my child attends or  where I have a family relationship such as parent, aunt, uncle etc?

No, it is CSU's policy that professional experience cannot be undertaken within the same school as your child or where you have a close family member on staff, for a range of reasons, including conflict of interest. You will also not be placed where you have a close personal contact.

Can I do my placement at 7-10 schools, or central schools that only go to Year 10?

It is a requirement that you teach one Stage 6 (Year 11 or 12) class for at least two weeks during your EPT442 placement. Education student teachers in Tasmania and ACT in particular, where state schools tend to be only 7-10 or 11-12, need to be mindful of this. Alternatively, most private schools in these locations are 7-12.

I am at a small school. Can I teach out of my subject area?

You can only teach in a second area for which you have completed a Curriculum Method subject, and in which you have completed undergraduate subjects.

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Can I do  my professional experience 2 days a week, as I am working?

The usual pattern would be 5 days per week for the total number of required days. If the school agrees to allow the placement to be 4 days per week then you do not need to seek permission from the Workplace Learning Team for that arrangement. However you should email the Professional Experience Liaison Officer and notify him/her of the days when you will be on placement, e.g. Tuesday - Friday each week. This ensures that the Professional Experience Liaison Officer is able to schedule contact with you and the school at a time when you are present. If you wish to consider fewer than four days per week, then you must discuss this with the Course Director and the Manager, Workplace Learning Team: Education-WPL@csu.edu.au.

Can I split my placement into two parts, e.g. 10 days and then 15 days a few months later?

This is not permitted, because it does not allow for continuity of learning for you or the students. Do not plan placement for a time when you have interruptions.

Can I  split my professional experience across school holidays?

This is the only split that is allowable, but you will need to negotiate this with your subject coordinator,  as placement in the final week of one term and the first week of the next term can mean the loss of several teaching days. Any days lost (other than School Development Days where the teacher education student participates in professional development for the full day) must be made up at the conclusion of your placement.

Can I change the dates of my placement?

Requests to make changes to confirmed placements are not permitted. After an application for placement has been submitted by an Online teacher education student (Primary & Secondary), requests to change placement dates are not permitted. In exceptional circumstances, where a serious and unavoidable change has occurred to a teacher education student's circumstances, a change to a confirmed placement may be considered. However, any decision to make changes to a confirmed placement will be made by the Manager, Workplace Learning Team. Changing a placement location after confirmation may result in a teacher education student being allocated a place in a non-preferred area or being required to defer a placement where no suitable placement is available.

I have already started my placement and I need to change my dates. Can I do this?

This can happen for a variety of reasons, including illness. Every proposed date change must be discussed with the Workplace Learning Team.  Do not assume that permission will be given, except if you are unavoidably absent due to illness.

How late in the year can I start my professional experience?

You should plan to conclude the  placement three (3) weeks before the end of the school year, so late October is a sensible cut off date for starting. It is your responsibility to find out when the school closes for the year. Also bear in mind that your grades are finalised mid-November, and if there is a delay in uploading your final report to EASTS, you might not receive your grade until after schools re-open.  If you are a final year student and wish to graduate after your final placement you will need to ensure that the placement is completed and the Final Report submitted to CSU by 10th November.

Do I have to do my professional experience this session?

It is most sensible to enrol in your professional experience subject when you intend to undertake it. However, it is permissible, if circumstances change and you need to defer the placement, to do so. You will not need to re-enrol in the subject before taking up a deferred placement. If you make the decision prior to Census date, it is best to withdraw your enrolment.

Can I do my placement in another state, or overseas?

Yes. Procedures are exactly the same for interstate placements. Please be ware of the new NESA policy on overseas placements. Students who need to complete child protection procedures for interstate placements should note that this may take considerably more time than in NSW and be prepared to have these processes completed before they apply for placement.

Can I do my final placement half-way through my course?

Your course progression is designed so that it culminates in your final placement. It is unwise to undertake your final placement when you still have many areas of teaching you have not studied.

My Supervising Teacher wants to make changes to the amount of teaching stated in the Guide. Is this OK?

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I am an undergraduate student (not a BTeach student). How many discipline and/or education subjects must be completed before final placement can be undertaken?

