Media releases

Federation University has partnered with McMillans Accounting and Financial Planning in Traralgon to deliver Co-op placements to students, helping them to get a head start in their chosen profession. 

In a first for Australia, the globally recognised cooperative education model – providing academic credit for real workplace experience – will be embedded across all Federation University Australia programs by 2026. 

Federation University Churchill Bachelor of Business student, Liam Byrne, commenced his Co-op placement in March.  

Liam began his interest in finance at a young age, finding topics related to finance piquing his interest both in his own time and at school. 

“I think the main benefits are the experience and knowledge you gain. Mainly because having that experience looks great to potential employers and can help open a lot of doors in the future,” Liam said. 

“Instead of getting someone’s coffee or scanning documents they might have you helping on some real industry work whilst getting paid for it,” he said.    

Liam hopes that his experience will potentially lead to a job in the future.  

“I’d like to think this placement sets me up for success as it gives me the opportunity to show a potential employer what I can do without them having too many expectations. This could even lead to a potential job whilst I study or after I graduate,” he said. 

McMillans Financial Planner, Claire Richmond Miller, said that McMillans have always supported the Gippsland Campus of Federation University. 

“We are very keen to get on board with the Co-op program,” she said. 

Claire cited many benefits to their business including supporting students from the Gippsland Campus Business school to access real-time industry knowledge and experience, as well as building students' exposure to their workplace so that they may consider McMillans a future employer. 

“Whilst our main focus includes training and mentoring, we benefit from being able to access a productive resource in a climate where resources and staff are hard to find,” she said. 

 “Our Federation University Co-op student, Liam, has been an amazing addition to our Financial Planning team.  We’re keen to provide Liam with industry, real-world experience that he can utilize now and in his future career.” 

“We hope to have many more fantastic students like Liam come through the Co-op placement program,” she said. 

To learn more about Federation University Business courses visit: https://study.federation.edu.au/stream/Business.  

Quotes attributable to Federation University Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Global and Engagement, Leigh Kennedy 

“McMillans are a valued partner to our Co-operative model delivery, we have an on-going relationship with the team in Traralgon and hope that this is the first of many placement opportunities for our students.” 

“Our students will benefit from having real industry exposure, undertaking work that they would be doing once completing their studies, as well as getting paid for it, and contributing meaningfully to the business they are placed at.”