Curtin Home > Humanities > Schools & Departments > Education > Education > Professional Experience

Policy for Professional Experience [.pdf - 102kb]

Office of Professional Experience Administration - Bentley Campus

Email: Professional.Experience@curtin.edu.au

Professional Experience Placement Officers - Bentley Campus

Glenys Parkey
Phone: 9266 3624
G.Parkey@curtin.edu.au

Joy Yukich
Phone: 9266 2166
J.Yukich@curtin.edu.au

Professional Experience Administration / Placement - Regional Campuses

Sally Castledine (primary)
Phone: 9071 9606
S.Castledine@curtin.edu.au

Kerry Doust (ECE)
Phone: 9088 6642
K.Doust@curtin.edu.au

Internship Coach

Leith Hogan
Leith.Hogan@curtin.edu.au

Download the Professional Experience Handbooks here:

Early Childhood [.pdf - 1.70Mb]
Primary [.pdf - 1.70Mb]
Secondary
Graduate Diploma (Secondary Education)

1. Do we have to do a professional experience placement?

Yes; it is a requirement for Professional registration for students to undertake some days or weeks of professional observation or experience. The dates of these are stipulated in the School of Education's Professional Experience Calendar and can be found on the School's web page.

2. Do we have a choice in where we might go to undertake our professional experience?

No. The School of Education does have constraints on the schools in which you might undertake your pre-service experience:
a. some schools are allocated to other universities
b. the University hopes to expose you to a range of schools, year groups and systems to ensure you are well-prepared to teach in any school after you graduate.
c. The School of Education is keen to have City-based students consider the possibility of a rural or remote practicum during their courses.
d. Students cannot be placed at a school where they have close family or friends employed as staff.
e. Students cannot be placed at a school where their siblings or children attend.

3. Can I work as a teacher in Term 3 having finished my Internship and my studies?

Yes; if you have successfully completed all requirements of the degree in semester 1.
For accurate information on the registration and employment process please contact the Western Australian College of Teachers (WACOT)

4. Can I work as a teacher in Term 4 having finished my Internship and my studies?

Yes; if you have successfully completed all requirements of the degree in Quarter 3.
For accurate information on the registration and employment process please contact the Western Australian College of Teachers (WACOT)

5. Am I able to change the dates for when I go out on prac?

No, the School of Education arranges specific dates for professional experience and students must adhere to these dates unless there is some exceptional reason or special circumstances (evidence of reasons will need to be submitted to the Office of Professional Experience for consideration - see Policy on Professional Experience on this web page).

6. How do I obtain my Student Name Badge?

Students on the Bentley campus can order name badges from the Student Guild Copy and Design office situated in building 106B.
Regional students can lodge an order form with the Student Guild Copy and Design office by fax or email.

7. How do I arrange to have my final academic transcript sent to WACOT and DoE?

At the end of each study period (Semesters 1, 2 and Quarter 3) the School of Education sends an interim Academic Transcript of completion to WACOT and the Department of Education on behalf of the students who have successfully completed the degree

8. Can I approach a school myself?

No, not for official professional experience placements.
Students can, however, approach a school as a volunteer but will not be presenting as a Curtin student, nor be covered by Curtin insurance.

9. How do I know if my paperwork has been received and filed?

You can always email Professional.Experience@curtin.edu.au and ask them check this for you.

10. How do I request a particular type of school (e.g. Catholic) or location (e.g. country town)

Early in your course you are asked to complete a Personal Data Sheet/Professional Experience Enrolment Form giving this information. If anything changes in your circumstances you are asked to up-date this at the Office of Professional Experience.

11. If I'm from the country can I go home to do a prac?

It may be possible to accommodate this for one professional experience placement. However, this would require special arrangements to be put in place.

12. Can I do a prac overseas?

Yes. Where the University has a prior arrangement with another university, guaranteeing supervisors and quality placements, this can be arranged. However, it must be remembered that you are studying for a degree in an Australian university which, from 2012, must meet Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

13. What is the process if a teacher passes a student but a supervisor doesn't? (or vice versa)

Typically, a student will be given the opportunity to improve performance over coming weeks, or be given a supplementary placement. This must be formally approved at the relevant School Board of Examiners’ meeting.

14. What support or options are available to students who fail pracs or need to repeat them or have deferred them on medical grounds?

Depending upon the situation, the university offers a range of support structures for students, including opportunities to repeat the practicum or the unit associated with the practicum. However, failure twice will result in termination in the course.

15. What clearances do I require before I go on prac?

• Working with Children Check Card
• Department of Education "National Criminal History Record Check"
• Curtin Insurance Form
• Curtin Code of Conduct
• 1st Aid Certificate (required in 1st Year for Early Childhood degree students only)

16. If I am a Fully On-line Midland or Armadale student (or reside in the metro area), who organises my prac placement?

The Bentley Professional Experience Office will place all students living in the metropolitan area requiring a practical placement in the metropolitan area.
If you are a Midland or Armadale fully on-line student and want to do your practical placement in a regional school, then the relevant Regional Studies Officer will arrange the placement. (See 17 below)

17. If I am a Fully On-line Regional student outside of the metro area, who organises my prac placement?

Regional practical placements are organised by the relevant Regional Studies Officers:
Sally Castledine - Primary
Kerry Doust - Early Childhood Education

Schools

1. Do I get paid to take a pre-service teacher?

Yes. The University does pay Mentor Teachers to take pre-service teachers. However, given the costs associated with this aspect of their studies, the University pays only for the days the students are in the classroom for the block placement.

2. What is the process if a teacher or supervisor (or student) is concerned about a student's progress during a prac?

There are a variety of processes. In the first instance all concerns should be directed to the Office of Professional Experience and each case will be addressed according to the degree of concern.