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 2018 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 96 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10360 Bachelor of Health Science
Description
This subject offers students the opportunity to practically apply, synthesise and consolidate skills acquired during the Bachelor of Science course through a supervised professional placement with an appropriate organisation.
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. | Develop work-ready skills and resources for engagement 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 (for example, with an organisation related to digital health and analytics, physiotherapy, global health etc.). |
| D. | Demonstrate, evaluate and reflect on the key professional attributes sought by employers in the chosen industry-specific working environment. |
| E. | Develop professional networks within the chosen industry-specific context. |
| F. | 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:
- Recognise and respond to the diverse health needs of communities both locally and abroad (1.3)
- Demonstrate adaptable and novel thinking within changing environments to maximise outcomes for a range of individuals, communities and stakeholders (2.1)
- Utilise enquiry based learning to develop innovative approaches to complex issues (2.2)
- Manage and adapt to the environment to maximise integration of care and outcomes for a range of individuals, communities and stakeholders (2.3)
- Identify opportunities for change and support others through change processes (2.4)
- Apply newly generated or existing data to inform optimal care and/or service development (2.5)
- Communicate and collaborate effectively and sensitively with diverse populations (3.1)
- Consider and develop the health literacy of varied population groups and articulate the impact this has on effective communication and health care delivery (3.2)
- Facilitate the growth and development of self and others through responsive leadership (3.3)
- Contribute to environments that support and promote inter- and trans- disciplinary collaboration (3.4)
- Display sensitive judgement in deciding when to lead, and when to support leadership from those with more appropriate cultural or community credentials (3.5)
- Identify appropriate information resources and apply effective and creative solutions for the improvement of individuals and communities (5.1)
- Take a lively and questioning approach to developing optimal health care delivery (5.2)
- Critically evaluate research and practice for socially driven change (5.3)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
1. Advocacy and Social Justice: Advocate for and engage with individuals and communities to reduce health inequities and promote social justice in a global context: 1.3
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
A compulsory pre-placement workshop will be held to prepare students to optimise the career opportunities presented by their professional placement. The workshop will include interactive activities and instructive lectures focused on career development, networking, interviewing, writing a curriculum vitae, and the process and expectations of undertaking professional placement. Learning will be reinforced through the development of a curriculum vitae and a placement proposal.
Before commencing placement, students will schedule an appointment with the subject coordinator to discuss expectations and requirements of the professional placement, career goals and learning objectives and the curriculum vitae and placement proposal. Students will also work with the subject coordinator to complete a learning contract for the period of their professional placement.
During placement
Following the preparatory workshop, students will undertake supervised work within a relevant organisation for a minimum of 140 hours. The staging of this engagement is to be negotiated with the participating organisation and may be conducted as a block or by regular hours throughout the semester. Onsite guidance will be provided by the host organisation and supported by the subject coordinator. Students’ learning is to be reinforced through the completion of a reflective journal. Students will also receive feedback on their professionalism and progress toward the attainment of industry relevant skills from both supervisors during the period of professional placement.
Students are also required to complete 2 workshops through UTS Careers during the period of their professional placement. UTS Careers runs careers workshops on a monthly basis, to help students be best prepared for taking the next steps in their career. The topics are:
- Resume and Cover Letter
- Interview Skills
- Job Search
For more information and to register to attend, students should follow this link: https://careerhub.uts.edu.au/students/events/search?query=&EventType=9
At the completion of the professional placement, students will critically evaluate their personal learning and skill development through a formal report. 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 completed with sufficient time for final assessment documents to be received by the census date of the following session (Friday August 24, 2018 at 11:59pm).
Content (topics)
- Work-ready skills and guidance on professional engagement
- Professional responsibilities and expectations
- Experiential learning and reflection
- Industry-specific workplace functioning and structures
- Effective communication and networking in relevant industry contexts
- Reporting and receiving feedback of professional development
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Curriculum Vitae
| Intent: | Preparing a curriculum vitae provides students with the opportunity to critically reflect on their strengths and areas of improvement in relation to industry requirements. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 2.4, 3.1 and 3.3 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 10% |
Assessment task 2: Professional Placement Proposal
| Intent: | The professional placement proposal will allow students to critically reflect on their strengths and areas of improvement in relation to their future career and from these, build the objectives of their professional placement. The proposal will incorporate these intended learning and professional development outcomes, together with associated tasks and milestones. |
|---|---|
| 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): 1.3, 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 5.1 and 5.2 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
Assessment task 3: Reflective Journal Summary Statements
| Intent: | The reflective journal will allow students to adapt and critically review the professional placement experience and their progress toward meeting learning objectives and advancing career goals. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D, E and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 3.3, 5.2 and 5.3 |
| Type: | Reflection |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 4: 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. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.3, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 2500 words |
Assessment task 5: Evaluation by workplace supervisor
| 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, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark |
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
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), the Health Student Guide (www.uts.edu.au/sites/default/files/uts-health-student-guide.pdf) 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, old exam papers, academic writing guides, health literature databases, workshops, a gaming room and bookable group study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with all your questions. 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.
