Why bring a Flinders STEM student into your business?
Host students within your business as an extra resource to help with a new or existing project.
Collaborate with a team of multi-disciplinary science students who can conduct research and provide recommendations on key issues or ideas for your business.
Bolster your research and development by working with a research student.
Industry placements allow students to apply their knowledge into a workplace as they work on a business problem. For most placements the student will spend most, or all, of their time within the workplace, working on projects that make a genuine contribution to your business.
Our students come from a diverse range of disciplines, including:
Contact our team by phone or email, or fill out the form below to register your interest for a student placement.
There is some flexibility in the timing of placements, however, the main intake times are:
This depends on the students you are looking for. Below is a guide of length of placement depending on discipline and student type. Placements can be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis.
Discipline Area |
Student Type |
Length |
Aquaculture |
Undergraduate |
5-10 days |
Aquaculture |
Postgraduate |
25 days |
Computer Science / IT |
Undergraduate |
60 days |
Design and Technology |
Undergraduate |
60 days |
Engineering |
Undergraduate |
100 days |
Engineering |
Postgraduate |
60 days |
Environmental Sciences |
Undergraduate |
15-20 days |
Environmental Sciences |
Postgraduate |
15-20 days |
Mathematical Science |
Undergraduate |
60 days |
Water Resource Management |
Postgraduate |
30 days |
Students apply for opportunities that interest them and suit their skill requirements. We collect and collate applications on your behalf, or you can ask students to apply directly to you. Once you receive the application you can interview and select your best candidate using your choice of selection process.
We do not charge any fees, and there is no requirement for you to pay students while on placement, however, it is more common in the longer placements, and can assist you in attracting students.
Host organisations offering regional placements may be asked to assist with accommodation and transportation expenses (eg. billeting, reduced rates etc).
Placements that are vocational in nature, assessed, supervised and are a learning experience, meet the definition of a “vocational placement” under the Fair Work Act. Therefore, it is a legal unpaid learning experience whereby the student can apply the skills and knowledge from University into a professional workplace. Providing it is a legal and structured framework based on a course, which the students are completing for credit, it is completely acceptable.
The level and technical knowledge of the supervisor depends on the type of student you are hosting. Our engineering, computer science and IT students require access to a qualified or highly experienced supervisor. All other students will require regular supervision, guidance, and feedback.
Sometimes, hosting two students at the same time can reduce the overall time spent on supervision, as they are able to work together to resolve issues, however, there will always be the requirement for their work and progress to be monitored, and support provided when needed.
If you choose to host a student you will need to:
The Letter of Agreement is a legally binding document completed and signed by the Placement Provider and Flinders University. This agreement outlines the roles and responsibilities of all parties. The agreement will last for a duration of five years and enables you to access students from any College and discipline within Flinders University. However, at no point are you under any obligation to accept students. Please note students are not permitted to begin placement with a provider until this document has been fully executed.
The Work Plan guides student’s work while on placement is agreed to by the Placement Provider, student and supervising academic, and is the basis of assessment of the student’s placement. The Work Plan should document the scope, objectives, deliverables, and proposed outcomes of the project, and is not just a list of tasks.
The Placement Provider will be requested to share any relevant documentation relating the management of the safety of students while they are on placement. This may include risk assessments, inductions, or training requirements.
From a host organisation’s perspective, a placement works well when a student feels comfortable and safe in their workplace, and able to contribute to the organisation.
Expectations should be made clear at the initial interview including work and learning objectives, dress standards; work attendance; and clear project outlines (if a project is to be completed). A great start can be supported by a first day orientation to the workplace, an introduction to other staff and a health and safety induction. It is also helpful if other staff are aware of the student and the role they are to play.
It is worth noting many students may have never worked in a professional environment similar to your organisations, so allowing them time to adjust not only to the task at hand, but also the workplace norms, policies and standard procedures, will enhance their confidence, reduce the need for direction over time, and set the experience up for success for both you and the student.
Students will ideally spend most of their time in in the workplace, or with a reasonable blend of workplace and online work. If possible, inclusion of students in all aspects of the work environment including meetings is highly valued. We ask students to act in a professional manner, show initiative and be willing to perform a variety of jobs from the mundane to the exciting. We have very rarely been disappointed.
Before students start placement, we ensure they clearly understand the behaviour standards expected of them. Students undertaking a placement in a host organisation are bound by the standards of performance conditions in the host workplace. Their workplace performance will have implications from an academic viewpoint, as part of the student assessment is reliant on the report from the host organisation.
If you have concerns it is suggested issues are first addressed by the workplace supervisor, and if the issue(s) cannot be resolved, or if the concerns require discussion, then contact the placement team to discuss.
Recognising IP is important. The Agreement signed by Flinders University and the host organisation ensures the ownership of any created IP remains with the host organisation, under specific conditions relating to the use of the IP for the student’s reports and assessment.
You may also choose to request the student sign a confidentiality agreement. We are open to discussing how we can further support the protection of confidential and commercially sensitive is managed throughout the student’s placement and assessment.
Students undertaking an unpaid placement are covered by the University's insurance policies. The University's personal accident policy covers the Student for disablement occurring whilst on field expeditions or practical placement anywhere in Australia, New Zealand and in Territorial waters.
The University's public liability and professional indemnity policies provide cover for the student whilst on placement but do not indemnify the Placement Provider. A copy of these policies is available upon request.
If the student is undertaking a paid placement they will be employed by the Placement Provider and as such, will be covered by the Placement Providers relevant insurances.
The Flinders industry projects program gives you access to a team of students that operate like consultants and work on a project-based problem or research project over a semester.
Science Connect provides our third-year science students a work integrated learning experience, without being an internship. We support our students to experience operating as a science consulting firm, helping industry partners answer unanswered questions and problems.
Students come from a broad range of science degrees including, and work in small groups under academic guidance over the eight weeks, aiming to come up with innovative solutions to the problem posed.
When do industry projects occur?
Contact our team by phone or email, or fill out the form below to register your interest for a student placement.
No, there is no cost to businesses for being involved in our industry projects.
Your involvement in the process can be as intensive as you would like to be, but the base level of input is minimal:
Our industry projects are offered third-year science students who will come from a range of discipline areas including:
Any business with a problem that can be researched and responded to by a scientific consulting model.
Work with a research student to identify solutions for a wicked problem or explore a new idea and support the development of talented future researchers!
Research students undertake complex projects of varying lengths that involve investigating relevant information and data from a range of sources, conducting critical analysis and identifying innovative solutions.
Our highly motivated research students bring a variety of skills and expertise to your organisation that they can share with your team including:
In turn working on your project with your team will enable them to develop interpersonal communication, teamwork and collaboration skills while enhancing their understanding of an industry environment, all of which foster career-ready research graduates.
By providing a research project for students your organisation can also tap into our academic’s expertise and build a relationship with Flinders for future research projects.
Your involvement in the research project can take a variety of forms including hosting the student on-site, supervision and mentorship, and providing access to equipment, resources or data. A financial investment may also be involved depending on the type and length of the project.
If you have a potential research student project, tell us about it here and we will work with you to scope the project and find a student to match.
No, there is no cost to businesses for being involved in our industry projects.
Through the work integrated learning program that Flinders run, the students can gain great experience with industry from experiencing work life on a day-to-day basis and the responsibilities that comes with that."
Professor Trish Williams
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
South Australia | Northern Territory
Global | Online
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