Before commencing SWLA 2, you will need to familiarise yourself with the requirements of Work Placement for SWLA 2 by downloading and reading through all SWLA 2 assessments and documents (e.g., Portfolio 2, Journal 2, Interview Questionnaire 2, Third Party Report 2, Direct Observation 2). You will also need to download and read through the Work Placement Plan 2, then discuss any concerns or questions you may have with your trainer/assessor.
For the second placement (SWLA 2) you will need to complete a minimum of 170 hours of work placement at an approved regulated early childhood education and care service.
During SWLA 2, you will need to have access to children 0-6 as you will need to carry out a series of tasks with children aged birth to five (0-6).
Procedure for SWLA 2:
For SWLA 1, you already went through child-safe screening and obtained your working with children check/blue card. Keep a copy of this as this is valid for 3-5 years (depending on your state/territory). If you need to complete SWLA 2 in a different service, ensure that you provide a copy of your working with children check/blue card to them as well together with your immunization record (if applicable).
Completed theory assessments
Before commencing SWLA 2, make sure you have completed and submitted all theory assessments for the preceding modules. This is important so you can implement theory in practice during placement.
Host Organisation
As you’ll need access to a specific age-group during SWLA 2, you may need to find a service that caters for this age-group. This may be different from the service used for SWLA 1.
Regardless of whether you need to change the host organisation or not, you will need to complete the Host Organisation Approval Form and submit it in the LMS in Module 13. Your trainer will need to approve the service BEFORE you commence placement.
If you need a new host organisation, once you have found a new service, complete the Host Organisation Approval Form, providing the required details about the proposed workplace, its facilities and resources and the information regarding the proposed Workplace Supervisor. Provide a copy of the Supervisor Guide to Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment (located at the beginning of the course, under 'Course Overview') to your proposed Workplace Supervisor so they can make an informed decision about taking up the supervisor role.
Note: You may continue placement at the service where you completed SWLA 1 if they meet age-group requirements. However, it is your responsibility to ensure that the service is able to provide you access to the required age-group. Contact your trainer if you are unsure.
Work Placement Plan
Once you are ready to commence SWLA 2, your allocated Assessor will contact you and arrange a time to review the structured work placement process and customise the Work Placement Plan to your situation. The Plan includes details of the practice activities and assessment components required during your placement.
The Work Placement Plan is not an assessment, and it will be created by your allocated Assessor, who will also upload this on your behalf.
Recording your hours
You are required to keep a record of hours completed during SWLA 2 in a regulated and approved education and care service.
You will record the hours completed for SWLA 2 in Logbook 2, as follows:
- Specify the date, such as 1/10/2022 or 1 October 23
- Specify workplace hours completed, excluding breaks, in the Placement Hours section, such as 7.5 hours.
- Calculate the total hours spent at the service, including breaks, in the Tally of hours section.
- Jot down the main activities completed during the day.
- Each entry will have to be signed off by your Workplace Supervisor.
- At the end of SWLA 2, at the end of the table, calculate the total hours of completed workplace hours (excluding breaks). This should equal to a minimum of 170 hours.
SWLA Assessments
Just like in SWLA 1, during SWLA 2, while being actively involved in the service’s daily routine, you are also required to complete certain assessment tasks to demonstrate your competence in the units of competency covered.
It is best to read through all assessment tasks before you commence placement, then talk them through with your Workplace Supervisor and create a brief to-do list for each day of the placement to help you keep on track. This can also be captured in the Work Placement Plan.
It is your responsibility to ensure that all SWLA assessment activities are completed within the allocated timeframe. If you think you will have issues completing any of the activities, contact your trainer as soon as possible.
In the following, you can read a brief description of each assessment document:
SWLA Portfolio
Your SWLA Portfolio 2 will capture evidence of the tasks/activities set out for you during your work placement.
This evidence may include, for example:
- Photographs
- Recordings
- Completed documents and checklists
- Short answer questions and your responses to them, etc.
Some of the activities require the Workplace Supervisor to complete a form or sign your work. It is advisable to print off the forms for the supervisor to sign once you complete the activity. For some forms, it is sufficient to have the Supervisor’s digital signature, and some forms require physical signatures. Read the instructions, forms and templates carefully to ensure you meet the requirements.
SWLA Journal
In education and care services, critical reflection refers to the close examination of events and experiences from different perspectives.
The SWLA Journal 2 will provide you opportunities to reflect back on your workplace experience and elaborate on tasks that you had to complete in the Portfolio assessment.
SWLA Interview Questionnaire
Your SWLA interview questions are completed during your final check-in with your Assessor.
