We have 2 student placement programs in the College of Sport & Exercise Science:
- The Career Development & Employability (CDE) program for undergraduate students within their degree.
- Clinical Exercise & Rehabilitation placements.
Our Career Development & Employability program
Our staff and students speak of their experiences with our placement programs.
Each year students in the College of Sport & Exercise Science complete placements with over 350 different host organisations in the following fields:
- sport & exercise science
- sport management
- sport coaching
- recreation
- outdoor education.
Our Career Development & Employment (CDE) program in the College has been in place for many years, and in 2010 & 2012 was nationally recognised by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council (ALTC). The program was recognised as a leader in the Australian university sector for outstanding contributions to student learning.
The program provides sport, exercise and recreation industry placements linked to embedded curriculum teaching 21st century skills for lifelong career management.
Program learning & career management
The career development and employability learning provided by the CDE program is designed to:
- improve student's clarity regarding career direction
- include substantial course related work experience, and
- develop students' skills to effectively self- market themselves when job seeking.
If you study one of our courses, the program incorporates embedded career development curriculum in the second and/or final year of the degree as part of core course requirements.
Career development and employability learning occurs within tutorials and workshops and is linked to compulsory career placements in the sport, exercise, physical education, clinical exercise and recreation industries.
Career placements are focused on your personal career exploration, aspiration, advancement and strategies to gain employment. You would select, source and establish your own career placement, completing a compulsory 70 hour placement in second year and/or a 140 hour placement in the final year of your degree.
Career culture and outcomes
The CDE program has a strong emphasis on the development of your own personal workplace achievements and industry networks. You will be encouraged to aspire toward a career that is a good fit and that will provide career satisfaction and fulfilment.
Our monthly newsletter named 'CDE Inspire' is designed to motivate with true stories about student placements or jobs graduates have secured through their respective placements. Three to four weekly recruitment emails are sent out from the sport, exercise and recreation industry to support you in your search for suitable placement opportunities and part-time jobs in the industry.
The curriculum emphasis is on your achievements, actions for personal career development and management, and understandings ways to improve your employability.
Employment outcomes are very high, with many graduates attributing their job success to the CDE program e.g:
"I wanted to thank you for everything you taught me throughout my degree. I have now got a full-time job with Hockey Victoria and I feel everything you taught me is why I have this job now".
CDE contacts
Full documentation, guidelines and information on CDE website.
Career Development & Employability Programs Officer
Ruth Gadsby (for CDE Contract Management and Administration)
Phone: +61 3 9919 5539
Fax: +61 3 9919 5572
Email: ruth.gadsby@vu.edu.au
CDE Coordinators
Angela Dressler
Phone: +61 3 9919 4487
Fax: +61 3 9919 5572
Email: angela.dressler@vu.edu.au
Mary Grant
Phone: +61 3 9919 4534
Fax: +61 3 9919 5572
Email: mary.grant@vu.edu.au
Victoria University Clinical Exercise & Rehabilitation (VUCER) placements
Clinical Exercise & Rehabilitation placements are included in the following courses for :
- undergraduate students in the Bachelor of Exercise Science (Clinical Practice),
- Bachelor of Exercise Science (Sport Practice), and
- postgraduate students in the Master of Clinical Exercise Science and Rehabilitation (AMEP).
Clinical placement is where practical skills-based learning, or practicum, is delivered in a practical context in the context of the working world. This is important to staff and students alike because it aims to relate that which is being taught in the classroom with current practices and needs in the field.
Completion of 500 clinical placement hours in practicum is a mandatory requirement for future professional accreditation with Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA).
Students who have completed the Master of Clinical Exercise Science and Rehabilitation (AMEP) will be academically prepared to apply for a PhD pathway because an optional research component is embedded into this course.
Placement details
Further information for students about the VUCER placements, including placement types, negotiation of placements, location and timing is all included on the placements page.
Professional accreditation
NUCAP is the accreditation body for Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA).
The Master of Clinical Exercise Science and Rehabilitation has been strategically designed as a National University Course Accreditation Program (NUCAP) (see ESSA site) accredited course.
The Graduate Diploma of Clinical Exercise Science and Rehabilitation (AGEP) and the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Exercise Science and Rehabilitation (ATEP) are nested within the AMEP master program to provide flexible entry and exit points.
Students who have completed the Master of Clinical Exercise Science and Rehabilitation (AMEP) will be academically prepared to apply for a PhD pathway because an optional research component is embedded into this course.
Work as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist
NUCAP is the accreditation body for Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). On successful completion of the Master of Clinical Exercise Science and Rehabilitation, graduates will be qualified to be ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs).
To gain access to a Medicare Provider number and work as a registered Allied Health professional (e.g. Clinical Exercise Physiologist) under the Australian government's Medicare health schemes, graduates must qualify for professional practitioner accreditation with ESSA.
Placement hours and Clinical Placement Contract
All AMEP units have some embedded placement hours. These placements, both in clinical exercise and exercise leadership for apparently health clients, are required for ESSA accreditation.
All placements completed within VUCER must be:
- covered by a current Clinical Placement Contract AND
- recorded in your ESSA Clinical logbooks with accurate hours, which are approved and signed off by an ESSA–approved clinical supervisor.
VUCER contacts
AMEP Course Coordinator
Michael Butson
Course: Master of Clinical Exercise Science & Rehabilitation (AMEP)
Location: Footscray Park Campus, room PB216
Phone +61 3 9919 5552
Email: michael.butson@vu.edu.au
Postgraduate Clinical Coordinators
Cassandra Smith
Location: Footscray Park Campus, room L310
Phone: +61 39919 4367
Email: cassandra.smith@vu.edu.au
Thomas Kimmett
Location: Footscray Park Campus, room L312
Phone: +61 39919 4250
Email: thomas.kimmett@vu.edu.au
Undergraduate Clinical Coordinator
Sarah Holmes
Location: Footscray Park Campus, room L310
Phone: +61 3 9919 4664
Email: sarah.holmes@vu.edu.au
Clinic Duty Supervisor (VUCER Clinic)
VUCER Clinic location: Footscray Park Campus, room L305
Phone: +61 3 9919 4737
Clinic Placement Administrator
Lili Hodnik
Location: Footscray Park Campus, room L305A
Phone: +61 3 9919 4054
Fax: +61 3 9919 5532
Email: lili.hodnik@vu.edu.au.
Leaders in sport
Victoria University (VU) is the leading sport university through our approach to sport, exercise and active living-related:
- research
- teaching and learning
- industry/community engagement.
