Professional experience/placement and students with AIPs

Professional placements are scheduled clinical or field learning experiences that students are required to complete as part of their course. Often these are necessary to meet professional registration and course accreditation requirements. They are also a great opportunity for all students to get hands on experience in their chosen field.

It is possible that you will require adjustments while you are on placement. If so, your Academic Integration Plan (AIP) will include the statement 'Student to meet with Director/Coordinator prior to clinical/practicum/placement/other placement to discuss additional workplace adjustments'.

Adjustments include accessibility requirements, location and duration of placement, additional equipment  or other reasonable adjustments that take into account your individual needs.

If you have the adjustment 'student to meet with Director/Coordinator prior to clinical/field placement to discuss additional adjustments appropriate to workplace' listed in your AIP, you need to:

  1. Contact and meet with your Placement Coordinator/Director as possible so there is plenty of time to make any arrangements. If you are not sure who this is, ask your Disability Advisor or an academic staff member. Disability Advisors can also be present at the meeting if requested by you or the Director/Coordinator responsible for professional placements
  2. Discuss the impact of your condition on your placement and any safety issues that may come up (e.g. you experience high levels of fatigue, you require assistive technology or you have physical access requirements). The Coordinator/Director will then discuss with you any appropriate adjustments to the placement
  3. Organise further documentation: if you need further assessment (e.g. a functional or risk assessment) or documentation regarding the impact of your condition on your placement, you will be advised. The Disability Advisor can refer you to appropriate services if this is the case

Please note:

  • It is your responsibility to contact the Coordinator/Director as soon as possible to arrange an appointment to discuss the adjustments you will need on placement. If you do not act you will be at risk of not being able to attend the scheduled placement until such time all requirements are established and conditions have been met. This may impact on your course progression so it is important that you respond to your AIP requirements in a timely manner
  • You are not required to disclose your disability/condition to the academic or to your supervisor/facilitator while on placement
  • You are required to discuss the impact of your condition on your ability to undertake required tasks on placement and any possible WHS issues, with reference to your AIP
  • The agreed meeting outcomes will be recorded and a copy will be given to you and the placement area if required
  • Be prepared: You may be required to meet with the Director/Coordinator before each placement to discuss the specific requirements of the placement setting if it differs from placement to placement

If you have any concerns in this process, please contact your Disability Advisor.

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