Professional placements are a key part of the Bachelor of Education (Primary) and Bachelor of Education (K-12) degrees.
Professional experience plays a crucial role in a teacher's journey by enhancing their grasp of educational theory and practice. Through hands-on opportunities, teachers can develop pedagogical strategies, collaborate with colleagues and families, and cater to the diverse learning needs of students.
This experience fosters both personal and professional growth, empowering teachers to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world classroom situations with confidence. Collaboration with your supervising teacher is key to your success as a teacher education student. Together, you will design learning experiences that meet the diverse needs of students and follow best practices in education.
By working with your supervising teacher to observe, document, and plan, you gain the hands-on experience needed to become an effective, ethical, and reflective educator who meets the Graduate Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. This hands-on experience will give you practical knowledge and skills essential for your success as a teacher, supporting your ongoing professional development and preparing you to positively impact the lives of your students.
Under no circumstances should teacher education students approach schools requesting placements. Nor should they enter into agreements regarding future placements.
Once compliance is confirmed, placement sourcing may take 6–8 weeks during school terms.
See the Professional experience timeline for more information
The following indicates compulsory Work Integrated Learning (WIL) components:
This degree requires five professional experience placements (80 days) to be undertaken to meet external regulations for teaching accreditation:
The Bachelor of Education (K-12) degree requires 5 professional experience placements to be undertaken to meet external regulations for teaching accreditation.
Eligibility to proceed with professional experience placement is dependent upon students meeting their course requirements. These requirements are:
Anaphylaxis Training - Must be completed every two years. Upload a signed and dated certificate to InPlace. You're not required to demonstrate the use of an auto-injector before placement.
Appropriate professional behaviour is expected in any Professional Experience. To be fully aware of professional expectations, you should refer to the NSW Department of Education and Communities' Code of Conduct and the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics, and apply the relevant information to your placement and/or your working environment after graduation.
Child Protection Awareness training requirements for all States and Territories are located in the links below. Many states and territories will require teacher education students to create logins for the Department of Education.
Please note: teacher education students seeking placements outside of NSW must complete the relevant State appropriate.
Initial teacher education students are required to pass both components of the personal Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education (LANTITE) as part of the accreditation requirements of this course and before commencement of the final professional experience placement. Further information about LANTITE, including registration details, can be found on the LANTITE website.
NSW Department of Education Training - To be eligible for a professional experience placement with Charles Sturt University, all pre-service teachers must complete the following NSW DoE mandatory pre-requisite training modules: NSW Department of Education Child Protection Awareness Training (CPAT)
If you are completing a placement in NSW, you must also complete the following NSW DoE modules:
⏳ Processing Time: All mandatory requirements must be completed before submitting your InPlace application. The NSW DoE requires up to two weeks to process and confirm your training.
Refer to the NSW DoE Step-by-Step Guide for assistance.
The New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA) have provided a means for Pre-Service Teacher (PST) to complete their final professional experience as conditionally accredited teachers within a school where they are employed. This is known as the Waiver of Appendix B of the NESA Professional Experience Policy.
The following criteria needs to be met for you to submit your application
If you meet the above criteria, please complete the following Forms and Submit to FOAE-WPL@csu.edu.au
To assist with understanding the process of this application please see the Process document.
To prepare for your placement, you must log into the InPlace placement management system to upload all the mandatory documents (evidence that all required checks and training are completed).
Before you start your placement, you should complete the following:
NOTE: As a teacher education student, you are required to wear identification whilst on your Professional Experience Placement and carry your University student ID card. You can either purchase a Charles Sturt name badge from the online store and carry your ID card or wear your University student ID card in a clear plastic lanyard or clear plastic name badge sleeve during school visits and placements.
IMPORTANT - To avoid conflicts of interest arising from your circumstances, you must disclose any potential conflicts of interest when applying for placement and stating your location preferences.
To request an assessment of any conflict of interest, you must formally email Workplace Learning (FOAE-WPL@csu.edu.au), providing detailed information about your circumstances. These circumstances may include challenges such as geographical isolation or limited availability of placement locations in the area.
From day one, aim to become part of the school team. This means:
Your teaching load will increase gradually. Check your subject site for the Progression of Teaching document to see what’s expected each week. Your supervising teacher will also have access to this guide.
Maintain an organised and up-to-date folder of:
At the halfway point, meet with your supervising teacher to:
Work with your supervising teacher to complete and sign the Professional Experience Report. The school principal also needs to sign it.
Workplace Learning at Charles Sturt uses The InPlace (Workplace Learning Placement system). You also have access to your placement information and WPL resources via InPlace.
Thank you for partnering with us to support our pre-service teachers (PSTs). Your role as a supervising teacher is vital to their development, and we truly appreciate your time, expertise and commitment.
To help you prepare, we recommend reviewing Section 4 of AITSL’s Components of Effective, High-Quality Professional Experience. It offers practical guidance on effective supervision and mentoring.
Each PST follows a suggested weekly teaching schedule with minimum teaching responsibilities. You can adjust this based on their individual needs, progress and your school’s context.
You’ll need to complete:
Important tips for completing the report:
If you or the University Liaison Officer (ULO) have concerns about a PST’s conduct or competency, please address them promptly.
Use the Student Placement Support and Review Process (SPSRP) to support PSTs who are struggling to meet teaching standards.
Early intervention—before the mid-placement review—is key.
Helpful documents:
All students are covered by university insurance during approved placements.
If you have questions or need support during the placement, please contact the Workplace Learning team.