Charles Darwin University (CDU), as most teacher students may have known, has had an issue in terms of sourcing placements for pre-service teachers over the years, and I am one of the good examples for the placement delay.

My name is Quang (Steven) Huynh, S326618. I started the Master of Teaching in Semeter 2, 2019 and was supposed to graduate in Semester 1, 2021. However, until now April 2022 I have not been able to graduate due to the delay of the final placement. It has been almost a year since my supposedly graduation day. And I do not think CDU 'really' understands how stressful it has been for me over the last 12 months in terms in mental health and finances.

I know there are many pre-service teachers currently stressed and frustrated waiting for placements because they cannot graduate. Imagining how much money they would lose if they were already a teacher, how much of their personal plans and life would be affected? Who would listen and support them during that time? Hence, I am creating this petition to get all CDU teacher students who are related to this issue to sign and ask CDU to be responsible for all of this.

I have had a formal discussion with the Dean of College on how CDU can and will support both domestic and international students who cannot graduate on time in terms of finances and mental health while waiting for placement. However, our agreement, see the draft solutions, has not been reached yet, and we are currently taking the chancellor to the discussion too. If the school and I cannot reach the mutual consensus, I would take this complaint to the NT Ombudsman for further discussion. 

I have also stated in the meeting with the Dean that I would continue this complaint even though CDU will have found me the final placement, as this is not acceptable and unfair for all teacher students.

See the draft solutions I suggested in the meeting.

Thank you for signing, and it'd be great if you could leave a reason. The petition could be used as evidence if there was any further discussion.

Steven Huynh