SUPPORT PROGRAMS

Program 8: Education and Training - Industry Placements

Industry placement

The placement scheme aims to provide enhanced opportunities for CRC research students to learn from experienced environmental researchers, managers, regulators and consultants. Placement entails negotiated learning tasks and objectives with appropriate host organisations.

What is Involved? | Placement Participants | Mentors | Organisations
A link to an Adobe Acrobat version of the application form
for either a participant, mentor or organisation
is at the bottom of each of their respective sections.

What is involved?

• The scheme may offer three to six month placements with one or more organisations.
• Placements are managed by the CRC Education Committee
• Organisations interested in offering placements are encouraged to provide details of learning opportunities they can offer, including details of willing mentors.
• The CRC Education Committee is responsible for matching applicant students, host organisations and mentors and for overseeing the negotiation and achievement of mutually agreed learning goals/outcomes.
• Support and training is available to participating mentors and placement participants to enhance the teaching and learning experience.
• Placement participants provide regular written reports to both their host organisation and the Education Committee, monitoring placement outcomes and conditions.
• Host organisations are responsible for providing suitable working conditions and administrative support and for conducting an exit review evaluating placement outcomes and providing feedback to placement participants.

Placement ideally includes

• Induction to the host organisation consistent with appointment procedures for other staff.
• Negotiation of learning goals and intended placement outcomes.
• The opportunity to accompany mentor to meetings and routine activities.
• Defined and reviewed day-to-day role and tasks.
• Participation in staff and other meetings.
• Training opportunities.
• Responsibility for genuine research and communication tasks.
• Opportunities to participate in relevant research and management activities.

Placement Participants

Eligibility criteria for participants:

• Relevant knowledge, expertise and experience
• Willingness to negotiate learning goals
• Successful progress with research degree (concern to avoid delaying students' completion)
• Learning goals relevant to available placement opportunities

Benefits to placement participant

• Learn from experienced researchers / managers
• Gain familiarity with the professional environment
• Broaden personal and professional network
• Career development
• Develop expertise in specific environmental issues

Placement participant responsibilities

• Negotiate learning goals
• Obey the lawful and reasonable instructions of the organisation with which you are undertaking the placement.
• Complete research and other tasks as directed, acting in a support role to mentor or independently as negotiated
• Accompany mentor in the course of routine activities
• Participate fully in the life of the organisation - attend staff meetings, submit reports
• Maintain weekly journal to document and evaluate placement outcomes
• Respect the security and confidentiality of any information which you may receive from that organisation in the course of the placement.
• Maintain a standard of conduct befitting a CRC research student.
• Participate in exit review upon completion

Mentors

• Appropriate position within host organisation
• Capacity to provide applicant/s’ identified learning opportunities
• Commitment to training and mentoring; willingness to participate in training
• Willingness to negotiate learning goals
• Capacity to commit required time, effort and patience
• Personal philosophical support for the scheme

Benefits to mentors

• Day to day assistance and opportunity to delegate work
• Relationships with academic institutions, environmental research organisations and students
• Opportunities to reflect on own learning and learning goals
• Intrinsic satisfaction

Mentor responsibilities

• Participate in initial training if desired
• Negotiate learning goals with placement participants and education committee
• Establish and maintain mentoring relationship with student including weekly supervision and support (minimum one hour per week)
• Ensure adequate organisational support for learner including work station and suitable working conditions
• Provide direction and support, encouraging creativity and increasing autonomy
• Report to Education Committee and host organisation on placement outcomes

Organisations

• Organisational support for the scheme
• Adequate resources (space, administrative capacity, etc)
• Capacity to deliver suitable working conditions for placement participants including OH&S, duty of care
• Realistic expectations
• Designated senior staff member to liaise with the CRC Education Committee overseeing the scheme

• Strengthened links with tertiary institutions and other environmental research organisations
• Expertise, experience and enthusiasm of research students
• Train and develop researchers for future roles
• Increased staffing