Types of student placement agreements

There are five main types of placement agreements for students in use at Federation University which support the mandatory requirements for all students completing any type of Co-operative Experiential Learning as part of their program or course work at Federation University. These may take the form of:

• an overarching long-term agreement between Federation University and an ongoing external provider, or

• one of four standard-form contracts prepared by the Federation University Legal Office.

The various student placement agreements form part of the requirements of the Work Based Training and Practical Placement Requirements Policy and Procedures

Work Based Training and Practical Placement Requirements Policy (Policy Code: LT1711). Currently under review

The Higher Education Work Based Training and Practical Placement Requirements Procedure (Policy Code: LT1907). Currently under review

The VET Work Based Training and Practical Placement Requirements Procedure (Policy Code: LT1906).

Essential paperwork

Completion of the essential paperwork provides the following information.

Duty of care

• To take reasonable care to minimise foreseeable risks to students.
• Clearly defined obligations for university and placement providers.
• Contractually based obligations to supervise, ensure health and safety standards, and maintain appropriate records etc.

Expectations

• Students are provided with a safe and well-supervised workplace.
• Federation University remains responsible for the overall control and discipline of the student.
• Students will act as an ambassador for the university.

Information privacy

• All parties to comply with current privacy laws in respect to all areas related to the placement (Clause 14).
• Student consents to photographs, footage and testimonials (Clause 9).
• Student will maintain organisation confidential information (Clause 5.3(b).

Insurance

Who pays?

• Ensuring organisations have appropriate coverage to protect students and the university in the event of a claim.

Liability

• Roles and obligations are clearly set out.
• Each party indemnifies other parties for loss and damage resulting from own negligence.
• No indemnity for loss and damage caused by the negligence of another party.
• Liability is limited to level of insurance coverage.

Standard contract terms

• Intellectual property
• What happens in the event of a dispute?
• How can the agreement be terminated?
• No employment relationship.
• Governed by law of the State of Victoria.
• Severability and waiver of terms.

Which of the standard agreements do I need?

All students who are enrolled in a program of study which has mandatory Co-operative Experiential Learning placements AND all students who choose to complete a Co-operative Experiential Learning option within their program of study MUST complete the Student Placement Agreement and other mandatory documents as listed in InPlace.

The completed and signed Student Placement Agreement between the student and Federation University must be uploaded to your personal student profile on the InPlace student placement system.

Overarching Student Placement Agreement

If Federation University has an ongoing relationship with an external provider who provides multiple, regular and consistent placements for Federation University students, the CEL coordinator should request an overarching student placement agreement. All overarching agreements must be requested through the Legal Office using a document signing request form. Ongoing clinical placements for Federation University students with external health providers in the public health sector and the private health sector follow the student placement agreement guidelines provided by the Department of Health, Victoria.

If you require legal services, please complete the request for legal services form (pdf, 243kb).

The university is required to periodically review and renew overarching Student Placement Agreements which are tailored to the meet the specific requirements of an external placement provider or when a Student Placement Agreement is initiated by an external placement provider. These Student Placement Agreements are required for specific CEL requirements such as ongoing arrangements for clinical placements across a number of disciplines and programs.

Storage of agreements

The completed and signed Student Placement Agreement between the student and Federation University must be uploaded by the student to their personal student profile on the InPlace student placement system.

The Single Placement Agreement must be uploaded to InPlace for access and use by university staff. This agreement is uploaded by Placement Administrators against the individual placement.

Scanned copies of the Organisational Placement Agreements must be uploaded to InPlace for access and use by university staff.

All original copies of the fully executed Organisational Placement Agreement, Single Placement Agreement and Overseas Placement Agreement must be stored with the Federation University Legal Office.