Work Experience

Work experience - Macedon Ranges Shire Council (mrsc.vic.gov.au)

Work experience

Work Placement Arrangements

As a significant regional employer, we understand the importance of supporting the careers of young people within our shire and its neighbouring communities. We are a diverse organisation and can offer a variety of placement opportunities to both secondary school and tertiary students. 

All work experience, structured workplace learning and student placement opportunities are subject to availability.

To express your interest in a work placement arrangement, please register your interest via the Student Placement Portal, at least two months prior to your preferred start date.

Types of Placements

Structured workplace learning provides students with the opportunity to integrate on-the-job experience with secondary study as part of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), the VCE Vocational Major or the Victorian Pathways Certificate.

Structured workplace learning provides students with the opportunity to:

• integrate practical on-the-job experience and learning in workplaces with nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training (VET) undertaken as part of the VCE, the VCE Vocational Major or the Victorian Pathways Certificate
• undertake work placement to complement an applied learning program as part of the VCE Vocational Major or the Victorian Pathways Certificate
• demonstrate the practical application of work-related skills as part of VCE Industry and Enterprise.
• Work experience is the short-term placement of secondary school students with employers.
• Work experience is generally undertaken in Years 9 or 10.
• It is intended to give students insights into industry and the workplace.
• Schools must ensure they implement this policy and follow the associated work experience manual when planning for and conducting work experience arrangements to ensure compliance with legislation.

Work experience is the short-term placement of secondary school students, generally during Years 9 and 10, with employers to provide insights into industry and the workplace. It provides students with the valuable opportunity to:

• develop employability skills
• explore possible career options
• understand employer expectations
• increase their self-understanding, maturity, independence and self-confidence.

Students are placed with employers primarily to observe and learn – not to undertake activities which require extensive training or expertise.

Vocational Placements provide students with the opportunity to apply the theory and skills they learned while studying in a professional workplace.  Under these arrangements students can gain the skills they need to transition successfully from study to work, while giving industry the opportunity to enrich student learning experiences and increase the number of work-ready graduates.  Students completing placements are not considered to be employees and therefore are not entitled to the minimum wage or other entitlements provided under the FW Act.