Welcome to our Accreditation Placement Hub

Discover what you need to know to host a placement student studying:

How does the placement work?

  • Step 1

    Discuss availability

    Our Placement Coordinator or our student contacts your organisation by email or phone to check your availability to support a placement.

  • Step 2

    Book placement

    Our Placement Coordinator confirms the booking and the student allocated to your organisation by email.

  • Step 3

    Confirm changes

    If required, our Placement Coordinator confirms changes (e.g. student allocation, dates, duration) or cancellations by email.

  • Step 4

    Prepare student

    We ensure our students understand the placement assessment tasks, as well as the industry expectations and requirements.

Expected key learning outcomes

  1. To implement principles of recovery-oriented practice and self-directed recovery relationships in the engagement with people living with mental health issues
  2. To understand and take part in navigating collaborative service provision and care networks within a recovery-facilitating framework to enhance wellbeing for people living with mental ill health
  3. To implement safe work practices for one self and others within a workplace, including all tasks and responsibilities related to workplace placement
  4. To become a peer worker or carer peer in the mental health sector (for Mental Health Peer Work students)

Contact hours

  • Mental Health: 80 hours
  • Mental Health Peer Work: 80 hours
  • Dual: 80 hours

Requirements for partners

Responsibilities include:

  • appointing a representative (with at least certificate IV qualification in mental health) to supervise the student for the placement duration
  • providing opportunities for the student to meet the learning objectives of their placement experience
  • providing an appropriate orientation for the student such as:
    • your organisation’s policies and procedures
    • occupational health and safety practices (e.g. accident and emergency procedures)
    • information on break times
    • names and roles of key personnel
  • allowing visits by Swinburne to monitor and assess the student's progress
  • providing the student with constructive feedback
  • verifying the student’s attainment of skills


If a student has not notified you of their absence and has not attended placement in the first two days, please advise the Placement Coordinator via vehealthplacements@swinburne.edu.au.

Requirements for students


Vaccination and immunisation

  • Immunisation forms (MMR, DTP and annual influenza) (if required)
  • NDIS Check (if required)


Security

  • Working with Children Check (WWCC)
  • Police Check

Relevant documents

The student will bring hard copies of the documents to the placement – there is no requirement for you to print. Please note the documents are subject to change.

Attendance record

This is a log of the student hours and activities, plus the student's assessment checklist which is to be ticked and signed off by the supervisor daily.

Practical placement agreement

Swinburne will send the overarching practical placement agreement directly to your organisation via email. This will cover all students attending your organisation for the current year. Please read over the agreement and return to the Placement Coordinator at your earliest convenience. This agreement is in-principal and does not commit your organisation to take on a set number of students per year.  

We will also arrange for an agreement to be signed between the student and Swinburne, so all parties are agreeing to the same standards. 

Without the practical placement agreement, a student who incurs an injury whilst on a placement may not be entitled to compensation under the Department of Education and Training's (DET) insurance policy.

The practical placement agreement is essential and is designed to: 

  • activate the DET insurance and be a safeguard if a problem occurs during the placement
  • formalise the arrangements and conditions between the placement host and the training organisation, defining the placement so that all parties involved understand their responsibilities and rights; and
  • be kept permanently in case any legal or insurance proceedings arise – Swinburne will keep a secure copy on file for seven years.

Frequently asked questions

Any missed day must be made up. It is the responsibility of the student to negotiate a time with the organisation.

Yes, all we ask is that the student has the full support of a supervisor for the placement duration and the supervisor completes the documentation required for the placement. We must also ensure that the duties of the employed role are suitable for placement.

A supervisor with a certificate IV qualification or higher in a similar field can mentor the student.

Swinburne University of Technology’s public liability insurance policy covers Swinburne for any claims made against it related to personal injury to other parties or damage to the property of others.

During the placement, our students are regarded as an extension of Swinburne and the policy protects them against such claims that may arise from activities associated with the placement.

Our students are always reminded to contact the organisation before their shift if they are unwell and unable to attend the placement.

If you have not heard from the student after their shift has commenced, please contact the Placement Coordinator and we will follow up with the student.

Have a question?

If you would like to support this placement or require further information, please email vehealthplacements@swinburne.edu.au.

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