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Education Professional Experience
(WIL placement)

Information for sites and university liaisons

 

Professional experience is a critical component of pre-service teacher education as it enables students to integrate theory and practice.

Over the four years of the combined degree, primary and middle schooling/secondary students are required to complete a minimum of 80 days of Professional Experience and Early Childhood, a minimum of 95 days.

Master of Teaching students are required to complete 65 days (Early Childhood 70 days) of Professional Experience over a period of two years.

The academic and professional staff work in collaboration with sites to support pre-service teachers to undertake placements across a diverse range of settings. Most pre-service teachers say that this is one of the most rewarding parts of their course!

The information on this page is for sites and University Liaisons who support Flinders University students undertaking their placement.

Visit the student information for education placements

Roles and responsibilities

Below the roles and responsibilities are outlined for all the parties involved in a placement.

The professional experience academic coordinator for each year level is responsible for:

  • Coordinating professional experience lectures and placement topics.
  • Preparing pre-service teachers for placement and providing academic advice and support prior to, during and after placement.
  • Developing resources such as handbooks and FLO sites to ensure pre-service teachers are well informed.  
  • Supporting University Liaisons and school/site staff regarding any issues with a pre-service teacher, especially in cases of poor health, or unsatisfactory performance.
  • Following up with pre-service teachers who may withdraw from or fail a professional experience placement to discuss options and make recommendations about future directions.
  • Maintain and reporting data regarding placement reports, grades and outcomes
  • Working in collaboration with the professional experience academic team and WIL placement officers to ensure diverse and equitable placements for pre-service teachers.

WIL support officers provide administration support for each course year level by:

  • Establishing effective working relationships with sites to seek and provide placement opportunities for Flinders University students.
  • Providing information to sites, University Liaisons and pre-service teachers on University policies and procedures (eg compliance requirements) relating to applying for and undertaking placements.
  • The accurate recording and maintenance of information on InPlace and other databases regarding placements of education students.

A University Liaison is allocated to each pre-service teacher (PST). The University Liaison is expected to:

  • Clarify placement expectations for site coordinator/mentors as necessary
  • Facilitate communication between all parties involved in the placement
  • Support PSTs to identify, reflect on and analyse placement standards
  • Observe PSTs teaching (at least twice) and provide written feedback re professionalism, planning, teaching and learning
  • Facilitate discussions with site staff regarding the progress of PSTs
  • Support the assessment and reporting process of PST’s performance
  • Manage and liaise with the University if issues of a serious nature arise
  • Be involved in the Interim Review process and complete an ‘at risk’ form if there are issues of concern and offer strategies to the PST for improvement
  • Undertake additional visits (by negotiation with the University) to support PSTs identified as ‘at risk’, as required
  • Add comments regarding student performance to the summary statement and ensure reports are completed and submitted to the University by the deadline.

Travel forms - liaisons ONLY

Liaison mileage log form

Vehicle mileage reimbursement form

Use of private vehicle declaration form (DOC 35KB)

Payment for extra visits to be discussed with academic coordinator.

University Liaisons must take a current copy of either their Teacher's Registration Certificate or both RAN and CRES documents.

As a representative of Flinders University, PSTs must behave in a professional and courteous manner at all times. Therefore, PSTs are expected to:

  • Wear their name badge on all site visits.
  • Be at the site from 8am-4pm as a minimum each day. Be punctual and remain at the site for yard duties and before and after school staff meetings.
  • Dress professionally in neat, clean and appropriate clothes.
  • Ensure that the site has their contact details, including email address and mobile phone number.
  • Negotiate their responsibilities with their mentor teacher in accordance with the expectations of this professional experience.
  • If they are sick, notify the site between 7.30am to 8am.
    Please note: PSTs will need to negotiate with the site coordinator to make up any sick days missed during placement.
  • Provide their mentor/s with copies of their unit and lesson plans well ahead of the teaching session to ensure adequate time for feedback and negotiation.
  • Listen openly, reflect on and respond to mentor, liaison, and site coordinator feedback.
  • Undertake the interim review process with their mentor and provide copies together with their Professional Learning Plan to their University Liaison.

