The placements provide the foundation for the academic program. 

Fellows are assisted by an academic and management support team in planning their placements, to ensure a balanced mix in supervised fieldwork experience and competencies gained over the duration of the scheme.

It is the Fellow’s responsibility to approach potential supervisors well in advance of a  placement to arrange the details (i.e. at least 6 weeks prior to commencing the placement). This may include negotiating potential projects, identifying special skills which may be required and specifying leave to be taken. The projects to be undertaken by a Fellow and the involvement in ongoing activities of the organisation should be jointly developed by the Fellow and academic and fieldwork placement supervisors. This collaborative planning will ensure that the learning needs of the Fellow are in accordance with the host organisation's ability to meet these needs.

Most placements involve a discrete project of which the Fellow has a sense of ownership and primary responsibility. The fellow may also participate in other projects and/or the day to day activities of the host organisation. Fellows and supervisors are urged to consider in advance the practical applications and the specific outcomes for the fellow and the host organisation.

Fellows should be given the opportunity to present their work at least once during the placement, to the host organisation’s work unit or to a broader forum. This is considered a valuable experience for the fellow as well as a chance for the project to be shared with immediate colleagues or a wider audience.

Fellows have a range of other work and training responsibilities to undertake outside of the specific work they perform in placements. These include attendance at the academic program subjects and seminars and involvement in monthly VPHTS meetings. It is recommended that placement project requirements be structured to enable their completion within 80% of the time available in the total placement period.