Hone your skills with Professional Experience
Teacher Education Students (TES) undertake a series of Professional Experience and/or Work Integrated Learning placements relevant to their area of study and degree.
TES should familiarise themselves with the placement system (iParticipate) and requirements for their professional experience unit. Refer to the four sections below for more information.
Student identification during placement
Students are required to wear and display their Macquarie University student ID card at all times during placement. If required, university lanyards can be purchased from the Mac Shop on the Lower Ground Floor (facing Central Courtyard) of 18 Wally's Walk or online. University card holders are available for purchase from the Mac Shop only.
iParticipate is the system to manage the allocation of TES enrolled in placement units. You can view your placement details and access important announcements on iParticipate.
Preferencing refers to the process of selecting your preferred placement settings from an availability list. Preferencing process is conducted on iParticipate and is completed several weeks before the scheduled placements.
You must always keep your residential address up to date on eStudent, as this determines which placements are visible to you.
TES’ preferences may not be guaranteed due to availability of placements; however, TES will be contacted by the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) office to confirm their placement offer. You are recommended to consider practicum settings’ policy and requirements and choose your ideal settings.
If you are already working as a teacher within a school or centre setting, you may apply to complete professional experience placement during your final year of study at your current place of employment.
Eligibility
Final-year TES enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate teaching degrees are eligible to apply for work placement in their final year of study. Upon submission, each application is reviewed and assessed for its eligibility.
Refer to the Work Placement Criteria and FAQs.
Application dates
You may apply for a work placement in Session 1 or Session 2 in your final year of study.
Work placement submission has strict deadlines – no late applications are accepted. This is due to the tight timeframe for your application to be processed and approved involving both internal and external stakeholders.
Please refer to application deadlines under Announcement on iParticipate. It is of utmost importance that you prepare and organise your application well in advance to submit early.
Application process
Applications for work placement are managed through iParticipate – select 'Macquarie School of Education'. Detailed instructions and required documentation are outlined in the application form.
Please note that the review and approval process may take several weeks. You will be informed of the outcome of your application via your student email address.
Expectations during a work placement
The work placement setting must comply with the University’s Professional Experience requirements. This includes adequate supervision by a qualified Supervising Teacher to ensure that you meet the Professional Experience requirements and have sufficient support throughout your placement.
If your employer continues to pay you during your professional experience, you will not be covered by Macquarie University liability insurance.
The Department of Education (DoE) offers $250 per week living allowance plus travel allowance to eligible TES to complete a rural placement in primary and secondary schools.
In addition, the DoE organises shared accommodation for approved TES.
Travel to and from the rural placement setting must be organised and financed by the TES. The rural placement dates run in accordance with the Macquarie University professional experience timetable.
Eligibility
To be eligible you must :
- Be enrolled in the final or penultimate year of your initial teacher education degree
- Have a paid Employee Working with Children Check
- Meet all mandatory pre-requisites for replacement
- Be committed to the values of public education
- Be eligible and ready to work in a department school at the completion of your degree
How to apply for a DoE rural placement
Applications dates for rural are set by the DoE and usually open at the beginning of each Session. Relevant cohort of students will be emailed.
Further communication and organisation are managed directly by the DoE.
Please visit Rural Professional Experience Program for more information.
The Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) provides financial support to eligible domestic (Australian) students undertaking mandatory placements. This includes placements in teaching.
The weekly payment of $331.65 is available to domestic (Australian) students who meet the eligibility criteria.