As part of a national week of action, dozens of students and workers will rally demanding the federal government end placement poverty.
Students Against Placement Poverty is calling on the government to fully fund placements, make unpaid placements illegal, and update accreditation requirements to better recognise prior learning and professional experience.
WHO: ASU NSW & ACT Secretary Angus McFarland, students, workers
WHEN: 12pm, Friday 12 April
WHERE: Commonwealth Parliament Offices (Sydney CBD). Meet at Farrer Place, corner of Bent and Young Streets
ASU NSW & ACT Secretary Angus McFarland said: “Unpaid student work placements are unfair and unacceptable. Social work students are required to complete 1,000 hours of unpaid placements – that’s about six months full-time work with no pay.
“Students who are willing to join essential workforces such as social work are struggling to make ends meet and dropping out of their courses entirely because they can’t afford to complete unpaid placements. It’s time for the federal government to act on the calls coming from students, workers, academics, and the Australian Universities Accord - fully fund work placements now.”
Students Against Placement Poverty spokesperson and social work student Isaac Wattenberg said: “Rents, groceries, the cost of living is sky-high – it’s unaffordable and unsustainable for my peers and I to take months off paid work to complete mandatory unpaid placements.
“A day's work deserves fair compensation. Students will no longer accept being exploited. Placement poverty is real and damaging - it must end.”
Media contact: Sofie Wainwright 0403 920 301