Boundless - Better Together Alliance Camp

Year ten students Josh McKenzie, Liam Borg, Hazel Tutuncu, Arielle Sutherland, Jackie Rudas, Sienna Mehmet, Prue Bester and Nayab Saqib all attended the Boundless Foundation Work Experience Camp. We travelled to Melbourne on the 6.30am train with Wanganui Secondary College, Mooroopna Secondary College and McGuire College students on day one. When we arrived we left our luggage at our accommodation “Melbourne Discovery” and participated in a skills workshops hosted by RMIT University this helped us to get to know the students from the other schools and communication techniques to assist us in our work places. We then practiced using public transport to travel to our work places ready for the week ahead. Over the next four days we were fortunate to work in the following business and experience corporate life in the city.

Hazel Tutuncu- Bill Gillies Barrister

I was placed with Katherine Brazenor who is a Barrister. She taught me how to read and pick out key information from applications for court. From the 3rd - 5th May, I was placed with Bill Gillies who is also a Barrister. We spent our week running around Melbourne, going to court cases in the Supreme Courts and VCAT (which he refers to as Disney Land) He taught me useful tactics to use for when I become a Lawyer one day. His assistant, Bertie took me around the Supreme Court Library and showed me the Magistrate Court. We had a blast!

Arielle Sutherland Monash University Diabetes research

During my week at the Monash Diabetes Research branch I got to do a lot of observation of various experiments that in the future could help out a lot people with managing their diabetes and diabetes complications better than now. Some of the experiments included watching a cull of mice(dissection), cell culturing and protein collection. I also got to help out a PhD student with cell culturing for their thesis. In addition I was able to visit the Animal House where animal technicians look after and continue the genetic modification of the rats and mice that are needed for the diverse experiments. I was really lucky to learn from so many inspirational people and I got to share this experience with Zak Bolitho from Mooroopna Secondary and Sean Ryan from McGuire College. This experience has confirmed for me to pursue my goal in acquiring a PhD in Venom Biology as well as a degree to be an Animal Technician.

Mercedes Benz Australia Pacific Head Office:

Liam Borg Marketing /Accounting

During this week in Melbourne I had a really good time, I met a lot of cool people that were very down to earth and very good mentors. My supervisor was extremely helpful with all the work that I had to get done, we did a project on a new car at Mercedes Benz and we had to make a power point on the launch of it and we had a budget to do it. I also had to find the numbers for how many cars Mercedes gives out to every dealership in Australia and divide how many cars each dealership would get. I had to present my project at the end on the week in front of all the supervisors which was a bit nerve racking, I really enjoyed the whole week and meeting new people.

Prue Bester Human Resources

My position was in Human Resources, my duties included looking at staff retention and assisting in the reception area. I was surprised how relaxed but professional everyone was in the work place. I presented my project on staff retention to members of staff and fellow work experience students. I had never heard of Human Resources before working at Mercedes Benz. I have been inspired to look into the this area of employment and training in the future

Sienna Mehmet - Assisting the Marketing Manager

My role was supporting the Campaign Marketing Manager. I assisted with the campaign and launch of the new GLC Coupe. This included establishing a brief to promote the campaign to media and creative teams. I made an implementation powerpoint to present to my supervisor and then a post campaign report. I then moved onto a presentation to present to supervisors and visitors about my week. This week of work experience has cemented my thought process to pursue marketing and media in the future. I enjoyed my week at Mercedes Benz and the living in Melbourne experience, using public transport daily to Mulgrave to attend my placement.

Joshua McKenzie Maurice Blackburn Lawyers

I was placed at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers. My supervisor was a really nice guy and I learnt so much in the short time I was with him. On the first day of work experience, I was fortunate enough to visit the courts and sit through a trial in the Supreme Court. I also attended multiple meetings and video conferences. Everyone at Maurice Blackburn were so nice and they made me feel a part of the team. The Boundless Work Experience camp was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone.

Jackie Rudas Royal Melbourne Hospital Respiratory Department

I was able to consult with the doctors, and I oversaw some procedures one of which was a bronchoscope. I worked with sleep scientists monitoring patients with their sleep patterns. I had no idea about sleep medicine. I am now aware of procedures ongoing in sleep and respiratory medicine. I was communicating with patients and staff who were giving me their time even though they were really busy.

Nayab Saqib Department of Justice

Working in the Department of Justice we were given a tour of the building. We were introduced to all staff in the Human Rights Department we then went to the Supreme Court where serious cases such as murder are heard. After this tour we looked through the County Court, we viewed a pre trial of a drugs case, we then met Judge Connor O'Neill. We visited Parliament House in Spring St and the Old Melbourne Gaol where we got locked up! I met Rob Hulls the former Attorney General. Before I completed this experience I thought law was only about being a Lawyer I have seen the different jobs involved in the Department of Justice and I really loved the occupation of being a judges associate.

Many thanks to the Boundless Foundation, The Light House Project and staff from the four schools who made this experience one to remember for our students. Many wonderful friendships were formed amongst the students which I am sure will continue into their senior years of secondary schooling. Students from the Better Together Alliance would like to thank the following business for their placements

Allens Law Firm
Crumpler
Department of Justice
Elenberg Fraser
Fair Work Commission
Maurice Blackburn Law
Victorian Bar
Victorian Law Reform Commission
MathsPathway
Meteir3
Publicis
Royal Melbourne Hospital
Mercedes Benz Australia Pacific
Monash Diabetes Research

World Challenge 2018