Handbooks, reports and resources

Early childhood

Primary R-7

Year 3 (undergraduate) and Year 1 (Master of Teaching)

Final year

Middle and secondary

Year 3 (undergraduate) and Year 1 (Master of Teaching)

Final year

At risk form

Teaching performance assessment

What is the TPA?

Component 1 of the TPA will be undertaken in students' final professional experience placement. Activities are designed to assess readiness for beginning teaching and the evidence gathered from the six TPA assessment activities will be used toward assessment in the final capstone topic.

View further information about TPA

Placement dates and types

2nd year undergraduate Pre-service teachers (PSTs) undertake their first 15-day placement in primary and secondary schools often as a 3-week block in February or November, however they can also undertake their placement one day per week for 15 weeks in either semester one or two to support a special focus or school need/priority.

The aim is to match the priorities of the school with the pre-service teachers (PSTs) special interests and abilities.

Specific placements could occur in the following areas of:

  • literacy and numeracy (see more information below)
  • visual or performing arts
  • STEM
  • education for sustainability
  • flexible learning options programs
  • special education
  • languages
  • physical education (sport specialists).

Final year PSTs generally undertake a 40-day placement with 10 lead-in planning days in term 1 and a 6-week block from the beginning of term 2. However, some PSTs are selected to undertake an extended 10-week country or metro placement across term 2, or a special internship program over an entire school year in key internship schools.

Extended rural or metro placements allow PSTs more time to develop their teaching practice and to experience and contribute to their placement site and community. The extended placement structure usually comprises:

  • week 0 induction and orientation (this may not be possible in country schools)
  • weeks 1-2 introduction lead in days
  • weekly visits across term 1 if possible
  • 10 weeks teaching block placement across term 2
  • project (to be negotiated with the school).

Some sites elect for PSTs to complete a 6-week block placement and then a 4-week project, others may prefer that the PSTs integrate their project with their placement experience. This model allows for flexibility and creativity and to consider the varying factors for sites and the PST. Past examples of placement projects include:

  • tutoring, revision programs and examination preparation
  • literacy and numeracy intervention
  • student health and well-being programs
  • STEM
  • specialist sport coaching
  • drama or music production
  • professional learning programs
  • critical inquiry-based learning
  • languages
  • music programs.

The internship program offered by selected sites only incorporates all of the above plus a longer involvement with the site over the year. This may mean that the PST continues for one day per week after their placement to implement their special project and to support teaching and learning programs.

This government funded project enables secondary pre-service teachers (PSTs) studying science and maths subjects to work with STEM industry partners and to apply this experience in their final placement. PSTs and schools must meet selection criteria for this program.

Since the project’s inception over 45 STEM final year pre-service teachers have connected with over 25 different industries including SA Power Networks, Australian Gas Networks, SAGE Automation, SIMEC Mining and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. These PSTs have developed exciting STEM units of work to teach in schools.

The PSTs also work with the New Ventures Institute (NVI) and research scientists from Flinders University to give them further insights into the application of science into industry.

For further information please contact Dr Carol Aldous carol.aldous@flinders.edu.au

Partnership program

Flinders University aims to develop mutually beneficial partnerships with education sites through a wide range of specialised placements, and free professional learning.

To find out more about our Partnerships Program please contact the Director of Professional Experience.

Email jackie.thomson@flinders.edu.au

Teacher payments

Please submit your teacher payment claims once students have fully completed their placement. You can also claim a teacher's payment from a previous year. You will find all the information and forms to submit your claim under the appropriate heading below.

Email claims to cepsw.finance@flinders.edu.au by the end of the calendar year.

 

How to submit a teacher and site coordinator payment claim

To claim payments for mentor teachers and site coordinators please use the spreadsheet provided to enter details. The spreadsheet will automatically calculate payment amounts based on the rates below.

