Inclusive Practice in Work-Integrated Learning – ECU’s Commitment to Student Success

Edith Cowan University (ECU) puts inclusion into action. Its recently updated Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Procedure shifts the question from ‘Can you participate?’  to ‘What do you need to participate?’  This approach gives every student a fair chance to succeed in real-world learning.

Building a Framework for Inclusion

Professor Justin Brown explains:

 “It’s not just about providing resources or showing the destination. It’s about creating a governance framework around inclusive employment and accessing opportunities… so students can see it as a university-wide commitment.”

ECU has embedded this commitment into its WIL Procedure. The new section, Assurance of Inclusive Practice, holds a prominent position, signalling its priority. It provides guidance for designing and delivering inclusive WIL experiences that give every student an equitable opportunity. The section aims to ensure that students with disability, health conditions, or other circumstances receive information and support through all stages of their WIL placement, including access to reasonable adjustments to help them succeed.

Changing the Conversation

Many universities still use a ‘show cause’ model, where students sharing disability must prove they meet course requirements. ECU has taken a different path. Professor Brown explains:

 “We reframed the conversation from deciding whether you get to participate, to asking what you need from us to participate. We’ll do everything in our power to make it work.”

This approach respects students as experts in their own circumstances and encourages open discussion between students, Schools, Access and Inclusion services, and industry partners. It also maintains academic and professional standards—removing barriers without lowering expectations.

ECU is committed to supporting staff in helping students achieve success. Staff are encouraged to work collaboratively with students to identify and implement reasonable adjustments, or alternate placement options, that meet academic requirements. Throughout this process, ECU staff can access guidance, resources, and practical assistance from the ECU Centre for Employability, ensuring they are equipped to provide meaningful opportunities and maintain high-quality learning experiences.

Putting Inclusion into Practice

With guidance from services such as Access and Inclusion, and the Centre for Employability, the Procedure aims to establish clarity and shared understanding that:

• Values and centres lived experience expertise.
• Course requirements are explained upfront, and reasonable adjustments discussed openly.
• Industry partners will be supported to implement inclusive practices, allowing them to attract diverse talent pools.
• Digital tools, forms, and processes should follow universal design principles to reduce barriers.
• Cultural and religious needs should be considered early, with clear communication about placement requirements
• All reasonable efforts are made to identify alternative or modified WIL activity that still meets the relevant course learning outcomes where appropriate.

Professor Brown sums it up:

 “This reframing changed the dynamic from disability being seen as a threat to quality, to asking what you need to succeed—and let’s talk about it.”

Working Together for Change

By embedding inclusion into policy and practice, ECU sets a new standard for Work-Integrated Learning. This approach benefits students, strengthens industry partnerships, and builds a diverse future workforce. ECU invites collaboration across the sector to keep shaping inclusive excellence.

Professor Justin Brown explains the Assurance of Inclusive Practice section in ECU’s updated WIL Procedure during this ADCET webinar: ECU Inclusive Employability – Intentional action for equitable employment outcomes.

If you are an ECU staff member seeking further guidance on the Procedure, or someone with an interest in Inclusive WIL, contact the Centre for Employability on employabilityteam@ecu.edu.au.