You might find the answer right here! We've grouped our most common questions to help you quickly find what you need. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, the Education Placement Team (EPT) is always here to help.
Understanding the different between Metropolitan & Regional Teaching Placements.
Education students at Adelaide University complete professional experience placements throughout their degree, coordinated by the Education Placements Team (EPT) in metropolitan Adelaide schools.
What is a metropolitan placement?
Metropolitan placements are teaching placements located in the Adelaide metro area, including the CBD, surrounding suburbs, Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills.
Placement preferences and allocation
Placements are arranged by the EPT based on your program, location, transport access and school availability.
To help secure a suitable placement, make sure you:
Submit your preferences correctly and on time (as outlined in your welcome email).
Keep your address in your student profile accurate and up to date.
You can’t organise your own placement. All placements must go through the EPT to meet accreditation and insurance requirements.
Travel and transport
Students are expected to travel to their allocated metropolitan placement, which may involve up to 90 minutes of travel each way. While student circumstances are considered, travel is often required.
If you're studying education as a Preservice Teacher (PST) at Adelaide University, you can choose to complete a regional placement as part of your degree.
Who can apply?
Undergraduate PSTs: Eligible to apply for a regional placement in second, third, or fourth year.
Postgraduate PSTs: Encouraged to apply at any stage of their program.
What is a regional placement?
Regional placements are located outside the Adelaide metropolitan area. These placements offer valuable professional and personal experiences in diverse educational settings.
Metropolitan areas
Includes:
Adelaide metropolitan area
Adelaide Hills
Barossa.
Regional areas
Far North
Eyre and Western
Yorke & Mid North
Murray & Mallee
Fleurieu & Kangaroo Island
Limestone Coast.
How to apply
You can nominate your placement preferences for the following year via InPlace (login required). This includes the option to preference specific regional locations. We recommend submitting your preferences as early as possible to support planning and sourcing. Please note that regional placements are not guaranteed and depend on demand and staffing availability in those areas. If you’d like to discuss your request, contact the EPT.
Priority and allocation
PSTs living in a regional area will receive priority placement in their local region.
If you live regionally, you do not need to nominate via InPlace – your address on file will be used for placement sourcing.
Travel, accommodation and costs
PSTs are responsible for arranging their own accommodation and transport.
We recommend researching options and costs before nominating for a regional placement.
Financial support
If you secure a regional placement, financial support may be available through university grants. Eligibility criteria will apply.
The Education Placement Team (EPT) coordinates placements for all preservice teachers enrolled in teaching degrees at Adelaide University.
We work closely with schools, preschools and childcare centres to arrange placements that meet accreditation requirements and provide diverse learning experiences. Each year, over 4,000 students are placed at more than 1,100 sites.
The EPT manages all aspects of placement administration – matching students to sites, liaising with course coordinators and site supervisors, and handling formal communications. Based at Magill Campus, we’re your main point of contact for placement logistics.
Once you’ve enrolled, your course will appear in InPlace. This lets the Education Placement Team (EPT) know you're ready to begin the placement process. Log in to InPlace to start adding your preferences and completing any prerequisite requirements. You’ll also receive a welcome email from the EPT before your placement block begins. This will outline important information and next steps.
Before we can release your placement details, you must complete all prerequisite steps. These ensure you're eligible and ready for your professional experience.
Some requirements apply to all preservice teachers, while others depend on your program. It’s your responsibility to upload valid, current evidence to InPlace by the deadline in your welcome email.
If you miss the deadline, you may be withdrawn from your placement or course. If this happens after census date, it could result in a fail grade and delay your studies.
Mandatory prerequisites for all preservice teachers:
Preservice Teacher Placement Agreement
Working with Children Check (WWCC)
Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect – Education and Care (RRHAN-EC).
Placement preferences are the details you provide in InPlace to help the Education Placement Team (EPT) allocate a suitable site for your professional experience. These include your location, transport options, and any relevant exclusions or support needs. Important: Preferences must be submitted by the deadline outlined in your welcome email. Late or incomplete submissions may result in removal from your placement or course.
Each professional experience (PE) course has set placement blocks that are determined the year before and cannot be changed. These dates are fixed and cannot be altered based on individual schedules.
You can find your specific placement block dates in the calendar provided for your course.
The Education Placement Team (EPT)works to place all students in a suitable placement. Due to this, you may be required to travel up to 90 minutes each way. This is a condition of your enrolment as outlined in the Preservice Teacher Agreement. When sourcing placements, travel time is always taken into consideration. Please note students who select public transport may experience longer travel times.
Placement details will be published on InPlace (login required). You’ll receive an email notification once your placement has been allocated. Placements are released during a 2-week window, starting approximately 2 weeks before your lead-in days begin. You will be guided through this process by your professional experience tutor.
If your placement has not been released, it may be due to outstanding prerequisites. If you haven’t met these requirements on time, your placement will not be released, and you may be advised to withdraw from the course.
