FAQs
Industry Practice
Frequently asked questions
Answers about the program, the transition from IE, companies and roles, assessment and support.
The program
What is the Industry Practice program?
Industry Practice is an industry-integrated learning experience where students work to build real solutions for real clients, inside real companies.
Rather than completing individual assignments, you join a student-led company of up to 120 people, take a role in it, and contribute to work that a client actually receives.
Who will be involved?
All students completing degrees offered by the Faculty of IT will be involved from their second year onwards, supported by industry mentors and academic staff.
Students staff the companies and form the leadership teams, taking over from their predecessors and progressing the company's vision and work before handing off to the next cohort when they graduate.
When does it start?
The program kicks off in Semester 1, 2027 and will be completely rolled out by 2029. Companies are being established through 2026 so that the first cohort walks into an organisation that already exists.
Why is the program changing?
Three reasons drive the change: genuine industry workplace experience rather than a simulation of it, a competency-based approach to what you are assessed on, and a portfolio of real work you can show an employer.
How is it different from what I am doing now?
You work inside a company with a structure, a board, a leadership team and a client. Your contribution is assessed on what you do in that role, week by week, rather than only on assignments submitted at the end.
I am an industry partner. How do I get involved?
We are looking for industry mentors and for clients with real problems worth solving. Get in touch with the program team through the contact details on this site.
Transition from IE
I am currently enrolled in IE units. What happens to me?
Your current enrolment is not affected until the program reaches your year level. Transition arrangements are being finalised and will be published here as they are confirmed. If you are due to graduate before 2029, you may not be affected at all.
Will I get credit for units I have already completed?
Yes. The transition is designed so that completed units continue to count towards your degree. Detailed mapping between existing IE units and Industry Practice units will be published before enrolment opens for 2027.
Do I automatically move into the new Part B structure?
Yes. If you have successfully completed Part A (FIT3039 or FIT3047), you will transition into the new Part B structure.
Will I stay with my current project or team members?
No. You will be assigned to a new student-run company where you will collaborate with a new team.
What support will be available to me during the transition process?
You will receive ongoing guidance throughout the transition process through a scheduled Q&A webinar, a form for submitting questions before the live session, regular website updates with new dates and instructions, and dedicated Semester One teaching staff who are shaping the curriculum to support transitioning students.
Companies & roles
How do I choose which company to join?
Companies publish their profile and their open roles on this site. You apply to the roles that fit what you want to learn, in the same way you would apply for a job — and like a job, the fit matters more than the title.
Can I change companies?
Movement between companies is possible at semester boundaries, subject to open roles and your program coordinator's approval. The intent is that you build depth in one organisation rather than sampling several.
Are company preferences guaranteed?
Preferences are considered during the allocation process, but final placement depends on capacity and balance across the companies.
Assessment
How am I assessed?
Sessional studio mentors assess individual contributions weekly through task checkpoints. Completed tasks represent a pass; consecutive incomplete tasks trigger a formal improvement plan and a conversation, not a silent fail.
Is this individual work or team work?
Both. You work as part of a team on company deliverables, but you are assessed individually on your own contribution to that work.
How much time will this take?
Industry Practice replaces the unit load it corresponds to — it is not additional. Expect the same weekly commitment as the units it replaces, structured as studio time plus your own work.
How will this transition affect my WAM?
Your WAM will not be affected by the transition to the new Industry Practice structure.
Support
Who do I talk to if something goes wrong?
Your sessional studio mentor is the first point of contact for anything week to week. For anything they cannot resolve, escalate to your lead industry mentor and then to the program coordinator.
No questions match that search.