Before commencing SWLA, if you haven’t done so, you will need to familiarise yourself with the requirements of work placement as it is explained and detailed in the Student Guide to SWLA (available in the Course Overview, at the beginning of the course).
As explained in the Student Guide to SWLA, the SWLA for this course incorporates learning and assessment for the following units of competency:
- <<UoC in SWLA>>
- <<UoC in SWLA>>
- <<UoC in SWLA>>
- <<UoC in SWLA>>
In this course, SWLA is completed in module <<x>>, following the completion of the initial learning and assessment for the above modules. Before you can commence SWLA you must have successfully completed all learning and assessment captured in these online modules.
SWLA will require you to complete a minimum of <<x>> hours of work placement at an approved <<industry>> facility. It is recommended that you commence your search for your work placement host organisation 1-2 modules before you are planning to commence the SWLA module as there are processes (such as host organisation approvals) that need to be initiated and planning (such as scheduling your hours) that need to be completed.
There are a few requirements you need to meet to ensure you can successfully prepare and complete your SWLA. These include:
- Completed theory assessments: Before commencing your SWLA you must have successfully completed and submitted all theory assessments for the preceding modules. This is important so you can implement the theory in practice during placement and is a mandatory pre-requisite for commencing placement on all SWLA courses.
- Pre-employment checks: Depending on your workplace, you may need to obtain a working with children check/blue card/ police check. The screening process may vary depending on the different state/territory’s legislation and may take up to 2-4 weeks to complete.
- Immunisation: Depending on your workplace, you may need to have received specific immunisations, depending on state/territory’s requirements.
For the workplace specific requirements, you will need to ask your Workplace Supervisor to confirm what is needed ahead of time so that you are able to complete these prior to commencing.
You are responsible for finding an appropriate service to complete your SWLA. The Host Organisation must be <
Once you have found a service, make contact with the proposed Workplace supervisor, providing them with a copy of the Supervisor Guide to SWLA so they may make an informed decision about taking up the supervisor role.
Once the workplace supervisor is onboard, complete the Host Organisation Approval Form, providing the required details about the proposed workplace, its facilities and resources and the information regarding the proposed Workplace Supervisor. Once completed, submit this form via the LMS for approval.
NOTE: Both the Supervisor Guide to SWLA and the Host Organisation Approval Form are available in the Course Overview, at the beginning of the course.
Swinburne Open Education will then review the details and determine whether your proposed workplace is suitable for hosting your structured work placement. It may take up to 14 days from submitting the Host Organisation Approval Form to receive approval.
NOTE: You can NOT start structured work placement or any associated assessments until you have received approval of the Host Organisation from your Assessor.
The Plan - Work Placement Plan
Once your Host Organisation is approved, and you are ready to commence SWLA, your allocated Assessor will contact you and arrange a time to review the structured work placement process and develop your Work Placement Plan. The Plan includes details of the practice activities and assessment components required during your placement. The Work Placement Plan is not an assessment, and it will be created by your allocated Assessor, who will also upload this on your behalf.
Logbook - Recording your hours
You are required to keep a record of hours completed during your SWLA in your approve host organisation. You will record the hours completed for your SWLA in your Logbook as follows:
- Specify the date, such as 1/10/2022 or 1 October 22.
- Specify workplace hours completed, excluding breaks, in the Placement Hours section, such as 7.5 hours.
- Calculate the total hours spent at the service, including breaks, in the Tally of hours section.
- Jot down the main activities completed during the day.
- Each entry will have to be signed off by your Workplace Supervisor at end of each shift.
At the end of the SWLA, calculate the total completed workplace hours at the end of the table (excluding breaks). This should align to <<x>> hours of work placement as set out in your Student Guide to SWLA.
NOTE: Your logbook will be available in your SWLA module in the LMS.
SWLA Assessments
During SWLA, while being actively involved in the service’s daily routine, you are also required to complete certain tasks to demonstrate your competence in the units of competency covered.
It is best to read through all assessment tasks before you commence placement, then talk these tasks through with your Workplace Supervisor so you can create a brief to-do list for each day of the placement to help you keep on track. This can also be captured in the Work Placement Plan.
It is your responsibility to ensure that all SWLA assessment activities are completed within the allocated timeframe. If you think you will have issues completing any of the activities, contact your assessor as soon as possible.
Below is a short description of each of the SWLA assessment documents you will need to complete.
- SWLA Portfolio
Your SWLA Portfolio will capture evidence of the tasks/activities set out for you during your work placement. This evidence may include:- Photographs
- Recordings
- Completed documents and checklists
- Short answer questions and your responses to them, etc.
- SWLA Interview Questionnaire
Your SWLA interview questions are completed during your final check-in with your assessor. You do not need to submit this document. The assessor will ask you and your supervisor the questions found in this document and submit this assessment on your behalf. - SWLA Third-Party Report
Your SWLA Third-Party Report will capture confirmation by workplace supervisors that they have observed the student demonstrate specific skills and knowledge during the Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment (SWLA) process. The supervisor can choose to either complete this document or have the assessor capture the evidence in the final interview. If the supervisor decides to complete the form, you will need to upload a copy to the LMS.
Each of these assessment documents will be available in your SWLA module in the LMS.
Choosing a workplace can be a pretty daunting task! There are a few things to keep in mind when finding a suitable workplace and workplace supervisor.
