USQ School of Psychology thanks organisations offering work experiences

USQ School of Psychology acknowledges organsations opening their doors to students for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

The USQ School of Psychology took time out to thank and acknowledge organisations opening their doors to students for learning experiences at a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Showcase recently (20 October).

The showcase, funded in part through Smart State funding, also allowed the university to show organisations how much their support and engagement with staff and students at USQ has added to the overall learning experience by presenting the results of the year’s placements.

Psychology Lecturer Ms Annissa O’Shea said the WIL program offered students a wide range of opportunities to gain work related experiences while still at university.

'The job market today is so competitive that experience in the workplace is an invaluable asset to graduates,' Ms O’Shea said.

'WIL provides opportunities for our students to apply the theoretical knowledge they learn in the lecture room to the workplace.

'Through WIL they can develop, practice and consolidate their skills and develop an understanding of their chosen profession.

'Employers today have high expectations of graduates, which is why we have included the opportunity to undertake WIL experience across not only psychology programs, but all of our undergraduate programs at the Springfield campus.'

Ms O’Shea said the support and engagement of organisation was critical to the success of the WIL program.

'The organisations who offer our students the opportunity to work and learn are giving our students not only the ability to test the reality of their chosen career against their previous perceptions, but also to add invaluable real-life job experiences to their resumes.'

One organisation heavily involved with USQ through the WIL program is the Ipswich State High School (ISHS). The school initiated a Student Welfare Faculty in 2011 and USQ Psychology students have been involved with providing opportunities for targeted intervention to be delivered through the WIL program.

ISHS Head of Curriculum Department (Student Services) Mr Matt McDonald said the programs the students were developing helped to provide potential resources for the department to use in the future.

'After the programs have been developed and approved by the school, the USQ students directly implement their program under the university’s guidance and supervision with our students and this has occurred with great success this year,' Mr McDonald said.

'The USQ WIL program adds another layer of proactive support for our students which they normally could not access in the school environment.

'The quality of the work undertaken by the students has been at a very high standard and this is reflected in the progress selected students have made within the specific programmes,' he said.

Contact Details:
Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0438 309 096