Bachelor of Special Education (Primary)/Bachelor of Disability Studies

This course contains 120 days of professional experience. 105 days are in a school setting while 15 of the days are in a post-school agency  that provides programs for adults with disabilities. Placements in schools are embedded in the units EDIT101, EDLT302, EDSP352, EDCX302 and EDSP353 while agency placements are the units PREX222 and PREX223.

All professional experience placements in a school setting must meet the following requirements to be counted for placement. The school must:

  • Assess teacher proficiency against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers;
  • Use NESA approved syllabuses or equivalent Australian syllabuses;

Before undertaking the final placement, all Teacher Education Students in this degree must complete and pass both components of the Literacy and Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students.

EDIT101 (PrEx 20 days)

This Placement and Information Technology

This placement is embedded in the unit EDIT101. While the unit content is about learning Information Technology (IT), the placement is not directly related to IT so does not need to be in a computer class. Information Technology is covered in the Australia Professional Standards for Teachers as part of the whole of teaching.


Specific Requirements

This is a 20 day block placement in a primary school setting where the pre-service teacher will be assessed against the Australia Professional Standards for Teachers.

EDIT101 Specific Requirements


Placements that can be accepted

  • Mainstream primary classrooms
  • Distance Education settings

Pre-service teachers may only complete one placement in Distance Education for EDIT101.


Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Work in a tutoring agency
  • Work as an au pair
  • Employment as a governess (or equivalent position)
  • Employment as teacher's aide (or equivalent position such as a Learning Support Officer)
  • Special Education settings
  • Release from Face-to-Face (RFF) placements
  • Library placements
PREX222 (5 days)

General Requirements for this Placement

This is a five day placement (27.5 hours) in an approved post-school setting working with people with special needs.


Specific Requirements

The experience may require the pre-service teacher to assume the tasks and duties performed by agency personnel in the specific program. Programs may include community participation, recreation and leisure, orientation and mobility training as well as transport.

PREX222 Specific Requirements


Acceptable Venues for this Placement*

  • A post-school setting working with people with special needs

Unacceptable Venues for this Placement*

  • A school
  • Work as a home carer
  • Vacation care
  • After school care

*This information is currently being reviewed. Please contact the Office for Professional Learning with any queries.

PREX223 (10 days)

General Requirements for this Placement

This is a 10 day placement (55 hours) in an approved post-school setting that provides programs for adults with disabilities.


Specific Requirements

The experience may require the pre-service teacher to assume some of the tasks and duties performed by agency personnel or teachers in the specific program. Professional experience in a community setting may include community participation, recreation and leisure, orientation and mobility training as well as transport.

PREX223 Specific Requirements


Acceptable Venues for this Placement*

  • A post-school setting working with adults with disabilities

Unacceptable Venues for this Placement*

  • A primary or high school
  • Work as a home carer
  • Vacation care

*This information is currently being reviewed. Please contact the Office for Professional Learning with any queries.

EDLT302 (PrEx 20 days)

This Placement and Planning for Effective Learning

The placement is embedded in the unit EDLT302. While the unit covers Planning for Effective Learning, the placement is not directly linked to the unit in terms of content. Planning for assessment is part of teaching as a whole and is part of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.


Specific Requirements

This is a 20 day block placement in a primary school setting where the pre-service teacher will be assessed against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

EDLT302 Specific Requirements


Placements that can be accepted

  • Mainstream primary classrooms

Pre-service teachers may only complete one placement in an RFF, Distance Education or library setting in EDIT101.


Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Work in a tutoring agency
  • Work as an au pair
  • Employment as a governess (or equivalent position)
  • Employment as teacher's aide (or equivalent position such as a Learning Support Officer).
  • Special Education settings
  • Release from Face-to-Face (RFF) Placements
  • Library placements
  • Distance Education settings

EDSP352 (PrEx 20 days)

This Placement and Special Education

This placement is embedded in the unit EDSP352. The placement component is in a Special Education setting where students (pre-service teachers) will be assessed against the standards in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.


Specific Requirements

This is a 20 day block placement in a Special Education setting where the pre-service teacher will be working with a student or students with identified special needs.

EDSP352 Specific Requirements


Placements that can be accepted

  • A Special Education school
  • A Special Education unit
  • A Special Education development unit
  • An inclusive school environment which includes students with identified special needs

Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Settings without students with identified special needs
  • Tutoring agencies
  • Schools or agencies not using appropriate NSW or Australian curriculum
  • Work as a teacher's aide
  • Work outside of a school setting

EDCX302 (PrEx 20 days)

This Placement and Aboriginal Education

This placement is embedded in the unit EDCX302. It is not a requirement of the placement to be completed in a setting with a specific ratio of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students. Cultural perspectives and understanding, differentiation of curriculum, disability support strategies and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education strategies are included in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.


Specific Requirements

This placement must be completed in a 20 day block in a primary school setting where the pre-service teacher will be assessed against the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.

EDCX302 Specific Requirements


Graduate Level Placements

This is the final placement where the pre-service teacher is assessed against all of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Graduate Level as per the requirements of BOSTES.


Placements that can be accepted

  • Mainstream primary classrooms

Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Any placement type that varies from a mainstream classroom setting.

Pre-service teachers may only complete one placement in an RFF, Distance Education or in school library setting in EDIT101.

EDSP353 (PrEx 25 days)

This Placement and Special Education

This placement is embedded in the unit EDSP353. The placement component is in a Special Education setting where students (pre-service teachers) will be assessed against the standards in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.


Specific Requirements

This is a 25 day block placement in a Special Education setting where the pre-service teacher will be working with a student or students with identified special needs.

EDSP353 Specific Requirements


Placements that can be accepted

  • A Special Education school
  • A Special Education unit
  • A Special Education development unit
  • An inclusive school environment which includes students with identified special needs

Placements that cannot be accepted

  • Settings without students with identified special needs
  • Tutoring agencies
  • Schools or agencies not using appropriate NSW or Australian approved curriculum
  • Work as a teacher's aide
  • Work outside of a school setting