If you believe your placement does not meet the requirements for your course, please contact the Education Placement Team (EPT).
Common reasons for concern include:
Travel time over 90 minutes each way
Incorrect major/minor for secondary placements
Placement is at a site exclusion
Placement doesn’t align with your access plan.
If your placement meets all the above requirements, a new placement will not be secured for you.
Yes. To work with children in education and care settings, all preservice teachers must have a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) from the Department of Human Services (DHS) before starting any placement.
If you don’t already have a WWCC, you should apply as a Prospective Employee. This type of check will best position PSTs to be work ready when teaching opportunities present. Volunteer or Student WWCCs will be accepted for placements in 2026. All Adelaide University PSTs are expected to transition to a Paid Employee WWCC for future placements.
Note: If you begin paid teaching work and only hold a Volunteer or Student WWCC, you must apply for a Paid Employee WWCC within 28 days of starting employment.
Yes. Visit the SA Gov website for current fee information.
Apply as early as possible – processing can take up to six weeks. Adelaide University has no control over timelines or outcomes.
Once approved, upload the DHS confirmation email to InPlace for verification.
Note: please ensure that you have uploaded this to InPlace and that it has a ‘verified’ status, by the deadline outlined in your welcome email.
If you already have a WWCC screening, please upload the current clearance via InPlace (login required) for verification by the Education Placement Team (EPT).
Note: make sure that your clearance is valid for your placement block dates.
If you fail to obtain a clearance for any reason you will not be allowed to undertake a professional experience placement or any other professional experience activity which requires contact with children and young people. Ultimately, if you cannot undertake any of the compulsory professional experience placements or any other professional experience activities, you cannot graduate with an education degree from Adelaide University.
The WWCC requirements differ state to state. You will need to check the relevant states Department for Education website for further details.
Yes. All preservice teachers placed in birth–3, preschool, primary, or secondary settings must complete the full RRHAN-EC training prior to starting placement. This includes:
Two-hour online Fundamentals course (self-paced)
Four-hour Masterclass (facilitator-led, online or in-person).
You must complete both components to receive certification:
Fundamentals course: self-paced, online (approximately two hours). Create an account on Plink to access the training.
Masterclass course: facilitated online or in-person (approximately four hours). You must complete the Fundamentals course before booking.
es. Fees are dependent on the individual provider. Please refer to the Department for Education website for further information on approved training organisations.
Note: These fees are managed externally and not by the University.
On your home page, scroll to find the RRHAN-EC course.
Read course titles and descriptions carefully to ensure you select the correct training.
Click ‘Register’ and follow the prompts.
Note: You must complete and pass the Fundamentals course before registering for the Masterclass.
Visit the Plink support page
Or email: rrhanec@sa.gov.au
Certificates are valid for three years, aligned with set training cycles.
Current cycle: 2024–2027 (expires 31 December 2027).
Refresher Course
Six months prior to expiration, a refresher course can be completed.
If your certificate expires and you miss the refresher window, both courses must be completed again.
You can download your certificate by logging into your Plink account.
Once received, upload the RRHAN-EC Certificate to InPlace for verification.
Note: please ensure that you have uploaded this to InPlace and that it has a ‘verified’ status, by the deadline outlined in your welcome email.
Students will be able to order name badges directly through Badge-A-Minit (available soon), and they will be posted to your nominated address. Make sure you enter your details and student ID correctly.
Presenting yourself professionally is an important part of your placement experience. Preservice teachers are expected to follow the dress code of their allocated site (including appropriate footwear).
If you are sick or unable to attend:
Notify your placement site as early as possible (e.g. via phone call).
Contact your University Supervisor or Course Coordinator.
Record your absence in InPlace.
You may be required to make up missed days depending on the duration and nature of your absence.
Start by speaking with your mentor teacher or University Supervisor. If the issue cannot be resolved, contact your Course Coordinator. For further assistance, you can also email the Education Placement Team
Preservice teachers are required to be supervised throughout their placement block.
Learn more about placement requirements on the Professional Experience in Education page.
Learn more about placement requirements on the Professional Experience in Education page.
Placement blocks are set well in advanced and cannot be changed. If you are unable to continue placement due to injury or wellness, an out of phase placement may be approved by your Program Director.
Part time placements are not typically approved. If you have an approved access plan that meets these guidelines, you may be approved to undertake your placement part-time.
If you are unable to attend placement due to school closures, you will be required to complete a make-up day at the end of the placement block.
If teachers are still required on site for these days, this would count as a placement day.
In May 2024, the Australian Government announced the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP), a new initiative to support students undertaking mandatory placements. From 1 July 2025, eligible students enrolled in teaching, nursing, midwifery or social work programs will be able to access the CPP to help cover placement-related costs. The payment will be means-tested and valued at up to $319.50 per week during the placement period.
Further information is available on the CPP Information webpage.
