Making Internships Accessible: Exploring the Value of Individualised Flexibility for Psychology Students Experiencing Competing Demands
This event will highlight research on making Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) accessible to students with competing demands. The study focuses on psychology students with disabilities and caring responsibilities, identified practical strategies for supporting student participation in internships. Key findings include the importance of making flexibility visible in placement advertising, and teaching students empowering language to advocate for their needs. Join them as they share actionable recommendations to help students engage with WIL. Their research has informed the design of a new WIL course at Adelaide University and offers transferable strategies across disciplines. Coupled with this, there will be examples of how support has benefited clients. Thanks to WIL Australia for funding this research project.
Presenters
Dr. Samantha Newell
Dr. Samantha Newell (Lecturer, The University of Adelaide) is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and recipient of a national teaching award. She engages in the Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoTL) in research areas spanning Work-Integrated Learning, online pedagogy, and Generative AI in Higher Education. At the University of Adelaide, her SoTL includes WIL Australia-funded research identifying practical strategies for supporting students with disabilities and caring responsibilities in internships.
Dr. John Baranoff
Dr. John Baranoff (University of Adelaide) is a registered psychologist. He is clinician-researcher and Senior Lecturer with previous experience coordinating work integrated learning courses for undergraduate and postgraduate psychology students as well as teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students. John is currently the Academic Lead for External Engagement for the School of Psychology, which includes the portfolio of internships and employability. He has led and contributed to a range of projects that focus on student learning, wellbeing and inclusivity. Additionally, John has experience in establishing field placements, as well as coordinating and supervising postgraduate psychology students on placements in a previous clinical management role.
Sascha Lemon-Spence
Sascha Lemon-Spence has worked within the employment space for over 20 years and specilsiing in disability employment with Community Bridging Services Inc for over 14 yrs as a case manager, trainer and advocate and most recently with the USEP program since its inception in 2018 at Flinders University and University of Adelaide in 2021. Sascha is passionate about sustainable employment opportunities for people with a disability and prides herself on her ability to build and maintain meaningful relationships with clients and employers. With experience supporting clients from various skill, education, age and disability backgrounds Sascha provides a relatable and understanding service.
