Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment (SWLA) FAQs
Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment (SWLA) provides hands-on training and experience within the workplace.
Swinburne Open Education offers students a unique opportunity to study in an online environment to develop their skills and knowledge in their chosen field, at a time and pace that suits them.
Many of our courses require practical skills application to achieve competency. Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment offers students in these courses the opportunity to seek out a workplace where they can apply their learning in practical ways in order to expand on and demonstrate their skills.
Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment provides students with practical training and experience within the workplace and gives them a head start when it comes to finding a job, with employers seeking graduates with workplace experience.
Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment means you will complete part of your training and assessment in a real workplace. This ensures students graduate with practical and real-life skills required for their chosen industry.
Swinburne Open Education has identified and documented key activities and resources required to be undertaken for workplace supervision. These are specific to each qualification and are available in the Structured workplace learning Information Pack, provided alongside the Course Brochure during course enquiry.
Students are responsible for sourcing and securing their own structured workplace learning. Many students undertake work placement at their current place of work (if relevant), or secure work placement through family or friends. If students require support securing suitable work placement, detailed guidance can be found in the Student Guide to Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment and our course advisors can help point students to relevant resources.
To ensure student success and safety, work placements need to be carried out in a suitable workplace that has been approved by a Swinburne Open Education assessor.
Once a student has secured a work placement, they will carry out a series of learning activities and assessments under guidance of an approved workplace supervisor. Hours and tasks completed will be documented in the students logbook, which is signed and verified by the workplace supervisor.
A Swinburne Open Education workplace assessor will monitor student progress with regular interviews of both the student and supervisor. These will be carried out prior to commencement, midway through placement, and prior to assessment.
You are required to find a work site for your structured workplace learning. Resources to assist you in finding a Host Organisation are available in the Learning Platform.
If you have been unable to secure a suitable workplace for your Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment and require additional support locating a Host Organisation, the Student Support Team can assist sourcing and securing a workplace. You can lodge a request for assistance through the Learning Platform or by contacting the Call Centre.
At Swinburne Open Education we assess and approve students' chosen workplace prior to commencing their structured workplace learning to ensure it’s both safe and suitable. Students will complete a Workplace Approval Form which will be reviewed by a Swinburne Open Education assessor.
Guidance and requirements for selecting a suitable work placement is included in the Student Guide to Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment. If you have questions or require further information, you can call one of our course advisors on 1300 644 905.
At Swinburne Open Education we work with students to ensure Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment training is successful and provides the skills students need to succeed.
Support is available through your allocated Swinburne Open Education Assessor. You can contact your Assessor through the Learning Platform.
Ensuring student safety through Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment is paramount. On top of assessing the suitability of the workplace and supervisor, Swinburne Open Education ensures that the student’s opportunity for training and assessment is prescribed and meets qualification requirements. We have a suite of resources available to support students, including:
Student and supervisor interviews – these assess student progress and are completed at three points within the Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment; prior to commencement, midway through placement, and prior to assessment.
Training plan – this outlines the activities the student will need to practice and complete, and when activities need to be carried out.
Logbook – this documents the hours and tasks the student completes during their work placement and is signed and verified by the workplace supervisor.
Courses that include structured workplace learning will show the course delivery as ‘Online with work placement’, will include information on the course detail page, and a Student Guide to Structured Workplace Learning and Assessment will be emailed to you when you download your free course guide.
Detailed and course specific information is included in the Structured Workplace Learning Information Pack which is sent alongside your free course guide. If you have further questions, you can talk to one of our helpful Swinburne Open Education advisors by calling 1300 644 905.
