Work Integrated Learning

You can view the work placement hours that you are required to complete for your course on our Course specific information page.

Generally, this is as follows:

• Business internship – 225 hours over a minimum 7 weeks for each of the internship units, of which there are two. If undertaking both units, the total requirement is 450 hours over 14 weeks.
• Law Placement – 15 days in a legal environment
• Paralegal placement – 10 days in a legal environment
• Professional placement – the completion of a 70-hour placement.
• Clinical Legal Experience – new in 2024 – 14 days with a community legal centre or other not-for-profit legal provider. NB This may include the opportunity to travel to Bhutan or Thailand as part of a New Colombo Mobility Plan Program.

WIL units are capstone units scheduled for your degree's final year. A 16-unit pre-requisite applies to Professional Placement COMM3002 and Internship Part A BUSN3005 and Internship Part B BUSN3006. The Industry Project, Independent Project and Community Engaged Learning units also require completing a 16-unit pre-requisite.

The law and paralegal placement and clinic legal experience units require students to complete at least 8 units of their degree before undertaking these units.

Southern Cross University is committed to producing graduates with theoretical learning and practical experience. For this reason, WIL units are embedded in our degrees. We understand that not all students can undertake practical units due to work and family commitments. Often, students will get a choice about undertaking a project or practical-based WIL unit. Each option provides students with unique opportunities to gain WIL experience.

Students with considerable industry experience relevant to their degree may apply for Recognition of Prior Learning or Advanced Standing. Applications should be lodged early in your degree and by the latest teaching term before your scheduled placement unit.

SONIA is a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) management system.

When admitted to a degree that includes WIL activities the university gives students access to the software platform SONIA. Sonia is a system where you can:  

• View advertised opportunities, including details of past placement destinations
• View resources to assist you in preparing for your placement, including guides on resume and cover letter development  
• Submit WIL forms, including a preparation checklist and placement form
• View information and policies about WIL

For help logging in to SONIA, refer to the How do I log in to SONIA? web page.

Your Sonia online account will be activated once you have enrolled in the following units as relevant to your degree:

• LAWS3002 Law Placement – Bachelor of Laws and related degrees
• LAWS2004 Paralegal Placement – Paralegal Studies/Legal and Justice Studies
• LAWS3001 Clinical Legal Experience – Bachelor of Laws and related degrees
• COMM002 Professional Placement – Arts, Digital Media and Creative Writing degrees

We encourage students to enrol in these units as soon as enrolments are open to gain access to Sonia.

• BUSN2001 Professional Development for the Workplace (PDW) – Business degrees. This unit is a pre-requisite for Internship Part A and Internship Part B units.

The PDW unit is traditionally undertaken in the second year of study, allowing students to fully utilise the resources available on Sonia before enrolling in the internship units in the final year of study. As part of this unit, you will also develop an application letter and resume, vital components of your internship preparation.

How do I access Sonia?

• Read log-in information for SONIA
• Login to SONIA

Download the app

• Apple iTunes
• Watch the SONIA App instructional video (including how to find the QR code)

All Faculty of Business, Law and Arts students have access to a designated blackboard site from the day they are enrolled in a course. This site, FBLA Undergraduate Student Workgroup information site, provides valuable information about preparing for placements, such as resume creation, and other valuable information about the world of work. The site also contains details about advertised opportunities, past placement destinations, and opportunities for volunteer work. Various resources have been developed to assist students in identifying suitable opportunities.

The Professional Experience Coordinator also liaises with all placement students about their plans. This process is supported by a checklist, which students are asked to complete, and information books. Contact the Professional Experience Coordinator on wil@scu.edu.au.

You are responsible for any accommodation and travel costs associated with WIL, however, here are some useful links and information about support that is available to you:

• Unistays - Southern Cross University's off-campus accommodation
• Scholarships
• Student Loans

• Community-engaged Learning Policy: Southern Cross University
• Community-engaged learning at-risk procedures: Southern Cross University
• Code of Conduct: Southern Cross University

Hosts of students on placement need to adhere to a number of obligations. You will be advised in detail about these if you host a student. A summary of the obligations include:

• Any paid position must be in accordance with award or enterprise agreements and a copy of your Workers Compensation Certificate of Currency is required
• Any unpaid positions require the provision of a Certificate of Currency for Public Liability insurance
• Provision of appropriate supervision by a suitably qualified person
• Provision of the required hours to complete their placement
• Completion of the placement form BEFORE the placement commences. A supervisor report or letter is also required at the completion of the placement.
• Provision of an induction into the workplace
• Provision of a safe workplace

The placements do not need to be paid. The Fair Work Ombudsman has indicated that ‘unpaid work experience or internships can be okay if they are a student vocational placement. However, the unpaid period is only to be for the placement period.

The required work placement hours vary according to the degree the student is enrolled in. Generally, this is as follows:

• Business and Enterprise degree internship – 225 hours over a minimum 7 weeks for each of the internship units, of which there are two. If a student is undertaking both internship units, they must complete a minimum of 450 hours over 14 weeks. This is between 28 and 32 hours of work per week.
• Law Placement – 15 days in a legal environment
• Legal and Justice Paralegal placement – 10 days in a legal environment
• Professional placement – the completion of a 70-hour placement. This unit is available to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Digital Media. Students in degrees within other faculties may also elect to undertake this unit.

No. The premise of our WIL programs is that they provide real-life experience. This includes the application and recruitment process. Identifying positions, lodging applications, and attending interviews provide as much value to the student as the learning while undertaking their placement.

It is also crucial that the student is a good fit for your business or organisation. As the placement host, you conduct the interview process and you are not obligated to offer the student a placement.

Please also note that the location and interest of our students vary from session to session. So, while you may not receive any applications in one session, you may receive a couple in the next.

We require a position description to promote an opportunity with your business or organisation. This document should include the name and address of the organisation, position details and duties, selection criteria or required skills, the days and hours of the placement and employment conditions. Alternatively, you can email wil@scu.edu.au, and an opportunity form will be emailed to you.