Help for PSTs

General queries

If you have a general query about placement or need to notify us that you will be late or absent on a placement day, please contact Placement Partnering and Operations using the Work-Based Learning Placement Student Enquiry Form. For enrolment-related questions, please contact ASK La Trobe.

Occasionally, PSTs experience difficulties on placements due to the placement itself or external forces. If you experience difficulties related to the placement, you should initially attempt to address your concerns with your supervising teacher or SPC if possible and try to resolve any uncertainties, misunderstandings, or differences of opinions. If your issue is not resolved, request additional support via the process outlined below.

Changing placement dates

Unless you have a Learning Access Plan (with a condition that impacts you during placement) or you are working as a teacher already, placement dates cannot be changed. Placements are arranged at specific times in the timetable to complement the program as a whole. As professional experience is an integral part of your course, many of your assignments and tutorial activities will draw directly on your experience in the placement setting.  The dates of the placements have been set to ensure that your experience complements the theoretical component of your course and provides adequate follow-up time for reflection, discussion and analysis.

Placements are both a learning experience and assessment tasks. As with all assessment tasks, a PST can only request to decline an allocated placement or vary the dates of an allocated placement if they experience a serious illness, emotional disturbance or misadventure. If this occurs the PST must complete the Placement Variation Request Form [PDF 255KB] and send to the Placement Partnering and Operations team via the Work Based Learning Placement Student Enquiry Form. 

Requesting additional support

If you feel that you need assistance from us to resolve an issue, if you are worried about your progress, or if you feel at risk of failing a placement, the University has a range of additional support processes in place to help you. To get help, contact Placement Partnering and Operations using the online Work-Based Learning Placement Student Enquiry Form. Select “Other” from the from drop-down and then enter “Placement Support” when requesting support.  You will receive tailored support appropriate to the situation from the Placement Partnering and Operations team and/or an academic staff member.  

Withdrawing from a placement 

If you are struggling with placement, you should request additional support via the process outlined above. If you decide during a placement that you will not return to the placement without first requesting additional support, the University will assign a Practice Advisor to you who will contact you to discuss the situation that has led to your withdrawal from placement. Please note the following, which may impact your decision to withdraw from a placement: 

• You may apply for Special Consideration within five working days of the withdrawal from placement. Late Special Consideration applications will only be accepted where extraordinary circumstances have affected you during the period in which applications are normally made or you have a Learning Access Plan. 
• If you withdraw from a placement and do not apply for Special Consideration, you will fail the placement subject because you have not met the placement hurdle. You will need to repeat the placement subject and the placement in the future.  
• If you withdraw from a placement subject and apply for Special Consideration but your Special Consideration application is denied, you will need to repeat the placement subject (including the placement) in the future.  
• If you withdraw from a placement subject and apply for Special Consideration and your Special Consideration application is approved, you may be allowed to repeat the placement hurdle without repeating the placement subject.   
• If you have a Learning Access Plan, you will still need to apply for Special Consideration. 

It is important to request additional support from us as soon as you are considering withdrawing from a placement so you can receive appropriate assistance quickly.