You do NOT need to submit this document. The Assessor will ask you and your supervisor the questions found in this document and submit this assessment on your behalf.
SWLA Third-Party Report
Your SWLA Third-Party Report will capture confirmation by Workplace Supervisors that they have observed the student demonstrate specific skills and knowledge during the Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment (SWLA) process. The supervisor can choose to either complete this document or have the Assessor capture the evidence during the final interview.
Direct Observation
Unlike SWLA 1, during SWLA 2 some of the tasks must be observed by an SOE Assessor. This means you will need to organise and schedule one or multiple visits with the Assessor when you are ready, in consultation with your Workplace Supervisor, when the Assessor will visit you at the service and observe you completing specific tasks. During the visit, the Assessor will observe you and complete the observation checklist located in the Direct Observation document. Some of the tasks require interaction with a specific age-group; therefore, you must consult with your Workplace Supervisor to ensure you’ll be able to complete the tasks with the required age-group on the day of the Assessor’s visit.
To prepare for the Assessor’s visit, you should familiarise yourself with the requirements captured in Portfolio 2 and consult your Work Placement Plan.
Some of the tasks the SOE Assessor will need to observe include:
- interactions with babies and toddlers in various situations, such as mealtimes, sleep-time, free play, group experiences, transitions
- planning and carrying out learning experiences
- physical care routines, such as handwashing, nappy change, bottle preparation and cleaning equipment, preparing pre-made solid food and feeding babies
- setting up and supporting one indoor and outdoor experience.
You can have more than one (1) workplace. You are required to submit a Host Organisation Approval Form for each workplace. You cannot commence work placement until the workplace and the Workplace Supervisor are approved.You can choose a different service for SWLA 2 to ensure you have access to children 0-6 and the resources specified for SWLA 2.
Most long day care, preschools (or kindergartens), family day care and outside school hours care services are regulated under the National Quality Framework (NQF).
The assessment tasks within SWLA 2 must be completed with children aged 0-6. We recommend you to complete SWLA 2 at a long day care to have access to babies, toddlers and preschool aged children during this second placement. During the Assessor’s visit you may need to move between age-group to ensure the Assessor can observe all required tasks.
It is recommended you complete SWLA 2 at a long day care to gain the most out of your placement as you will need access to specific resources.
This search tool can help you find a service in your area.
Workplace requirements
Apart from being an approved and regulated service, the Host Organisation will also need to be able to provide you with access to certain facilities, equipment and resources, such as:
- A variety of policies and procedures
- Service documentation
- Observation tools
- Quality Improvement Plan (QIP)
- Work health and safety facilities, tools and equipment
- Food service facilities, equipment and utensils
- Workplace meetings
- Staff and families
- Indoor and outdoor play area, with a variety of resources
- For SWLA 2: access to children aged 0-6.
Portfolio 2's assessment tasks describe in detail the specific requirements you will have during SWLA 2.
Workplace supervisor requirements
Just like during SWLA 1, it is important that the Workplace Supervisor is able to provide you with effective guidance and support to perform safely in the workplace; therefore, it is imperative that the Workplace Supervisor has the appropriate experience and qualifications.
The Workplace Supervisor is required to:
- Hold a minimum of Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care qualification, and
- Have a minimum of two (2) years’ work experience in the early childhood education and care sector.
If you need to find a different service for SWLA 2, there are a couple of things you need to prepare for approaching the selected service. Similarly to SWLA 1, you should approach work placement the same as if you were applying for a job.
This means you need to prepare:
- A cover letter
- A resume
- An outfit for an interview.
Cover letter
A cover letter is an introduction letter that should complement your resume and give an explanation as to why you are the ideal candidate. The explanation could include:
- information about your skills
- information about your experiences
- achievements
- what you are currently studying (for the purposes of work placement)
Your cover letter should be around 3-4 paragraphs. The cover letter should highlight your skills, experiences, and achievements that relate to the job you are applying for. This is the employers'/workplaces' first impression of you.
As you are approaching the service to complete your work placement, it is recommended to explain what you are trying to achieve during work placement and how the service will benefit from your presence. You can say things like: “I’m looking forward to getting the service’s procedures and contributing to the children’s learning journey.” Or, “I have a childhood dream to become an early childhood educator and I would be delighted to be able to complete my work placement at your service and learn from your educators. I am dedicated to becoming a useful part of the team during my placement.”
Watch the following 13-minute video on how to write a cover letter:
Through this link you can access cover letter templates for different purposes.
Resume
A resume or CV is a document that provides details of your:
- Work experience
- Education
- Skills
- Achievements
The information in your resume is essential information that your workplace or employer needs to know to be able to determine if you are a suitable fit for the role.
