92579 Professional Placement
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 72 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10360 Bachelor of Public Health
Description
This subject offers students the opportunity to practically apply, synthesise and consolidate skills acquired during the Bachelor of Health Science course through a supervised professional placement with an appropriate organisation or project.
Professional placement assists students to develop knowledge, employment skills, vocational experience and contacts identified as essential to career success. Through the professional placement, students engage with the functions and practical activities of their chosen industry, allowing them to bridge the gap between classroom and practice.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Identify personal work-ready skills and attributes and articulate career goals and interests. |
|---|---|
| B. | Demonstrate work-ready skills and resources for engagement and networking with the industry of choice. |
| C. | Apply, integrate and develop practical skills acquired during the Bachelor of Health Science course in an industry-specific context. |
| D. | Demonstrate, evaluate and reflect on the key professional attributes sought by employers in the chosen industry-specific working environment. |
| E. | Evaluate and report on the outcomes and experiences of the professional placement. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Respect and respond to the needs of diverse groups to improve health outcomes (1.2)
- Promote and enhance the health of diverse groups through evidence-based advocacy strategies and techniques (1.3)
- Demonstrate creative and adaptive thinking within a changeable social, political and technological environment (2.0)
- Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of health projects and programs (2.1)
- Develop creative and innovative responses to health issues (2.2)
- Demonstrate adaptability to social, political and technological change in public health (2.3)
- Use an assets-based approach to engender effective communication, collaboration and leadership (3.0)
- Identify and use culturally sensitive and appropriate communication techniques aimed at improving health in diverse populations (3.1)
- Facilitate meaningful collaboration between stakeholders to develop effective public health strategies (3.2)
- Translate and communicate knowledge and research effectively to various audiences (3.3)
- Demonstrates a capacity for autonomy, accountability and critical self-assessment (3.4)
- Demonstrates critical thinking in the development and practice of public health (5.1)
- Translate public health policy into evidence-based strategies (5.2)
- Assess and evaluate the relevance and quality of research in the context of specific health issues and populations (5.3)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
2. Adaptability: Demonstrate creative and adaptive thinking within a changeable social, political and technological environment: 2.1; 2.2; 2.3; 2.4; 2.5
3. Communication, collaboration and leadership: Use an assets -based approach to engender effective communication, collaboration and leadership: 3.1; 3.2; 3.3; 3.4; 3.5
5. Critical thinking and practice: Translate research and evaluation into social and professional practice through critical thinking and knowledge integration: 5.1; 5.2; 5.3
Teaching and learning strategies
Before placement
As a first step in the placement process, students must complete the Placement Preparation Form available through MyPlacement and submit their curriculum vitae to Rate My Resume.
The Placement Preparation Form includes questions regarding learning and development goals for the professional placement and must be completed no later than the end of week 2. Instructions on using MyPlacement and completing the Placement Preparation Form will be discussed during the first compulsory Workshop.
There are 2 compulsory pre-placement workshops which will run online in the first 2 weeks of the session in conjunction with UTS Careers. The workshops will prepare students to optimise the career opportunities presented by their professional placement. It will include interactive and collaborative activities, as well as information focused on career development and the process and expectations of undertaking professional placement. To get the most out of the workshops, students are asked to submit their curriculum vitae to Rate My Resume and bring the results to the workshop, so that they may work on this during the face-to-face session. Learning will be reinforced by peer feedback, through revising the curriculum vitae and by developing an example expression of interest or cover letter during the workshop. Students will also be introduced to MyPlacement and guided through the application process for placement opportunities.
The aim of the second workshop is to address the assessment tasks and expectations while on placement. Students will be given the opportunity to develop their learning goals and interview skills.
Students will next apply for professional placements. This application process will involve marking preferences through MyPlacement and then following the application procedures required by each organisation or project. These procedures may include providing a curriculum vitae, writing an expression of interest or cover letter and/or attending an interview. The subject coordinator, placement officer and UTS Careers will be available to support these processes.
During placement
Following the preparatory workshops and application process, students will undertake supervised/online work within a relevant organisation or project for a minimum of 140 hours. The staging of this engagement is to be negotiated between the student and the participating organisation and may be conducted as a block or by regular hours throughout the session. Onsite guidance will be provided by the host organisation and supported by the subject coordinator. Students will work with their placement organisation and supervisor to develop a Professional Placement Plan. This must be submitted as Assessment Task 1 at the completion of 20-30 hours of placement.
When 70 hours of placement have been completed, students will submit the Placement Progression Form through MyPlacement. Feedback obtained from this form will enable supervisors to ensure that the student is on-track to meet their learning and development goals and the required number of hours.
Students’ learning is to be reinforced through reflective entries on their timesheets throughout the placement period. These brief entries should contain a daily log of hours, activities and personal reflections and will be graded as Assessment 2. This will help students keep track of their duties over their placement, in order to accurately complete the reflection in Assessment 3.
At the completion of the professional placement, students will critically evaluate their personal learning and skill development through a formal report (Assessment 3). They will also be provided with feedback on their professional development and skill learning through a workplace evaluation report provided by the workplace supervisor. Placements must be complete with sufficient time for final assessment documents to be received by the census date of the following session.
Content (topics)
- CV preparation
- Work-ready skills and guidance on professional engagement
- Professional responsibilities and expectations
- Experiential learning and reflection
- Industry-specific workplace functions and structures
- Effective communication and networking in industry contexts
- Reporting and receiving feedback of professional development
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Professional Placement Plan
| Intent: | The Professional Placement Plan will require students to learn about the organisation and make links between their placement opportunity and their career plans. Students will reflect on their learning goals and determine whether they are on track to meet these goals. Students will also assess the organisations impact on Health. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .4, 2.0, 2.1, 2.3, 3.3 and 5.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | Approximately 2-3 pages. A template will be provided on UTSOnline |
Assessment task 2: Timesheets & Journals
| Intent: | The reflective journal will allow students to adapt and critically review the professional placement experience and their progress toward meeting the learning objectives they set and advancing career goals. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .5, 2.0, 2.1, 3.1, 3.3 and 5.2 |
| Type: | Journal |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 10% |
| Length: | Max. 100 words per entry |
Assessment task 3: Professional Placement Report
| Intent: | The report writing process will allow students to further reflect on the professional placement experience and their progress toward achieving learning objectives and developing key professional attributes sought by employers in the chosen industry. Students will present a summary of their Professional Placement Report as part of their Assessment 4 Presentation. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, C, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .4, 1.3, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.0, 3.3, 3.4, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 2500 words |
Assessment task 4: Presentation/Video
| Intent: | The presentation will allow students to share their experiences across different organisations, projects and roles with other students, and provide some insight into the types of jobs that await students after Graduation.. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): C, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.2 and 1.3 |
| Type: | Presentation |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 5 minutes (max. 10 slides for presentations) Video submissions should be saved as .mpg/mpg files. |
Assessment task 5: Supervisor Evaluation Form
| Intent: | The workplace supervisor’s report will provide valuable feedback to the student on the extent to which they have met professional expectations and the requirements of the work program detailed in their professional placement proposal. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .4, .5, .5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Length: | To be determined by workplace supervisor. |
Other resources
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and UTSOnline at: https://online.uts.edu.au/webapps/login/
UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.