Education resources
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Education subject guides
As an education student at Federation University, you'll complete a placement as part of your course. The details of your placement will vary depending on whether you're enrolled in a VIT accredited initial teacher education program or a pathway program.
VIT accredited initial teacher education program placements
Our placement program is all about helping you grow into a confident, capable teacher. You’ll get hands-on experience in real classrooms, where you’ll apply what you’ve learned and reflect on your practice.
Each placement builds on the last, giving you the chance to develop your skills, knowledge and confidence over time. The program is shaped by the Australian Professional Teacher Standards and designed to support you in becoming an ethical, reflective and well-prepared educator who can meet the needs of every learner.
You’ll use the InPlace platform to upload essential documents, submit your placement preferences and find out where you’ve been placed. Log in with your student ID and password.
Find out more about organising your placement via InPlace.
Find your placement dates on the undergrad calendar (PDF 135 KB) or the postgrad calendar (PDF 127 KB).
Before your placement can be confirmed, you’ll need to upload various mandatory documents to InPlace (including a Police Check, a Working with Children Check and your immunisation status). Some of these can take 6–12 weeks to organise, so best start early.
During your professional experience placement, you’ll be supported by two key mentors: your mentor teacher and your University mentor.
Your mentor teacher will help you connect what you’ve learned in class with what happens in the classroom. They’ll guide your teaching practice and support your growth.
Your University mentor is your link to Federation. They’ll help you set learning goals, reflect on your progress and build your confidence as a future teacher.
If you're finding things challenging, your mentors will step in early to help – through a Student at Risk (StAR) support plan (PDF 162 KB) – so you can get back on track.
Diversity placements give you the chance to step outside the traditional classroom and explore different ways of teaching and learning. They’re designed to challenge, inspire and broaden your experience.
You can choose to complete a diversity placement locally, interstate or even overseas. Not every placement will involve formal lesson planning or assessment, but you’ll work with your placement supervisor to create a plan that outlines when you’ll be teaching and what’s expected.
Placements can be completed in a full-time block or spread over a few weeks.
In your final year, you’ll complete a teaching performance assessment (TPA) to show you’re ready for the classroom. It’s your chance to bring together everything you’ve learned and demonstrate your skills in planning, teaching, assessing and reflecting –using real examples from your final placement.
Undergraduate students complete the Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment (GTPA). Master of Teaching students complete the Assessment for Graduate Teachers (AfGT).
To graduate from the Master of Teaching (Primary or Secondary), you’ll need to pass both your final placement and the AfGT. Your school mentor will support you through the process and help you understand what’s involved.
Find out more about placement expectations and the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved by downloading the Professional Experience Student Legal Responsibilities and Procedures (PDF 167 KB) and the Professional Experience Placement Checklist (PDF 93 KB), and viewing the PST Class Orientation Template (Undergraduate Immersion Practicum) in Moodle.
Victorian Institute of Teaching
Codes of Conduct and Ethics | Victorian Institute of Teaching
Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics
Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)
Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET)
Working with Children Check (WWCC) Applications
Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC) (for information about privacy and the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (Vic))
To make life easier for students with mandatory placements, the Australian Government has introduced the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP). If you're a domestic student, you might be eligible to receive $331.65 per week while you’re on placement.
Pathway program placements
Placement means working in industry. It gives you the chance to apply your knowledge in real situations – great preparation for being in the workforce.
Co-op placements are usually undertaken from second year. The timing of yours will depend on your course structure and the pre-requisites required. For most courses, you'll need to complete 120 credit points, or 105 credit points plus your Professional Identity unit, before you start your placement. It's okay to complete your placement earlier than it appears in your course structure.
Once you're enrolled in your pre-requisites, we’ll send you a link to the Co-op Placement Portal so you can register a new account (you won't be able to use your standard Federation student ID and password). You should start reviewing placement opportunities on the portal straight away.
You're responsible for finding and applying for placements that are aligned with your area of study and advertised on the Co-op Placement Portal. It's essential to start early so you can lock in your preferred placement.
Use our resources to prepare and complete your application.
Fieldwork guidelines for Outdoor Ed students
Download a copy (PDF 98 KB)
Compulsory tests
If you’re a non–Year 12 applicant, you might need to do a literacy and/or numeracy test to gain entry if you don’t meet the minimum English or maths requirements.
Initial teacher education programs
Including:
- Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary)
- Bachelor of Education (Primary)
- Bachelor of Secondary Education
- Bachelor of Secondary Education (Health and Physical Education Teaching
You'll have to sit the test if you don't have:
- a study score of at least 25 in any English (or 30 in EAL)
- satisfactory completion of Units 1 and 2 of any maths
OR - satisfactory completion of Units 3 and 4 of any maths
Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education)
You'll have to sit the test if you don't have:
- a study score of at least 20 in any English
- satisfactory completion of Units 1 and 2 of any maths
OR - satisfactory completion of Units 3 and 4 of any maths
Pathway programs
Including:
- Bachelor of Education Studies
- Bachelor of Sport, Physical and Outdoor Education
You'll have to sit the test if you don't have:
- a study score of at least 20 in any English
Maths requirements vary depending on the program.
How to register for the test
Complete the registration form and we’ll contact you within two business days with details about how to do the test online.
All education students have to complete a non-academic selection test. We use Casper, which helps gauge professionalism and social intelligence by assessing your:
- communication skills
- empathy
- fairness and ethics
- motivation
- ability to problem solve
- resilience
- self-awareness.
The online test takes 90–110 minutes to complete. You’ll be presented with 14 scenarios (via video or text) and asked to record video answers or submit written responses.
You don’t need to study for Casper, but you can look at the test structure and do a practice test.
Registration
Register for Casper at least three days before the date you’d like to take it. You’ll need:
- photo ID (e.g. passport or driver licence)
- VTAC number (if applicable)
- Federation applicant ID number (if applicable)
- Federation student ID (if you have one)
Tech requirements
You’ll need a:
- computer
- working webcam
- working microphone
- reliable high-speed internet connection.
Cost
The Casper test costs $55 and is non-refundable.
Results
Your result will automatically be sent to Federation 2–3 weeks after you take the test.
The LANTITE is made up of two tests. The literacy test measures reading and technical writing skills (syntax, grammar, spelling, word usage and text organisation). The numeracy test covers number and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability.
If you’re studying primary or secondary teaching, you must pass LANTITE in order to:
- attend your final placement
- graduate from your program
- register with VIT (Victorian Institute of Teaching)
- gain employment as a teacher.
Each test:
- takes up to 2 hours
- includes 65 questions (multiple choice and short answer)
- does not include extended writing tasks.
Timing and registration
You must have at least attempted the LANTITE before the end of your first year of study. You must have passed both sections before you start your final placement. There is no limit to the number of times you can attempt the LANTITE.
You can take the tests in person or online. There are four test windows per year. Register early, as places fill quickly.
Find out more about the LANTITE on the ACER website.
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