Students in this unit will undertake the equivalent of an unpaid, professional placement
of 80 hours duration, which gives them a work integrated learning
experience – providing intended learning outcomes that could reasonably be
expected from a placement within a government, non-government or private sector
organisation. Typically a placement project is arranged with an industry partner by the Unit
Coordinator. On those occasions when an 'in workplace’ placement is possible, it is the
student’s responsibility to organise their placement. The placement may occur as part of
a group experience, where you will work with a team of students on a real-life project.
During the placement, students will participate in completing discrete projects, everyday
work tasks, or a combination of both. Over the course of the placement, it is expected
that students will apply their discipline-specific knowledge and develop a better
understanding of environmental management, planning and/or related fields, including
the structure and functions of key agencies and organisations, the role and
responsibilities of professionals, and will develop an understanding of Australian
workplace culture.
Through this authentic, problem-based learning experience, students will be encouraged
to develop contacts within their profession and among broader stakeholders during and
after their placement. Over the course of the unit, students will practise key
employability skills, will experience aspects of workplace cultures, and will develop skills
as a reflexive practitioner, reflecting on their values, professional ethics and professional
codes of practice. Assessments will enable students to apply discipline specific
knowledge, and insights from the scholarly literature to everyday planning and
management practices. Through assessment tasks, students will enhance their critical
thinking and problem-solving skills. Assessment will emphasise important transferable
employability skills such as writing and communicating (e.g. presentation skills, report
writing) and professional skills (e.g., preparing a CV, writing briefing notes, addressing
selection criteria).