Professional experience

Professional experience placements get you into the classroom sooner. Work with children throughout your degree and develop the skills and practical experience you need to start a successful and rewarding teaching career.

Placements throughout your degree

At Deakin, we ensure you have all the practical experience you need to hit the ground running.

Starting in your first year, you'll take part in the professional experience program across your entire degree.

With a network of more than 1,400 schools across Australia, we'll arrange at least 60 days of placements for you in schools, where you'll spend time working with children and alongside experienced teachers.

Information for current students and schools

Please refer to the Professional Experience website for further information about placement.

Deakin pre-service teachers are supported in all aspects of professional experience and have ongoing communication with the staff to ensure that they have the best opportunity to develop as teachers.

Ian Trend

Manager of Professional Experience

Matching students with schools

Deakin works closely with schools to ensure that practical experiences provide the best possible learning opportunities for future teachers. 

A dedicated team will work with you to find the right placement based on your interests, skills, residential location and mode of transport.

Deakin participates in the Victorian State Government supported teaching academies and alliances program. 

Our alliance partners in three of Deakin's campus areas provide pre-teachers with placement opportunities in local schools. Some of these placements are exclusive to Deakin students.

Learn more about teaching academies and alliances

Placements around the corner or around the world

When you complete your teaching degree at Deakin, you'll be able to teach in Australia or you may choose to take your skills abroad. 

Why not gain that international perspective sooner? Our Global Education Program offers you the chance to take a student placement overseas or in a remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community context. 

Experience different cultures, languages, teaching practices and ideas.

Learn more about our Global Education Program

Working with Children Check

Under the Working with Children Act 2005 (VIC) a student teacher must obtain a Working with Children Check (WWCC) before commencing a placement in a school. 

Your WWCC has to remain current throughout your course.

If you can't obtain a WWCC, practical training in a school won’t be provided and you won't be able to complete the degree.

Learn more about a Working with Children Check

Professional requirements

From 1 July 2016, the Australian Government requires all teaching graduates pass the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students in order to teach.

Learn more about the literacy and numeracy test