2027 Unit information is now available. View 2027 unit information
Hobart, Online
The placement will have two components: (1) classes for workshopping employability skills and other in-class exercises, and (2) your work with your placement host. We aim to place you in organisations, but may also be occasions where an industry partner works online. If you need access to a working space, please discuss this with the Unit Coordinator.
You are expected to discuss tasks and progress with your host at least weekly once the placement has begun. You may take your placement either intensively, with the full 80 hours worked in just over two weeks, or across an 8 week period, working on average 10 hours per week with your industry partner. You will also have assignments that you will be undertaking - some are in-class and some are in your own time. You will have content to work through in your own time and workshops fortnightly.
You are expected to uphold the highest standards of professionalism during your placement. You are representing the University and it is essential that you behave as a professional in the workplace.
You need to complete a workplace contract and a risk assessment before you commence to be covered by insurance and have thought carefully about risks and your safety and wellbeing.
Students will typically undertake this unit in the third or final semester of their masters candidature, after they have successfully completed core units
Introduction
This unit provides students with an 80-hour unpaid professional placement with government, non-government organisation, or the private sector. The placement offers structured work-integrated learning through participation in defined projects or workplace tasks aligned with the course discipline areas of protected area management, planning and environmental geospatial science. Students apply their disciplinary knowledge to meet host objectives and agreed performance criteria within real or simulated professional contexts. Placements may be undertaken individually or in small teams and are arranged in consultation with the Unit Coordinator. All placements require a clear project brief specifying deliverables, standards and timeframes, and a formal risk assessment for insurance purposes. Through the placement, students develop professional communication skills, workplace capability and understanding of organisation structures and professional expectations. The unit emphasises ethical practice, reflective learning and the integration of scholarly thought with applied professional experience. Assessment focuses on professional readiness, reflective evaluation of practice and the delivery of a project that meets host standards.
Summary
| Unit name | Professional Placement |
| Unit code | KGA709 |
| Credit points | 25 |
| College/School | Sciences and Engineering School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences |
| Discipline | Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences |
| Coordinator | Doctor Emma Little |
| Delivered By | University of Tasmania |
| Level | Postgraduate |
Availability
| Location | Study period | Attendance options | Available to | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobart | Semester 2 |
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| Online | Semester 2 |
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- Key:
- On-campus
- Off-Campus
- International students
- Domestic students
Note
Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus.
Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.
Key Dates
| Study Period | Start date | Census date | WW date | End date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester 2 | 5/7/2026 | 27/7/2026 | 30/8/2026 | 24/10/2026 |
* The Final WW Date is the final date from which you can withdraw from the unit without academic penalty, however you will still incur a financial liability (refer to How do I withdraw from a unit? for more information).
Unit census dates currently displaying for 2026 are indicative and subject to change. Finalised census dates for 2026 will be available from the 1st October 2025. Note census date cutoff is 11.59pm AEST (AEDT during October to March).
Learning Outcomes
- Apply discipline-specific knowledge in a professional setting to meet placement host objectives
- Critically reflect on professional practice, integrating scholarly thought, workplace challenges, ethical issues and personal development
- Evaluate opportunities and challenges in professional environment management, geospatial science, and/or planning practice to formulate approaches and solutions.
- Communicate with peers, industry professionals and supervisors, conveying information in verbal and written forms appropriate for a professional audience.
Fee Information
| Field of Education | Commencing Student Contribution 1,3 | Grandfathered Student Contribution 1,3 | Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution 2,3 | Domestic Full Fee 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 040103 | $2,384.00 | $2,384.00 | not applicable | $5,838.00 |
- Available as a Commonwealth Supported Place
- HECS-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility3
- FEE-HELP is available on this unit, depending on your eligibility4
1 Please refer to more information on student contribution amounts.
2 Please refer to more information on eligibility and Approved Pathway courses.
3 Please refer to more information on eligibility for HECS-HELP.
4 Please refer to more information on eligibility for FEE-HELP.
If you have any questions in relation to the fees, please contact UniConnect or more information is available on StudyAssist.
Please note: international students should refer to What is an indicative Fee? to get an indicative course cost.
Requisites
Prerequisites
completion of 100 credit pointsTeaching
| Teaching Pattern | The activities you will undertake include working through unit content in your own time, attending a compulsory workshop, and completing activities for the professional portfolio. These classroom activities support your 80 hours of unpaid work with an industry partner. The compulsory workshops must be attended in-person if you are enrolled in Hobart. You will need to prepare a risk assessment as part of an assessment, which you will submit to a separate link on MyLO. You will also need to complete a series of checks to be covered by insurance for your placement. |
|---|---|
| Assessment | Contract|Provider evaluation|Placement application (20%)|Placement project (20%)|Portfolio A (30%)|Portfolio B (30%) |
| Timetable | View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable |
Textbooks
| Required |
Required readings will be listed in the unit outline prior to the start of classes. |
|---|---|
| Recommended | Recommended readings will be provided via MyLO. |
The University reserves the right to amend or remove courses and unit availabilities, as appropriate.