You need to check your course progression very carefully. If you have not passed all the subjects listed before a professional experience placement in your course progression, and attempt placement too early, you may not meet the course accreditation requirements. It is preferable that you undertake your Professional Experience subjects in the final stages of your course.

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What if I have an exam when I want to do professional experience?

You may have one day's leave to do the exam, but must make up the time, for accreditation reasons.

Does a Staff Development Day count as "prac days" and should I attend?

If at all possible, you should attend all staff extra-curricular activities and such days would be counted as "prac days". You will have a valuable experience of working collegially. Sometimes schools cannot allow you to participate, due to cost, or late notice or the confidential nature of some staff discussions. In this case, you will need to make up the day.

There will be a teacher's strike when I am on professional experience. What do I do?

Teacher education students incurring absences through single day or part day industrial action are not penalised by the University and are not required to make up the time. Absences due to protracted industrial action (more than two days) will be considered by the Manager, Workplace Learning Team in consultation with the Course Director.

What happens if I get sick or suffer a misadventure (e.g. death in the family) on professional experience and am unable to complete the placement?

Typically, you will be advised to submit a Special Consideration form and request a Grade Pending (GP) for the placement. You will be permitted to complete the program at another time. The duration of the deferred placement will be determined by the Professional Experience Coordinator in consultation with the Manager, Workplace Learning Team (Education-WPL@csu.edu.au).

If I miss a few days due to illness, misadventure etc. do I need to make them up?

You must complete the full number of days for your program, so missed days, irrespective of the reason or the course in which you are enrolled, must be made up.

Should I participate in a school organised excursion and who covers costs?

If the excursion will enhance your professional learning, then it would usually be approved but you should always check with your Manager, Workplace Learning Team Education-WPL@csu.edu.au. It would be up to you or the school to cover the costs of the excursion. Please ensure that you email your subject coordinator about any excursion. You must seek approval for overnight excursions, or single-day excursions that total more than two days of your placement.

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I have two unrelated subject areas. How do I manage this on placement?

If you have two teaching areas, in your first placement you observe and teach in your major area, and observe in your minor area. On your second placement, you teach at least 50% in your major area, and up to 50% in your minor area.

It is very important to understand that you cannot start placement until you have passed your first Curriculum Method subject in the relevant area: i.e., for EPT441, you must have successfully completed Curriculum Method 1 in your major area. This means your placement cannot be in the same session in which you are studying Curriculum Method 1.

For EPT442, Curriculum Method 1 in your minor area (if you have one) is assumed knowledge and, if you have not yet completed Curriculum Method 2 in your major area, you must at least be concurrently enrolled.

This pattern may be a little different for Agriculture and TAS students, who should call or email the subject coordinator before arranging placements.

Teacher-Librarians are different again and will also need to call the subject coordinator.

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Can I make  use of the CSU Library while on placement?

Yes, there are special arrangements for library access for students on professional experience placement. These include longer loan periods, and online education services for internal students. You can find out more about registering for this service on the Library web site.

Who sends  in the reports, the teacher or I?

Teacher education students must submit their report via EASTS.

How many days professional experience placements do I need to do?

For students who have enrolled in B Teach (Secondary) prior to 2015 EPT441 and EPT442 are both 25 day placements. Please note: For TAS students placements are 30 days. For students enrolling in the Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) or Master of Teaching (Secondary)  from 2015, EPT441 and EPT442 are 30 day placements. For students enrolled in a Double Degree, placement blocks are 30 days each.

Can I complete EPT441 & EPT442 in the same Session?

In order to enrol in both subjects you will need to complete this Request for Waiver of Prerequisites form that is processed through Student Administration. In the reason box state that your Course Structure means you have to undertake these two subjects in the same session. Please be aware that it may be difficult to source a suitable placement for your final placement in Term 4.

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Can I apply for an Exemption from a Professional Experience Placement?

There is no provision for exemption from professional experience for:

1. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education (Birth - 5yrs) course or
2. Students studying a professional experience subject as a Single Subject Study

Applying for an exemption from an INITIAL professional experience placement.

Students applying for an exemption from their initial professional experience placement should NOT enrol in the subject until their application for an exemption has been finalised. Enrolment will lead to the payment of unnecessary university fees.

