VET NEWS
If you are a VET student – congratulations – you are now a solid month into your studies, and regardless of if you attend SuniTAFE, our very own Riverside Trade Training Centre or are studying online, it is very important to remember a few things:
Structured Work Placement or Work Experience?
Structured Work Placement (known as SWPL) is required for all students studying a VET course in VCAL Intermediate or Senior VCAL. You will attend a workplace every Wednesday for 10 weeks in the industry of your choice. For example, students studying Allied Health might attend a health facility such as Sunraysia Community Health and after ten weeks, move on to work in an aged care facility.
SWPL requires you to complete a Workplace Learning Record (a work diary) and you can do this with your employer and additionally, I am here to help if you find parts of it a bit tricky. The diary covers things like occupational health and safety and skills you will learn ‘on the job’. You only need to complete one work diary for the entire year, so it can be done with multiple employers.
I need about ten days to prepare the paperwork for you to do a placement – and I will remind you four weeks before your next placement, so you must always be thinking where you want to go next.
Work Experience is undertaken by students in the school holidays and Ms Dimasi will work with you to achieve this, however you must contact her before the deadlines to ensure enough time to get paperwork done. Students undertaking work experience also complete a workplace diary as evidence of attendance.
YOUR VET COURSE HAS A MINIMUM NUMBER OF HOURS OF SWPL/WORK EXPERIENCE YOU MUST DO TO SUCCESSFULLY PASS.
Emails are important!
St Joseph’s College has a record number of students doing VET Courses this year, which is fantastic, but it means that the most efficient way I get you information about Work Placements, cancellation of classes or changes to your course is by emailing you in groups.
I will also copy your parents/guardians into this email to ensure that they are aware of changes and information too.
Ask questions.
I am available to answer any of your questions, or questions that your parents/guardian might have about anything to do with VET and Structured Work Placement via phone on 5018 8013 or via email: akennedy@sjcmda.vic.edu.au
Here are some of the questions that I have had over the past couple of years – proving that there are no stupid questions (remember – you don’t know what you don’t know!).
Can I extend my placement with my employer after ten weeks?
Yes – I can extend it out to twenty weeks with permission from Mrs Blythman.
Can I work with my parents?
Yes – all I need is all the information on the contract.
What if I don’t like my work placement?
You tell me and I will close the placement and work with you to find another one.
I am struggling with my VET course.
Come and see me and we will work together to get you some help.
I don’t like my VET course and want to change.
This is a biggie – and it does happen. As we are now in March – you cannot simply change VET courses. You will have to finish the year and I can enrol you in your new course in October.
Mrs Adele Kennedy
TTC & VET Coordinator