Testing a student driven, non-academic model for undergraduate archaeological skills development in Western Australia

Australia is not unique in identifying the gap between the skillset required to work in the archaeology profession and the skills provided during a standard archaeology degree. The most significant and enduring gap has been identified by the students themselves; the practical application of archaeological field skills. In Western Australia, students have taken the initiative, and moved away from the academic world, to develop a practical model for supervised, structured fieldwork that increases practice opportunities and, consequently, their skills and confidence in this area when they graduate. A model for skills development, designed and tested by the Archaeological Society of Western Australia, demonstrates that using a flexible approach within a well-structured model may be used effectively for a variety of projects, whilst meeting both the ethical and legal needs contiguous in archaeological practice. This non-academic model offers real research and field experiences to students, to enhance their skill development and complement their academic studies. The model’s flexibility provides the capacity for implementation both within and outside of Australia.