How to find practical work placement for students

For some courses, you’ll be required to complete a set number of hours in work placement.  

This includes many of those offered at Foundation Education. Practical work placement involves working at an established organisation in the role you’re studying to become qualified for, or at least in a very similar role. 

Why is work placement required? 

The practical placement provides you with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in your future role. This experience can assist you greatly in finding a job when you graduate and helps to ensure that you fully understand the course content that you’re studying.

Applying theory to a practical situation is a very effective form of learning. Rather than simply focusing on abstract concepts and applying them in assessments, you’re able to understand them in context and gain an appreciation of why you need to learn the things you’re studying. You’ll develop job-related skills, and you may even become one of the organisation’s potential employees.

Work placements for students are one of three types of workplace learning employed across most Australian states. The others are structured workplace learning and work experience. Practical placements or ‘work placements’ are for students in vocational education.

How to find practical work placement 

Depending on your experience and contacts within your chosen industry, finding practical work placement can either be incredibly simple or extremely difficult. If you have an extensive network and know people who already hold jobs in the industry, it’s highly recommended that you speak with them first. If they can’t help you directly with a position, they may at least be able to help you figure out how to find a work placement.

If you’re just starting out and don’t have a particularly robust network, there are plenty of other avenues available to you. To find unpaid volunteer work, try some of the following resources:

• Seek Volunteering Search 

• The Centre for Volunteering 

• Volunteering Queensland 

• Go Volunteer 

• Recruitment and placing agencies. 

Alternatively, you can reach out to organisations directly. Use local classifieds or listings such as the white pages to find local businesses. Google may also be your friend in this endeavour. 

How and when to apply for a practical workplace placement 

Applying for work placement may feel a little daunting, but with the right advice, you’ll have something lined up in no time.

When you’ve found a place where you’d like to do your practical placement, you’ll need to do some preparation to improve your chances of being offered a role. Follow these steps before applying:

1. Research the organisation. Get an idea of their business style and the type of employees they take on. 

2. Make sure you fully understand the role you’re applying for. 

3. Make a list of any questions you have about the organisation or the role – this will be handy when they ask you if you have any questions during an interview. 

4. Contact the organisation. They may be able to answer some of your questions upfront and direct you to the appropriate channels to apply.  

5. Complete any required documentation to apply. Depending on the role, this may include:  

• Police Check 

• Working with Children Check 

• Resume 

• Cover letter 

• Submission processes

Follow up on your application status within a week or two if you haven’t heard back. And if you’re lucky enough to get an interview, look at our guide to the ten most asked interview questions. 

What if I can’t find a practical work placement? 

If you’ve followed this procedure with a few organisations and aren’t having any luck, get in touch with us, as our Student Services team may be able to assist you in identifying work placement options.

It’s important to be persistent. Even the most qualified applicants can be rejected for practical placement for any number of reasons. This might include your fit into the workplace dynamic, a lack of space at the organisation, no one available to supervise you, or something else entirely.

We can provide advice and assistance when it comes to finding a practical placement, particularly if you don’t have a lot of experience in doing so. We may be able to find you a place with one of our industry partners who are often willing to take on students for practical placement.

Are there any requirements when applying for a practical work placement?

There are a few basic requirements to apply for work placement. At the very least, you should:

• Have English language proficiency required for the role 

• Be an Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident

Depending on the industry you work in, there could be several other requirements, particularly if you’ll be in a caretaking role. These could include: 

• COVID-19 Infection Control Certificate 

• A clear criminal record 

• Approved vaccinations against illnesses such as influenza or COVID-19 

• Driver’s licence

If you’re a current Foundation Education student struggling to find a work placement, contact our friendly team today at 07 3866 9574 for assistance.

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