School of Education Procedures

Electronic Communication

It is the student’s responsibility to check all electronic communication on a regular weekly basis.  Communication may occur via:

• Official MQ Student Email Address
• The Dialogue function on iLearn
• Other iLearn communication functions

LANTITE

FOR UNDERGRAD PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDST2xxx and EDST3xxx PE UNITS

In order to enrol in your EDST3000/EDST3010 PE Unit you will need to have MET the standard for both the Literacy and Numeracy test in the semester before the unit is to be taken. Please note that to be eligible to enrol in EDST3000/EDST3010 you need to have SAT BOTH LANTITE TESTS AND HAVE MET BOTH STANDARDS. Enrolling in EDST3000/EDST3010 unit while waiting for your results will not be accepted

Passing a Professional Experience Unit

In order to pass a Professional Experience unit, students must achieve a satisfactory result for their professional experience placement AND achieve a satisfactory result overall for their academic assessment tasks (where applicable) in the unit.

Professional Experience Unit Placement Expectations

• Students must be able to present evidence of completion of the following prior to session census date (or as otherwise advised) in order to receive a placement for Professional Experience:
  • A Working with Children Check or State/ Territory equivalent. For school placements this must be verified by DoE before your first placement. Complete and email: The practicum students declaration and a copy of relevant ID documents to the department’s probity unit at least two weeks prior to the start date of your first professional experience placement. You will also need to present photo ID on your first day of professional experience.
  • Anaphylaxis training (practical and online training) (school placements only). Please note that Anaphylaxis training is only current for 2 years so students will need to update this, most probably at the start of their final year
  • Read and acknowledge agreement to abide by the DoE Code of Conduct (school placements only)
  • Child Protection Awareness Training (CPAT) (school placements only) (once only)
  • Mandatory Child Protection Training (school placements only) (annually)
  • Evidence of COVID-19 vaccination - see SONIA for where you must submit your immunization evidence.

For more details re school placement requirements see: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/professional-learning/pre-service-teacher-resources/induction-for-pre-service-teachers/mandatory-pre-requisites-for-pre-service-teachers-participating-.

This includes completing the pre-service teacher acknowledgement: https://education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/teaching-and-learning/professional-learning/pre-service-teacher-resources/Document2_Pre-service_teacher_Acknowledgement_October_2020.pdf

Students are responsible for ensuring that their evidence is current.  Please be aware that you may need to update your training or credential during your program of study.

• A Working with Children Check or State/Territory equivalent is required by the end of Week 2 to be eligible for a placement. Students may need to withdraw from this unit if this has not been obtained in time.
• Students who are completing a unit offered by another department are expected to inform and negotiate with that unit convenor about their professional experience block dates and to discuss how that unit's requirements can be met. For some situations, it may mean that you are enrolled externally for that unit so that your attendance for tutorials for that unit is not impacted.
• Feedback from Tertiary Supervisors and/or Supervising Teachers is of a general nature. It is incumbent on the student to check the requirements of any assessments or bookwork prior to submission.
• If a Student is identified being in need of additional support for Professional Practice and/or Bookwork, the Department’s ‘Additional Support’ procedure will be activated and they will not be able to withdraw themselves from this Unit.
• The timing of placements can vary. For placements early in the Session, Fail grades may be approved by the University prior to the end of Session for students who do not meet the placement expectations of the Unit.

Fitness to Practice

Academic Senate has approved the development of a Fitness to Practice (FTP) procedure to provide further clarity to students enrolled in practical, clinical and professional programs who have not met the requirements of the General Coursework Rules. It establishes how the University will manage the progression of students enrolled in practical, clinical or professional (PCP) programs or units listed on Schedule 3 of the Academic Progression Policy, with embedded placements and/or registration, accreditation or other mandated requirements. 

The Procedure is governed by General Coursework Rules, and the Academic Progression Policy and is supported by the Inherent Requirements Framework. It provides the process to identify, notify, intervene, support, monitor and exclude when required, those students who are not meeting the FTP requirements of their program. 

FTP is the demonstration of professional competence, acceptable professional behaviour, freedom from impairment and compliance with program specific requirements needed for a student to practice properly and safely throughout their practical, clinical or professional program. 

Students must ensure they meet Inherent Requirements before enrolling in their program; that they have the physical, cognitive, communication and behavioural capacity to complete the program. Students with a disability or chronic health condition may have reasonable adjustments made. Students must also demonstrate that they are fit to practice and demonstrate the capabilities and professional behaviours required of that profession. 

Fitness to practice requirements

• Macquarie University operates under a ‘Fitness to Practice’ model as specified in the University's Academic Progression Policy.  For this Unit, this means that, when undertaking a placement, a student is declaring that they are able to demonstrate professional competence, acceptable professional behaviour, freedom from impairment, and compliance with program specific requirements needed for a student to practice properly and safely throughout their Practical, Clinical or Professional program or unit. It is the responsibility of the student to determine whether they are fit to undertake a placement. Therefore, if a student is feeling unfit to undertake a placement, they should not do so. For more information https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/academic-progression

The relevant General Coursework Rules (#17-19) are as follows:

(17) The following requirements apply where a student is enrolled in a practical, clinical or professional course with fitness to practice requirements:

1. the University and the provider of the clinical or professional experience opportunity may appoint a suitably qualified supervisor who is external to the University to supervise a student’s practical professional experience;
2. if a student fails one practical, clinical or professional activity they may be permanently excluded from that course; or
3. if a student fails an essential unit twice or fails the equivalent of 20 credit points they may be permanently excluded from further enrolment in that course.

(18) Any determinations made under Rule 17 (a-c) will be made in accordance with the University’s policies and procedures on placement and fitness to practice, in force from time to time.

(19) Notwithstanding the above, a student may be suspended from participation in a practical, clinical or professional activity, for any reason, until such time as any investigation or a process set out in a University policy or procedure, including an appeal process, is completed.

• Students completing a double degree will be able to continue with their other degree program provided they meet the academic progression requirements of the Academic Progression Policy.
• Students completing a single Education degree (such as the BEd) are advised to seek academic advice.

Professional Experience Unit Placement Expectations 

For this unit, students

• Must meet the participation requirements for the unit : COMPLETE 20 days of Professional Experience:

3 week block during Weeks 5 to 7 of the teaching session (22nd August to Friday 9th September) and then 5 additional days by Friday 4th November.

In order to meet the Professional Experience placement expectations of this unit, students must:

• attain a ‘Satisfactory’ grade for their Professional Experience Practical Work in their Evaluation Report, AND
• attain a ‘Satisfactory’ grade for their Professional Experience Folder in their Evaluation Report