What to include in your resume:
You should include your full name and contact details (phone number & email address)
This includes courses and qualifications you have completed/or you are in the process of completing that relate to the role you are applying for. You should also include your schooling if you completed school within the last 5 years. When listing your qualifications or schooling achievements, you should start at the most recent and work backward. You should also include the qualification you received, where you studied, and the start and finish date of the study.
This can include any paid or volunteer work, with focus on jobs relevant to early childhood education and care. For each job, you should include the title of your position, the name of the workplace, and the dates that you worked there. Under this information, you should provide a brief overview of the responsibilities you had in the role. Similar to the education section, these should be listed from the most recent backward. This is a great place to list any experience you may have working with children, even if it was babysitting your younger siblings or the neighbour’s children. Jobs not directly related to early childhood education and care will prove that you are hard-working and mature-minded or will indicate any transferrable skillsets that may be useful during your placement.
Here you can list any skills, strengths, or interests that relate to the role you are applying for, for example playing on an instrument, speaking another language, gardening, art and craft, etc. These skills may come handy during your placement.
A reference is a professional that can provide a recommendation and vouch for your skills and work ethic. This could be a manager or supervisor from a previous role. You could also include an academic reference. This could be a previous teacher or career advisor, or it could be a current teacher. For each reference, you should include company and contact information. It is a good idea to include at least two (2).
Your resume should not be more than 1-2 pages. Keep it short and sweet! You also want to make sure the format and colours used are neat and professional.
Here is a link to a resume template you could use.
Contact potential services
Once you have located a few services in your area, it is time to contact them. It is best to contact them over the phone first during the day when it may be quieter time at the service, such as between 10 am–11 am or between 2 pm–4 pm. When you ring the service, always greet politely according to the time of the day, such as ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good afternoon’, then ask to speak to the director or second-in-charge.
When you talk to the director or second-in-charge, introduce yourself and ask whether the service accepts students for placement. You may find that some services may not accept work placement students. There could be many reasons for this, don’t take it personally, just try somewhere else. If the service accepts students, it is best to make an appointment to go and meet the director in person.
Always pre-plan your work placement a couple of months before it starts, rather than organise it at the last minute, as services may have strict policies around how many students they can accept at a time.
Ideally, you would contact services for SWLA 2 once you completed SWLA 1 and commenced studying Module 6.
Be mindful of Module 12 where you need to complete the first aid training externally – you will need to complete this before getting access to SWLA 2, so consider the required time accordingly when organising a service for SWLA 2.
For example, if you allocate roughly one month to complete each module for Block 2, then you may need 7 months to complete learning and theory assessments before commencing SWLA 2. You will find some bigger modules in Block 2 which may impact your estimated timeline.
Depending on your and the service’s availability, you may want to complete placement in blocks. For SWLA 2 you need to compete a minimum of 170 hours, which means that you complete it in 4 and a half weeks, if you work full days of 7.5 hours. If you choose to attend placement less regularly, one or two days a week, it will take longer to complete the 170 hours.
Due to the nature of the assessment tasks in SWLA 2, it is advised for you to complete a few consecutive days every week. This will make it easier to organise the Assessor’s visit as well.
Think through your availability before you contact the service as they may want to have an idea of when and how long you’ll be at the service.
Note: Make sure the service is aware of the requirements before you commence placement, so you can complete all assessment tasks and be available for the Assessor’s visit. It may take some negotiation to find a time that suits everyone. Planning is key!
At the interview
Once you have organised an appointment with the service’s director, you should consider this meeting as a job interview. Although this is not the main purpose of the placement, students who demonstrate passion for working in the sector and are able to be part of the team during placement are often offered work opportunities as well.
Remember, you may be offered employment by the Host Organisation once you have completed 50% of your course. See the Australian Children’s Education and Care’s Quality Authority’s (ACECQA) website regarding actively working towards a qualification. If this happens, please inform your Assessor, so SOE is aware of this. The Assessor may contact the Host Organisation to ensure that you will still be able to complete your workplace assessment tasks and that you will be covered by the employer’s Workers Compensation insurance. It is important for Host Organisations to understand that even if you are employed to work with one specific age group, if the assessment task requires you to work with a different age group, the Host Organisation will need to accommodate this requirement. It is recommended that while you are completing SWLA, you work on a part-time or casual basis to be able to focus on assessment tasks.
You should prepare an outfit for the interview in the instance you are successful in securing an interview. Your attire should be professional, and your appearance should be neat and tidy.
Read more for some tips and tricks for dressing for an interview.
