Gaining professional experience through placements

90 hours of placements provide invaluable work experience in health and research facilities, such as pathology labs or research labs.  

PEP Calendar 2023 Biomedical Science (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

Bachelor of Clinical Exercise Physiology
514hrs of placement
Exercise Prescription and Delivery - includes 14 hours of telehealth placement (2 hours x 7 weeks). 
Professional Preparation - 140 hours of placement in 3rd year (completed over the year)
Work Integrated Learning in Clinical Exercise Physiology I (double-weighted) - includes 180 hours of professional experience placement in industry. The placement takes place in the first half of the final year of study (over 20 wks)
Work Integrated Learning in Clinical Exercise Physiology II (double-weighted) - includes 180 hours of professional experience placement in industry. The placement takes place in the second half of the final year of study (over 20 wks)
Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology
360hrs of clinical placement. 
Advanced Professional Practice I - - includes 180 hours of professional experience placement in industry. 
Advanced Professional Practice II -- includes 180 hours of professional experience placement in industry. 
A proportion of these clinical placement hours occurs in the on-campus Southern Cross University Health Clinics where students see a wide range of clients with chronic conditions, injuries and disabilities.  
Placements are also at external locations such as hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, private exercise physiology practices and aged care facilities.
PEP Calendar Exercise Science_Clinical Exercise Physiology (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies)
116hrs (approx.) of professional experience in the form of supervised simulation, external and SCU clinical placements. 

Master of Osteopathic Medicine
630hrs (approx.) of experience under the supervision of a qualified practitioner in the practice of safe and effective manual therapy and the application of a wide range of treatment and management plans. Students have opportunities to work with a diverse range of patients in areas including injury and illness prevention and management, rehabilitation and health promotion. Clinical practice-based learning is also undertaken at our Southern Cross University Health Clinics, located at the Lismore and Gold Coast campuses.

PEP Calendar 2023 Osteopathy (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

400 hours of supervised on-the-job training. This is completed in two separate organisations in different fields of practice so that you gain a diversity of experience. Placements may include working across a variety of client groups, such as older people, or young people and families at the individual, group, organisational or community level of practice. You may undertake placements in social welfare settings such as child protection, drugs and alcohol, criminal justice, community education, housing, emergency relief, family interventions and domestic violence.

PEP Calendar 2023 Social Work_Community Welfare (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

Bachelor of Health Science (Health Lifestyle), Master of Naturopathic Medicine

518hrs (approx.) of clinical placement. Each placement provides a different focus so that students are exposed to different settings, a broad range of health care providers and diverse patients.

PEP Calendar 2023 Health Science_Naturopathic Medicine (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

1000 hours (approx.) of placements to meet the practice requirements of a registered midwife. You will attend antenatal and postnatal assessments/visits with women; provide direct care to women during labour; assist women during birth and support women and their babies with diverse needs across pregnancy, labour and birth, and the postnatal period.

PEP Calendar 2023 Midiwfery (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

Bachelor of Nursing

840 hours (approx. which includes 40hrs buffer) of supervised clinical placements provide you with nursing experience in public and private hospitals and health agencies. These may include acute and low care health facilities; community settings; mental health facilities; extended residential aged care; GP practices; Indigenous health; health promotion and education; intensive care; paediatrics; health clinics; accident and emergency; palliative care; primary health care settings and related nursing and health service. Elective opportunities include rural and remote, and international placements.

Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurses)

640 hours (approx. which includes 40hrs buffer) of placements are spread across several units within the course. These placements are located across a variety of settings, including large tertiary acute facilities, private hospitals, rural and remote settings, GP clinics or community health settings, mental health in both inpatient and community settings, low care, rehabilitation, palliative care and aged care organisations, to name a few. Included are several specifically designed professional experience placements for the Enrolled Nurse Pathway students to facilitate progression towards the role of a registered nurse.

PEP Calendar 2023 Nursing (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

1000 hours (approx. 1020 in total for buffer) of placements to build clinical and practical skills in settings that may include hospitals, community health, disability and mental health services, primary schools, work environments, aged care and private practice.

PEP Calendar 2023 Occupational Therapy (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

Bachelor of Podiatry 

1000 hours (approx.) of placements. Pre-clinical simulation and University clinics build skills and the capacity to work with children and adults, athletes and elderly people to examine sporting injuries, gait, biomechanics and acute foot conditions.
(Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

Bachelor of Pedorthics

1000 hours (approx.) of practical placements in a range of health settings throughout your studies.

Bachelor of Podiatry, Bachelor of Pedorthics (Double Degree)

2000 hours (approx.) of placement activity in various settings. Refer to the individual degrees for details.

PEP Calendar 2023 Podiatry_Pedorthics (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

Bachelor of Social Work

1,000 hours of supervised placement in a human service organisation as part of your course. 

Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying)

1,000 hours of supervised practice completed in two separate organisations in different fields of practice so that students gain a diversity of experience. The Social Work Field Placement I unit involves 400 hours (57 days) in the first year (of full-time study), with a minimum of three days per week spent on placement. In addition, the Social Work Field Placement II unit involves 600 hours (86 days) in the second year (of full-time study), with a minimum of three days per week spent on placement. These time commitments apply to both full-time and part-time students.

PEP Calendar 2023 Social Work_Community Welfare (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

1000 hours (approx.) of placements in diverse settings which might include the University’s on-campus Health Clinics, public hospitals, private practice, community health, rehabilitation centres, aged care facilities, schools and rural health locations.

PEP Calendar 2023 Speech Pathology (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science and Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science and Psychological Science

154hrs of Placement.

Exercise Prescription and Delivery - includes 14 hours of telehealth placement (2 hours x 7 weeks). 
Professional Preparation - 140 hours of placement 

Placements might be in health and sporting centres, clubs, schools and academies or sport and recreation centres. 

PEP Calendar Exercise Science_Clinical Exercise Physiology (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

40 hours of clinical placement within a recognised diabetes service with, as a minimum, a credentialled diabetes educator as a mentor. The importance of linking theory to practice is fundamental to student learning and to ensure graduates have the confidence to apply their knowledge and skills with clients in professional settings.

PEP Calendar 2023 Diabetes Education (Placement calendars are subject to change, log in to SONIA for your placement details)

300 hours of professional placement providing students with  the opportunity to develop skills in supervised clinical settings.