Students will be awarded a Proficiency Credit (PCR) for the subject on successful finalisation of an exemption application.

Secondary teachers:

Students in the Bachelor of Teaching/Master of Teaching (Secondary), Bachelor of Teaching (TAS) and Bachelor of teaching (Secondary) – Industry Entry and Bachelor of Educational Studies may apply for an exemption from the initial teacher professional experience placement (EPT441 or EPT241/329) if they fulfil the following conditions:

1. Students must be employed as a full-time teacher in their curriculum area in a secondary school for at least one term during the past four years (duration and currency)
2. During this period, students must have taught across Years 7-12 with an 80% teaching load in their curriculum teaching area (scope).
3. Once eligibility is established in relation to the scope, duration and currency of teaching, the student's principal will be asked to provide a report on the student's teaching capability, using the NESA common report template adapted to encompass the requirements of an exemption rather than a professional experience placement.

Primary Teachers:

Students in the Bachelor of Teaching/Master of Teaching (Primary) may apply for an exemption from the initial teacher professional experience placement (EPT432) if they fulfil the following conditions:

1. Students must be employed as a full-time class-based primary teacher, teaching all key learning areas in the primary curriculum for at least one term during the past four years (scope, duration and currency).
2. Once eligibility is established in relation to the scope, duration and currency of teaching, the student's principal will be asked to provide a report on the student's teaching competency, using the NESA common report template.

Applying for an Exemption from a FINAL Professional Experience Placement: Conditionally Accredited teachers

Students who are conditionally accredited (see definition below) with NESA and who have current or prior teaching experience in the curriculum area in which they are studying (secondary teachers) or in class-based teaching (primary teachers), may be eligible for a reduction in the duration of their final professional experience placement (EPT442, EPT433, EPT436).

Students must enrol in the appropriate professional experience subject. NESA requires that students with conditional accreditation and current or prior teaching experience must complete a final professional experience placement of at least three weeks in a school other than the one in which they are working.

This policy applies to students with Conditional Accreditation and current or prior teaching experience (i.e., within the past four years) in their curriculum area who are enrolled
in:

1. Bachelor/Master of Teaching (Primary)
2. Bachelor/Master of Teaching (Secondary)
3. Bachelor of Education (Secondary) – Industry Entry
4. Bachelor of Educational Studies – Teaching Stream
5. Graduate Diploma of Mathematics – Teaching Stream

The process for exemption from part of the professional experience component in the final professional experience subject for conditionally accredited teachers will be as follows:

Each student will complete an Application for Exemption form and submit it to the Workplace Learning Team: Education-WPL@csu.edu.au, together with a Portfolio of Relevant Teaching Experience.

The Portfolio of Relevant Teaching Experience should include the following:

Length: approximately 5-8 pages

Outline and describe relevant current or prior teaching experience including the duration for which each subject was taught, when it was taught, and where. It is expected that teachers will have a teaching load of at least 80% in their curriculum area and that this load will include a Stage 6 class.

1. Provide evidence that the student is a conditionally accredited teacher who has current or prior teaching experience of at least one term within the last four years.
2. Provide exemplars of own work, e.g., lesson sequences, teaching program, etc.
3. Include a letter from Principal/Head Teacher (on School letterhead) which indicates support for the application for an exemption from the full requirements of a professional experience placement; a list of subjects taught and at what level; and a statement to the effect that the applicant is deemed an effective teacher in the relevant area/s.

Students whose portfolios have confirmed their eligibility for an exemption from the final professional experience placement will be advised of the following requirements for completing an application for a placement:

1. Evidence of completion of child protection requirements, Working with Children Check and Anaphylaxis training, as well as evidence of successful completion of the LANTITE (Literacy and Numeracy Tests for Initial Teacher Education where required) must be uploaded to the student's InPlace file.
2. An application for a three week placement should be submitted to the Workplace Learning Team through InPlace.
3. Students will be required to complete their final placement in a school different from the one in which they are currently working.
4. Students will be awarded a grade of SY for the subject, provided all assessment requirements are met, including satisfactory completion of the placement.

