College of Sport and Exercise Science

Career Development and Employability (CDE)

Undergraduate courses

Student placement contract application form and procedures

 
Please read the following instructions carefully before proceeding with a contract application. 
It is suggested that you print out this page to refer to when you are completing your contract application.

Student placement contract unit codes

All College of Sport and Exercise Science students undertaking a Career Development or CDE unit of study are required to undertake a placement as part of their unit. The placement aims, objectives and placement hours vary depending on the unit of study undertaken.

Unit placement requirements are stated within the unit guide as well as within the CDE Guidelines. The CDE Guidelines provide detailed information on the placement requirements as well as the contract application procedure in detail. It is expected that students will have read the CDE Guidelines and be familiar with its contents/responsibilities outlined within it. Consult this information prior to lodging a placement contract application and also prior to commencing a placement.

Some College courses require students to complete two Career Development or CDE units of study (and two placements). If this is a requirement of your course please ensure you select the correct unit code for the placement that corresponds with the Career Development or CDE unit you are enrolled in. If you are unsure consult pages 9 and 10 of the CDE Guidelines.

The listed CDE staff member will be viewing and approving your placement contract and as such the staff member’s initials are appended to the end of the unit code (as listed below).

Ensure you select the correct unit code (as listed below) when lodging your contract application.

Unit codes for Semester 1 2017:

Unit codes for Semester 2 2017:

Student placement contract application instructions and information

Prior to commencing a placement students need to have a VU CDE Placement Contract approved, signed and returned to the University. Contract application details are below and full information is within the CDE Guidelines.

Students need to organise and finalise a contract before their placement commences. The contract system provides a public liability insurance cover of a student undertaking course work at Victoria University.  Host Organisations often require written confirmation of this.  If this is the case download, print and pass this University letter to the Host Organisation Supervisor. A copy of the letter is also included in the CDE Guidelines.

The contract system also provides students with the opportunity to take responsibility for their own education, by selecting a placement organisation that would best suit their professional needs and development.

Follow the steps listed below and also refer to the Flowchart for completing a placement contract on page 21 of the CDE Guidelines.

The steps in organising and completing the contract are as follows:

1. Students are encouraged to investigate potential placement options before making a final selection. All placement opportunities available to students are sent via email to your VU student email account. It is suggested you check your emails regularly. Students may wish to also view the Agency Contacts page where previous placements are listed. CDE staff have considerable contacts in the field and can be consulted during this investigation period.
    

2. Prior to contacting the host organisation students should research the host organisation thoroughly and have a good understanding of all aspects of the organisation. This is to enable you to have clear goals when asking for a placement rather than being vague about what you would like to achieve.
    

3. Contact the host organisation staff member to discuss the placement. It is a good idea to view or print the Contract Application Form so that you can gather all the information required.  Note: The contract form has required fields that need to be completed before the form can be submitted.
   
   Students should also discuss if there is a requirement for a satisfactory Working with Children (WWC) Check for the placement. Generally students undertaking placements involving children under 18 years of age are required to show a current WWC Check Card to the agency prior to the commencement of the placement.  Note: It is the responsibility of the student to investigate the requirement of the WWC Check. Further information and details can be found at www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren
   
   Students requiring a WWC Check card can obtain the application guide and form from any Australia Post agency . The WWC Check is free for volunteers. If you do not qualify for an exemption you will need to pay the application fee. 
    

4. Complete and submit the Contract Application Form.
   As the contract is a legal document, as well as representing you to the host organisation, it must not contain spelling, capitalisation or grammatical errors. Contract aims and duties must be written and expressed correctly and to a professional standard.
   
   Note: Details on the form can be saved and you can login again to complete the form at a later date.
    

5. Once submitted the form will be viewed by the appropriate CDE coordinator.  Given that all the information provided is correct your coordinator will approve the contract.  If the information is not sufficient the coordinator will email with amendments required. You will have to log back into the contract system, make the required changes and resubmit your application.  Please ensure you check your emails daily in case this is the situation.
    

6. Approval of the contract may take up to 4 working days.  This delay needs to be factored into the proposed starting date as contracts cannot be approved in retrospect or backdated.
    

7. Once approved 2 files containing the contract and instructions will be sent to your VU student email account.  Print off the files as per the instructions.
    

8. All three copies of the contract must be signed by the student and the Host Organisation Supervisor and distributed as indicated on the bottom of the form prior to the commencement of the placement.
    

9. The VU Supervisor copy of the contract must be returned to Ruth Gadsby (CDEPO) prior to, or on the first day, of the starting date of the contract. The recommended method to return the signed contract (1st page) is to take a clear and in focus photo and email it to the CDEPO. It can also be returned via fax (9919 5572) or can be dropped off in Mailbox number 79, located on level 1, L building, opposite office L122. An email will be sent to your student email account confirming the date of return of the signed contract..
    
   Contact details can be found on the CDE Staff page. An email will be sent to your student email account confirming the date of return of the signed contract.
    
   REMEMBER:
   The contract is not valid and your hours will not begin to accumulate until Ruth Gadsby has received the VU Supervisor copy of the contract signed by all 3 parties.

9. The student's Career Development and Employability report should be submitted to the University Supervisor on, or before, the date specified on the contract, usually two weeks after the completion of the placement. Report writing guidelines are provided separately for this purpose.
    

10. Should students require further details on any of the above consult the appropriate CDE Guidelines or contact your VU placement supervisor.
    
    NOTE:
    As all correspondence is via email students need to ensure they have access to the VU student email system. Contract applications should not be be submitted until you have access to your email account as contracts will not be emailed to any other email address other than your VU student email account.

to Contract Application Form