Placement process

Students Local to a Campus

• Students requiring placement within the 50km radii of Fraser Coast, Springfield or Toowoomba campus.
• Most schools and sites request that USQ organise placements within our local area
• Unless you have been specifically advised otherwise, students will enter preferences using SONIA for our local schools and sites
• The Local Request Professional Experience Preference form (PDF 67 KB) is used in the place of SONIA for Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching students or at the school’s request
• In some circumstances students will be required to source their own local placement e.g. the internship, some centres, specific educational communities and when you have been advised by The Professional Experience Office that you are to approach the site

Students further away from campus (e.g. one hour or more travel time, interstate, overseas or at the site's request)

• Students in this category are in a better position to source their professional experience placement
• A Letter of Introduction is provided to assist the initial communication with the school
• The student must return a Professional Experience Placement Application form (PDF 69 KB) at least 4 weeks before any professional experience commences. This form must be signed off by the site coordinator of the proposed placement.

1. Print a copy of The Professional Experience booklet for your specialisation e.g. BEDU (Primary). Make sure that you fully understand the purpose of the required number of days professional experience. Have a thorough understanding of the planning and teaching requirements of the course.
2. Print a copy of the Professional Experience Placement Application form (PDF 69 KB) to take with you to the interview with the site coordinator.
3. Ensure that your current Blue Card is authorised with USQ or you have completed the legal requirements for your State / Country, and make a few JP certified photocopies....just in case they need to have a copy for their records
4. Research the school or site, check their website and print a few useful documents such as the behaviour management policy or the school philosophy or religious affiliation
5. Know a little about the teaching approaches that are used by the school and make sure that you are comfortable that you can 'fit in'. Think about how you will respond when they ask you 'Why do you want to do your Professional Experience at our school?'
6. From their website and your research, you should know the name of the School Principal or Deputy Principal or Director. Make an appointment to visit the site and speak with them about a professional experience  placement. Leave your name and a contact phone number. They may already take students from other universities so ensure that they know you are from USQ, because each university has different processes.
7. At your interview, be specific:

• the dates as scheduled in The Professional Experience Calendar, but also consider make-up days for Public Holidays and days missed due to Private School holidays or days that are not acknowledged in the Queensland School Calendar e.g. Tasmania operates with 3 semesters
• your request for a suitable Mentor or year level
• the expectations for satisfactory completion of the required number of days, teaching and planning responsibilities and the SONIA completion record which are all outlined in The professional experience booklet
• suggest how you can contribute to the school and that your presence contributes to their school community e.g. the Mentor can satisfy the Queensland College of Teachers Continuing Professional Development requirement to maintain teacher registration
• complete the Professional Experience Placement Application form (PDF 69 KB) with the site coordinator, making sure it is signed and all sections are completed.
• be proactive to ensure that you are assessed as pass or fail and that the electronic completion record is submitted via SONIA on the last day of professional experience.
• ensure that all documentation is completed and signed.

      8.   If you experience difficulty in sourcing a placement you should contact the Professional Experience Office for further advice. This office provides all possible assistance to students in sourcing placements.

EDC4000 Internships

All students source their own placement for the EDC4000 internship using the Letter of Introduction - Internship (PDF 129KB) and are required to submit the Professional Experience Internship Application form (PDF 66 KB) at least 4 weeks prior to the start date.

Important reminders to all students enrolled in professional experience courses

• All students must have a current Working with Children (Blue Card) or equivalent criminal history check and must be authorised with USQ
• Check your UConnect emails, Course Study Desk and SONIA regularly
• Return your Professional Experience Placement Application form (PDF 69 KB) at least 4 weeks before any professional experience 
• The Professional Experience Internship Application form (PDF 66 KB) must be used by students completing their EDC4000 internship. They must be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to the start date.
• Communicate in a timely manner to all requests from the professional experience office by email
• A SONIA 'block code' will be established to confirm your placement with the dates for the experience and the details for your mentor and site coordinator. A 'mail out' pack with the professional experience booklet and payment information for the site will be sent to the school at least 5 days before you commence the placement. Do not commence any placement until you have checked that it is confirmed on SONIA
• Students must undertake professional experience according to the dates on The Professional Experience Calendar or previously communicated to the Professional Experience Office in order to receive guidance and assistance from USQ