The professional experience academic coordinator is responsible for:

• Delivering professional experience lectures and coordinating placement topics.
• Preparing pre-service teachers for placement and providing academic advice and support prior to, during and after placement.
• Developing placement resources such as handbooks and FLO sites to ensure pre-service teachers and site staff are well prepared and informed.  
• Supporting pre-service teachers, University Liaisons and school/site staff regarding any issues such as in cases of PST poor health, or unsatisfactory performance.
• Following up with pre-service teachers who may withdraw from or fail a professional experience placement to discuss options and make recommendations about future directions.
• Assessing, grading and reporting placement data and outcomes
• Working in collaboration with the WIL placement team, sites and ITE Academic staff to develop partnerships and provide diverse placement opportunities for pre-service teachers.

WIL support officers provide administration support for placements by:

• Establishing effective working relationships with sites to provide placement opportunities for Flinders University pre-service teachers.
• Providing information to sites, pre-service teachers and university Liaisons, on placement allocations, processes and procedures (eg application and compliance requirements).
• Maintaining and recording information on InPlace and other databases regarding placements

A University Liaison is allocated to each pre-service teacher (PST) for the 25-day and final year placement blocks. The University Liaison is expected to:

• clarify university expectations for sites as necessary,
• facilitate communication between all parties involved in the placement,
• work with PSTs to identify and discuss professional issues,
• observe PSTs teaching and provide written feedback on planning, teaching, and assessment,
• discuss the progress of PSTs with school staff as necessary,
• support the PSTs in reflecting upon and analysing their performance and areas for growth
• support the interim review process
• liaise with the University Academic Coordinator if any issues of concern arise,
• support an ‘at risk’ notification if there are issues of concern, and offer strategies to the PST for improvement plus forward documentation to the Academic Coordinator,
• possibly undertake additional visits (by negotiation with the Academic Coordinator) for PSTs identified as ‘at risk’, if required,
• discuss with the mentor and school coordinator completion of the online report and final grade.

Please note that in some country and interstate locations University Liaisons will not be able to visit the school and will provide distance support.

Travel forms - liaisons ONLY

Liaison mileage log form

Vehicle mileage reimbursement form

Use of private vehicle declaration form (DOC 35KB)

Payment for extra visits to be discussed with academic coordinator.

University Liaisons must take a current copy of either their Teacher's Registration Certificate or both RAN and CRES documents.

As a representative of Flinders University, PSTs must behave in a professional and courteous manner at all times. Therefore, PSTs are expected to:

• Wear their name badge on all site visits.
• Be at the site from 8am-4pm as a minimum each day. Be punctual and remain at the site for yard duties and before and after school staff meetings.
• Dress professionally in neat, clean and appropriate clothes.
• Ensure that the site has their contact details, including email address and mobile phone number.
• Negotiate their responsibilities with their mentor teacher in accordance with the expectations of this professional experience.
• If they are sick, notify the site between 7.30am to 8am.
  Please note: PSTs will need to negotiate with the site coordinator to make up any sick days missed during placement.
  
• Provide their mentor/s with copies of their unit and lesson plans well ahead of the teaching session to ensure adequate time for feedback and negotiation.
• Listen openly, reflect on and respond to mentor, liaison, and site coordinator feedback.
• Undertake the interim review process with their mentor and provide copies together with their Professional Learning Plan to their University Liaison.