Applying for an Exemption from a FINAL Professional Experience Placement: Students with PROFICIENT TEACHER accreditation

Students with Proficient Teacher Accreditation who are applying for an exemption from their final professional experience placement should NOT enrol in the subject until their application for an exemption has been finalised. Enrolment will lead to the payment of unnecessary university fees.

Students will be awarded a Proficiency Credit (PCR) for the subject on successful finalisation of an exemption application.

Secondary teachers:

Students in the Bachelor of Teaching/Master of Teaching (Secondary), Bachelor of Teaching (TAS) and Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary) – Industry Entry and Bachelor of Educational Studies, who have Proficient Teacher accreditation, may apply for an exemption from the final teacher professional experience placement (EPT442 or EPT241/329 or EPT508) if they fulfil the following conditions:

1. Students must be employed as a full-time teacher in their curriculum area in a secondary school for at least one term during the past four years (duration and currency).
2. The school in which they are employed must be different from the one in which their initial professional experience placement was completed or exempted.
3. During this period, students must have taught across Years 7-12 with an 80% teaching load in their curriculum teaching area. A Stage 6 class must be included in the teaching load for the term (scope).
4. Once eligibility is established in relation to the duration, currency and scope of teaching, the student's principal will be asked to provide a report on the student's teaching capability, using the NESA common report template adapted to encompass the requirements of an exemption rather than a professional experience placement.

Primary Teachers:

Students in the Bachelor of Teaching/Master of Teaching (Primary) with Proficient Teacher Accreditation may apply for an exemption from the initial teacher professional experience placement (EPT432) if they fulfil the following conditions:

1. Students must be employed as a full-time class-based primary teacher, teaching all key learning areas in the primary curriculum for at least one term during the past four years (scope, duration and currency).
2. The school in which they are employed must be different from the one in which their initial professional experience placement was completed or exempted.
3. Once eligibility is established in relation to the scope, duration and currency of teaching, the student's principal will be asked to provide a report on the student's teaching competency, using the NESA common report template.

Students who are accredited as Proficient Teachers and who are enrolled in the Graduate Diploma of Mathematics.

Students with Proficient Teacher Accreditation who are applying for an exemption from their final professional experience placement in the Graduate Diploma of Mathematics should NOT enrol in the subject until their application for an exemption has been finalised. Enrolment will lead to the payment of unnecessary university fees.

Students will be awarded a Proficiency Credit (PCR) for the subject on successful finalisation of an exemption application.

Please note that students who are accredited as Proficient Teachers and who are seeking exemption from professional experience in EPT442 in the Graduate Diploma of Mathematics are required to fulfil the following conditions:

1. Students must be employed as a full-time Mathematics teacher in a secondary school for at least one full year during the past four years.
2. During this period, students must have taught across Stages 4-6 with an 80% teaching load in Mathematics.
3. Once eligibility is established in relation to the scope, duration and currency of teaching, the student's principal will be asked to provide a report on the student's teaching capability in Mathematics, using the NESA common report template.

In secondary teaching, you need to meet requirements about teaching your subject(s) to adolescents of a variety of ages and stages. A previous primary placement will not satisfy these requirements. However if you have previously qualified as a primary teacher, and are seeking credit you will need to write to the Academic Lead, Workplace Learning and provide supporting evidence and documentation.

What is the process for obtaining a waiver of prerequisites when I am  undertaking both Professional Experience subjects in the same session?

You need to complete the Request for Waiver of Prerequisites form available on the Student Administration website.

What credit am I able to have for participating in the short term International Programs offered  through the Faculty of Arts and Education eg. Nepal?

Students should refer to the Faculty of Arts and Education Short Term Mobility page on the CSU Global website in order to  establish whether the program offers credit for subjects in your course of study.

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If you meet this criteria you will need to complete the Exemption Request form and email it to the Workplace Learning Team. Please note that it may take up to three months to resolve an application for exemption and therefore any intention to apply for an exemption should be commenced as soon as possible after enrolment in the course.

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BOSTES LEVELS OF ACCREDITATION

Conditional Accreditation means you have successfully completed an undergraduate
degree or at least 3 years of a 4 year teaching degree. You can work as a teacher while you
complete your studies.

Provisional Accreditation means you have successfully completed an accredited degree.
You do not need to complete any further studies and can now work towards being accredited
at the next level of Proficient Teacher Accreditation

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