Host organisation
Apart from being an approved workplace, the Host Organisation will need to be able to provide you with access to certain facilities, equipment and resources during your placement. These include:
- A variety of policies and procedures
- Service documentation
- Work health and safety facilities, tools and equipment
- A team with a supervisor and peers
- Workplace meetings
- Clients, their families and/or carers
- Emergency drills, such as emergency evacuation or lockdown rehearsals
A detailed list of your workplaces specific requirements can be found in the Host Organisation Approval Form.
Workplace supervisor
It is important that the Workplace Supervisor is able to provide you with effective guidance and support to perform safely in the workplace; therefore, it is imperative that the Workplace Supervisor has the appropriate experience and qualifications.
The Workplace Supervisor is required to:
- Hold a minimum of Diploma <<Qualification>>, and
- Have a minimum of two (2) years’ work experience in the <<industry>>
NOTE: You can have more than one workplace. That said, you are required to submit a Host Organisation Approval Form for each workplace and you cannot commence work placement until the workplace and the Workplace Supervisor are approved.
Once you have identified a suitable service in your area, there are a couple of things you need to prepare for approaching the selected service. You should approach work placement the same as if you were applying for a job.
This means you need to prepare:
- A cover letter
- A resume
- An outfit for an interview.
- Cover letter
Cover letter
A cover letter is an introduction letter that should complement your resume and give an explanation as to why you are the ideal candidate. The explanation could include:
- information about your skills
- information about your experiences
- achievements
- what you are currently studying (for the purposes of work placement)
Your cover letter should be around 3-4 paragraphs. The cover letter should highlight your skills, experiences, and achievements that relate to the job you are applying for. This is the employers'/workplaces' first impression of you.
As you are approaching the service to complete your work placement, it is recommended you explain what you are trying to achieve during work placement and how the service will benefit from your presence. You can say things like: “I’m looking forward to being able to <<function>>.” Or “I am working towards becoming an <<role>> and I would be delighted to be able to complete my work placement at your service so I may learn from your team. I am committed to being a useful member of the team during my placement.”
Watch the following 13-minute video on how to write a cover letter:
Access free cover letter templates for different purposes through Indeed.
Resume
A resume or CV is a document that provides details of your:
- Work experience
- Education
- Experience
- Skills
- References (if available)
The information in your resume is essential information that your workplace or employer needs to know to be able to determine if you are a suitable fit for the role.
What to include in your resume:
- Personal details
You should include your full name and contact details (phone number & email address) - Education
This includes courses and qualifications you have completed/or you are in the process of completing that relate to the role you are applying for. You should also include your schooling if you completed school within the last 5 years. - When listing your education, you should start at the most recent and work backward. You should also include the qualification you received, where you studied, and the start and finish date of the study.
- Work experience
This can include any paid or volunteer work, with focus on jobs relevant to early childhood education and care. For each job, you should include the title of your position, the name of the workplace, and the dates that you worked there. Under this information, you should provide a brief overview of the responsibilities you had in the role. Similar to the education section, these should be listed from the most recent backward. This is a great place to list any experience you may have working with children, even if it was babysitting your younger siblings or the neighbour’s children. Jobs not directly related to early childhood education and care will prove that you are hard-working and mature-minded or will indicate any transferrable skillsets that may be useful during your placement. - Skills, strengths & interests
Here you can list any skills, strengths, or interests that relate to the role you are applying for, for example playing on an instrument, speaking another language, gardening, art and craft, etc. These skills may come handy during your placement. - References
A reference is a professional that can provide a recommendation and vouch for your skills and work ethic. This could be a manager or supervisor from a previous role. You could also include an academic reference. This could be a previous teacher or career advisor, or it could be a current teacher. For each reference, you should include company and contact information. It is a good idea to include at least two.
Your resume should not be more than 1-2 pages. Keep it short and sweet! You also want to make sure the format and colours used are neat and professional.
Access free resume templates for different purposes through Seek.
Contact potential services
Once you have located a few services in your area, it is time to contact them directly.
It is best to contact them over the phone first during the day when it may be quieter time at the service, such as between 10 am–11 am or between 2 pm–4 pm. When you ring the service, always greet them politely according to the time of the day, such as ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good afternoon’, then ask to speak to the director or second-in-charge.
When you talk to the manager or person-in-charge, introduce yourself and ask whether the service accepts students for placement. You may find that some services do not accept work placement students. There could be many reasons for this - don’t take it personally, just try somewhere else. If the service accepts students, it is best to make an appointment to go and meet the director in person.
Always pre-plan your work placement a couple of months before it starts, rather than organise it at the last minute, as services may have strict policies around how many students they can accept at a time.
Think through your availability before you contact the service, as they may want to have an idea of when and how long you’ll be at the service.
At the interview
Once you have organised an appointment with a workplace, you should consider this meeting as a job interview. Although this is not the main purpose of the placement, students who demonstrate passion for working in the sector and are able to be part of the team during placement are often offered work opportunities on graduation.
First impressions count so make sure you present professionally. Make sure you have an appropriate outfit on, your hair is neat and tidy and you speak clearly. This is good practice for the interview and for the actual placement itself.
Once you have secured placement, this is when you would complete your Host Organisation Approval Form in consultation with your proposed Workplace Supervisor.
