Unit Outline

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.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Apply discipline-specific knowledge in a professional setting to meet placement host objectives
2	Critically reflect on professional practice, integrating scholarly thought, workplace challenges, ethical issues and personal development
3	Evaluate opportunities and challenges in professional environment management, geospatial science, and/or planning practice to formulate approaches and solutions.
4	Communicate with peers, industry professionals and supervisors, conveying information in verbal and written forms appropriate for a professional audience.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	completion of 100 credit points

Alterations as a result of student feedback

The assessment has been simplified to remove marks from the contract and risk forms, and also from the placement host. These are both hurdle tasks that do not require grading.

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Workshop	You will join your peers in person in a synchronous learning environment to discuss the unit content, participate in activities, and reflect on your placement experiences.	2	Study Period 6 times
On Campus	Clinical or Professional Practice	You will participate in a placement as part of an defined project or an experience through working on a series of tasks under the guidance of your placement host. The total hours for this are 80 hours of unpaid placement time.	10	Study Period 8 times
Online	Lecture (Online)	Online content must be completed before class.	10	Study Period 6 times
Online	Workshop (Online)	You will join your peers online in a synchronous learning environment to discuss the unit content, participate in activities, and reflect on your placement experiences.	2	Study Period 6 times

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Contract	Week 4	0 %
Assessment Task 2:	Placement application	Week 4	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Portfolio A	Week 5	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Portfolio B	Week 11	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 5:	Provider evaluation	Week 12	0 %
Assessment Task 6:	Placement project	Week 14	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Contract

Task Description:

Completion and submission of placement risk assessment and contract documentation to the required standard. This is a hurdle requirement and must be satisfied to proceed with the placement. You will not be covered by insurance if this step is not completed.

Task Length:

Form provided by Science and Engineering PEP team

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

Assessment Task 2: Placement application

Task Description:

Prepare a resume and cover letter for submission to your placement host.

Task Length:

Up to 10 A4 pages

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Tailor a professional cover letter that clearly aligns your skills, knowledge, and motivations with your specific placement, demonstrating relevance and purpose.	LO1, LO4
2	Critically address selection criteria by applying relevant examples and specific evidence that demonstrate capability, judgement, and fit for the placement.	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Design a well structured, accurate, and professional resume that communicates qualifications, experience, and skills effectively for your particular industry audience.	LO1, LO4

Assessment Task 3: Portfolio A

Task Description:

Reflect on your learning, the scholarly content and your placement preparation and activities.

Task Length:

In class participation with private discussion posts or asynchronous equivalent

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically evaluate professional situations, integrating discipline-specific knowledge, ethical considerations, and workplace constraints to justify decisions and proposed actions.	LO1, LO3
2	Synthesise experiential learning and scholarly concepts to generate reflective insights that inform ongoing professional development and practice.	LO2, LO4
3	Deliver professional communications that effectively translate complex ideas, evidence, and recommendations for diverse industry audiences.	LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 4: Portfolio B

Task Description:

Reflect on your learning, the scholarly activities and your placement experience and outcomes.

Task Length:

In class participation with private discussion posts or asynchronous equivalent

Due Date:

Week 11

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically evaluate professional situations, integrating discipline-specific knowledge, ethical considerations, and workplace constraints to justify decisions and proposed actions.	LO1, LO3
2	Synthesise experiential learning and scholarly concepts to generate reflective insights that inform ongoing professional development and practice.	LO2, LO4
3	Deliver professional communications that effectively translate complex ideas, evidence, and recommendations for diverse industry audiences.	LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 5: Provider evaluation

Task Description:

The provider evaluation is an important check on the student's performance during their 80‑hour placement. The evaluation will review how clearly workplace expectations were communicated and how the student responded to instruction, team work and other matters relevant to the specific placement. This also works as a reflection on the degree to which the provider has supported the student in developing professional skills and providing a stepping stone towards a professional role.

Task Length:

Exit interview with placement host to be followed by an email from the host to unit coordinator.

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

0 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

Assessment Task 6: Placement project

Task Description:

Write a report documenting the placement project tasks, methods, and any outcomes. If you are producing written work for your host, you may be able to adapt this to meet the requirements of this task.

Task Length:

Around 6 pages A4 pages

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically analyse the placement context, tasks, and methods, demonstrating how discipline-specific knowledge was applied to meet host organisation objectives.	LO1, LO3
2	Justify insights from practice by integrating workplace experience with relevant scholarly concepts, ethical considerations, and professional standards.	LO2, LO3
3	Construct a coherent, well-evidenced professional report that communicates processes, outcomes, and recommendations clearly for an industry audience.	LO1, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.