Then send the spreadsheet with a tax invoice from your school (example provided) for the total amount claimed at the end of the placement block. Please note GST needs to be added if applicable.

Flinders will make payments directly to independent sites so that they can reimburse staff. Please keep copies of the spreadsheet and invoice to ensure that accurate payments are made to mentor teachers and site coordinators.

Mentor teachers claim: (rate $37.22 per day)
Coordinators claim: (rate $1.78 per day)

  1. Professional experience invoice example (DOCX)
  2. Spreadsheet for teacher payment summary calculations - example only (XLSX)
  3. Spreadsheet for teacher payment summary calculations (XLSX)
Forward the spreadsheet and invoice to cepsw.finance@flinders.edu.au

How to submit a teacher payment

For schools to find information on submitting a practicum payment claim they should access this URL: Completing practicum claims in the HR Management Information system (HRS) (edi.sa.edu.au)

The above URL can only be accessed by Department of Education network users

If a school requires assistance with the process they can contact the DfE team using the following methods:

Once you have completed your claim via the DfE site, you will need to forward the following documents to us.

  1. Tax Invoice (including GST)
  2. Practicum Payments - Detailed Report (Summary by Student front page only) This report can be produced in the HR Management Information system (HRS).

The current pay rate for DfE mentor teachers and coordinators

  • Mentor teachers to $37.22
  • Coordinator rate to $1.78

Medal for Excellence in Beginning Teaching

The Medal for Excellence in Beginning Teaching is awarded to Bachelor of Education/Master of Teaching graduating students who demonstrates exemplary performance in their final year professional experience in Early Childhood, Primary, Secondary and Special Education teaching.

The criteria for nomination of this award include:

  • demonstration of exemplary professional conduct and qualities, including collaborative working relationships and extra-curricular commitment
  • strong knowledge of relevant curriculum areas
  • competence in short and long term curriculum planning, based on knowledge of student learning, and on principles of inclusivity and social justice
  • the identification and implementation of differentiated teaching strategies while sustaining a quality learning program for an extended period
  • high level competence in the assessment, recording and reporting of student learning
  • the ability to maintain a positive climate for learning, to develop strong relationships and to apply effective classroom management strategies
  • demonstration of reflective practice and the ability to analyse teaching effectiveness, in order to improve their professional competence.

Nomination procedure

Pre-service teachers may be nominated for the award by any two of the following:

  • A co-operating teacher
  • The principal/director or site coordinator
  • The university liaison

The call for nominations will be sent to schools and sites as the final Professional Experience is nearing its conclusion.

Download the nomination form

Previous recipients:

2023

Pak Yan Lee (Early Childhood), Mahnoosh Rudd (Special Education) and Caroline Huggan  (Primary) Apology Amber Mausolf ( Secondary) pictured with Joss Rankin and Jackie Thomson.

mfe-winners-2024.jpg

World Teachers Day recipient Amber Mausolf pictured with Deb West, Vice President and Executive Dean, CEPSW and Martin Westwell, CEO Department for Education. 

atd-amber-2023.jpg

Contacts

College of Education, Psychology and Social Work

Location: Education Building Front Office (Level 4, Room 4.69)
Phone: 8201 5410
Email: cepsw.placements@flinders.edu.au

Academic team


Jackie Thomson, Senior Lecturer Partnerships and Professional Experience: Academic Coordinator for 1st year primary and secondary, 2nd year secondary, 3rd year undergraduate/1st year M teach and final year primary and secondary.
jackie.thomson@flinders.edu.au

Rachael Hedger, Academic Coordinator Early Childhood, First Year
rachael.hedger@flinders.edu.au

Ruth Ratcliffe, Academic Coordinator, 2nd year Primary
ruth.ratcliffe@flinders.edu.au

Linda Gray is Academic Coordinator Early Childhood 3rd and Final year.
linda.gray@flinders.edu.au

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Last Updated: 14 May 2024

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