Academic Enrichment Services Careers & Employment

Student Work Placements programs

Student Work Placements (SWP) are experiential learning initiatives for University of Melbourne students from all disciplines and year levels. They consists of a range of approved unpaid work experience opportunities to assist students to enhance their employability.

In March 2002, a survey of employers commissioned by the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry was undertaken by DEST. The results of the survey lead to the development of a framework of employability skills that were identified as “required not only to gain employment, but also to progress within an enterprise so as to achieve one’s potential and contribute successfully to enterprise strategic directions”.

As part of the endeavour to enhance students' attributes which form part of the 'Melbourne Experience', C&E encourages students to undertake work placements through its SWP program.

It is expected that students who participate in the program will acquire and expand skills such as:


Students undertaking an approved SWP are covered by University of Melbourne’s Personal Accident, Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance for the duration of their placement, provided that the following conditions are met:

Employers are required to extend the provisions of the OHS Act No. 107/2004 to students on placement, which requires them to provide a safe and healthy workplace and adequate supervision.

The employer and student together negotiate details of the work placement, including working hours and location of work.

At the conclusion of the placement (once minimum hours have been completed), the host employer verifies satisfactory completion of the placement, and identifies the skills acquired.

C&E will send a Certificate of Completion to the student. Students can use this document as part of their personal careers portfolio.

Examples of placements already undertaken:

Student Work Placements sourced by C&E are advertised on Careers Online, and students must apply directly to the host employer for selection. When students are successfully selected for an advertised placement, they must inform C&E via Careers Online.

Students also have the option of initiating their own placement by approaching prospective host employers. Students are strongly encouraged to seek out and organise their own work placements, which must comply with the criteria identified above.

Student testimonials

“My first impression of the web development placement was that it was straightforward. But I soon realised how much insight it gave me into the workforce and dealing with clients.”

“The most important thing I learnt from this work placement was time management, teamwork and also extensive planning. The skills that I have learnt will assist me in future team projects during my university degree and also in the workforce.”

“During my industry placement, I was given the opportunity to learn about project management of major event. I was able to meet many new people from a diverse range of backgrounds, as well as enjoying a lively culture.”

Finding a Student Work Placement

SWPs are advertised on Careers Online under the employment type: ‘Student Work Placement’, so check it regularly. They are available to students from all disciplines and year levels. International students must have a valid work permit to participate in the program.

You can also seek out your own placement. The advantage of finding your own placement is that you can target employers who can offer work that is specifically related to your own course and is in an area that interests you. The other advantage is that you are the only competitor for the placement.

Steps in finding a placement:

  1. Identify what skills you have and what types of work/projects you might be interested in. These need to be related to your studies. The more specific you are, the better, as that allows the host employer to think about how you might be able to fit into their organisation and what projects/roles you might undertake.
  2. Make sure that you have written a resumé that really sells you and your skills. If you feel you need assistance in resumé writing, there are resources you can refer to at the Careers Resource Centre. These include a free book Wise Up for Work which gives tips on successful resumé writing. You might need to book in for a Resumé Review to make sure that your resumé does you justice (also available through C&E).
  3. Identify possible host organisations. Some suggestions for finding these are:
    • Use your network and spread the word that you are looking for a voluntary work placement. Once again you will need to be specific about the sort of experience you are looking for. Your network could include family, friends, lecturers, sports team members, your doctor, dentist - even people you buy the newspaper from.
    • Look at ideas for organisations in trade journals and magazines.
    • Use leads from the daily papers and local papers.
    • Use the Careers Resource Centre to identify possible companies. Look at directories such as the Directory of Australian Associations, Australian Local Government Guide and National Guide to Government.
    • Spend some time browsing books such as The Most Promising Companies in Australia, and the Australian Media Guide. It's also worth visiting the Graduate Careers Australia website.
    • Look at company websites.
    • Use the Yellow Pages.

    Decide on a marketing campaign which could be by letter or by phone. If you are sending a letter, make sure that you follow it up with a phone call.

  4. If you are going to telephone organisations, make sure that you write yourself a script outlining your key points. It is often a good idea to make your first call to your least preferred organisation as you will improve with practice. If you don’t have a specific name to call you could ask to speak to their Human Resources department.
  5. In your letter or phone call you should cover the skills that you have and the area of work experience that you are seeking. Also, outline the key points of SWP:
    • 40-80 hours in length in total, undertaken within 6 months and appropriately supervised
    • the position must be course-related or able to assist with professional skills development
    • while on placement you will be covered by the University’s insurance (as long as the appropriate forms have been lodged using Careers Online)
    • it must be undertaken on commercial premises or, if field work, performed under supervision
    • the activity must not be considered high risk.
  6. When you have found an employer and you have negotiated the work placement, please contact C&E via email enquiries-careers@unimelb.edu.au or by phone +613 8344 6686 and we will confirm whether or not C&E approves the project. If the project is approved, the employer will be sent an instruction sheet. This sheet requests that the employer enter the details of the work placement on to Careers Online. The placement will be lodged in such a way that the position will not be available to other students.
  7. When you have completed your placement you will be sent an email reminding you to log back on to Careers Online, and in due course you will be issued with a SWP certificate.
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