Student work placement

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Risk overview

Student work placement continues to be a high risk in the sector. Poor provider management of work placements remains a strong concern for many stakeholders. Over-enrolment relative to available placements, inadequate placement support for students and employers, and failure to conduct mandated workplace assessments threaten student education and job-readiness.

Poor quality placements may also expose students to safety or wellbeing risks and leave graduates lacking the practical skills and experience needed for workforce readiness. Emerging issues such as wage theft and labour exploitation associated with placements further threaten the integrity of vocational education and training (VET).

For example, allegations have been received of providers charging students additional fees for work placement, with some payments forwarded to the student’s employer as reimbursement for legitimately earned wages.

Key points from research

• Some providers prioritise increasing enrolments without securing sufficient quality placements for their students or ensuring they can manage the placement effectively.
• Responsibility for securing work placements is increasingly being shifted on to students, often leading to progression delays or non-completion. Many students are unaware of this responsibility prior to enrolment or do not have the industry connections or knowledge to secure suitable placements. Students studying online or in rural and regional areas are particularly disadvantaged due to limited placement opportunities.
• Certain student groups face additional barriers to securing and completing work placements including international students, individuals with disabilities, those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, and students with limited work experience.
• Instances of students, providers and employers falsifying work placement records have been reported.
• Some providers fail to conduct required workplace assessments, replacing direct, on-site observation by a qualified assessor with simulated environments, limited supervisor feedback, or student generated digital recordings.
• International students on temporary migration visas are particularly vulnerable to exploitation due to power imbalances.