First Nations students

Interested in exploring opportunities in the diverse transport industry? Join the FREE interactive online workshop designed to share insights, knowledge and practical tools.

When: Tuesday 4 March 2025, 10am to 12pm

Where: Online event is held via Microsoft Teams.

Access to link and calendar invite will be emailed through once registration has been completed

For further information and to register your interest, please click here!

Defence Force Work Experience Program

The Defence Work Experience Program provides secondary students from Years 10-12 with the opportunity to experience a wide range of careers available in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Australian Public Service (APS). The program is offering a variety of placements in Victoria. For more information, please visit the Defence Work Experience Program Job List website. Please remember to check the Jobs List website regularly for newly advertised placements.

1. Air Force Indigenous Youth Program (IYP): Avalon

A program designed specifically for students with an interest in the Air force (Indigenous students only)
A program designed specifically for students with an interest in the Navy.
A program designed specifically for students with an interest in Engineering, Electrical Trades and Health careers the Army
Showcasing various STEM careers
A program focussing on the role of Medic/Nurse the Army
Showcasing various STEM careers
Location: Laverton, VIC
Placement Date: 28 March 202
Applications close: 11:30pm Sunday 27 Feb 2025
Link to apply: Air Force Indigenous Youth Program (IYP): Avalon

2. A Day in the Navy – Guided Tours: HMAS Cerberus

Guided tours designed specifically for students with an interest in the Navy
Location: HMAS Cerberus, VIC
Tour Dates: 7 April 2025
Bookings: This event is not advertised online. Please refer to attached PDF for bookings and further details.
Link to book: Book via the QR code below.

3. Introduction to Navy: HMAS Cerberus (April)

Location: HMAS Cerberus, VIC
Placement Dates: 29 April - 01 May 2025
Applications close: 11:30pm Sunday 16 March 2025
Link to apply: Introduction to Navy: HMAS Cerberus (April)

4. Army Trade Familiarisation (Engineering, Electrical and Health): Bandiana

Location: Bandiana, VIC
Placement Date: 20 May 2025
Applications close: 11:30pm Sunday 23 March 2025
Link to apply: Army Trade Familiarisation (Engineering, Electrical and Health): Bandiana

5. Joint Military Police Unit Overview: Simpson Barracks

Showcasing careers with the Joint Military Police Unit (Tri-service)
Location: Macleod, VIC
Placement Date: 14 May 2025
Applications close: 11:30pm Sunday 23 March 2025
Link to apply: Joint Military Police Unit Overview: Simpson Barracks

6. STEM Immersion Week: Fishermans Bend (June)

Location: Port Melbourne, VIC
Placement Dates: 30 June - 4 July 2025
Applications close: 11:30pm Sunday 4 May 2025
Link to apply: STEM Immersion Week: Fishermans Bend (June)

7. Introduction to Navy: HMAS Cerberus (Overnight Placement) (July)

A program designed specifically for students with an interest in the Navy.
Location: HMAS Cerberus, VIC
Placement Dates: 28 July – 01 August 2025
Applications close: 11:30pm Sunday 1 June 2025
Link to apply: Introduction to Navy: HMAS Cerberus (Overnight Placement) (July)

8. Day in the Life of a Medic/Nurse: Bandiana

Location: Bandiana, VIC
Placement Date: 29 October 2025
Applications close: 11:30pm Sunday 31 August 2025
Link to apply: Day in the Life of a Medic/Nurse: Bandiana

9. STEM Immersion Week: Fishermans Bend (November)

Location: Port Melbourne, VIC
Placement Dates: 24 - 28 November 2025
Applications close: 11:30pm Sunday 28 September 2025
Link to apply: STEM Immersion Week: Fishermans Bend (November)

10. Australian Army Band Melbourne: Simpson Barracks

A program designed specifically for students with an interest in Musician roles in the Army
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Placement Dates: Multiple opportunities throughout 2025 - to be negotiated
Applications close: 11:30pm Sunday 9 November 2025
Link to apply: Australian Army Band Melbourne: Simpson Barracks

In addition, applicants may apply for interstate placements, however please refer to travel and accommodation details in the placement Information Packs.

If you have any questions regarding the Defence Work Experience Program, please email vic.workexperience@defence.gov.au.

Work Experience

Work experience participation is optional at VSC, however we strongly encourage all students aged 15yrs+ to get involved in this very beneficial and rewarding program. Students can undertake Work Experience every year until they graduate VSC.

Work experience provides young people with a taste of the real world of work and a clearer understanding of a particular industry, field or business they may be interested in pursuing in the future. It assists in career discovery and exploration, goal setting and decision making whilst preparing students for VCE or VCAL, future tertiary studies, apprenticeship/traineeships or full time work.

There are no designated time frames for students to complete placements as we believe a flexible delivery arrangement provides students with a better opportunity to meet the availability and operational time frames of businesses and industries within the community. This also means we are not competing with other local schools which can limit student’s placement opportunities.

Placement dates are arranged through consultation and negotiation between the employer, school and student to maximise the experience. However, if your young person is not going on the Central Australia to Darwin trip, they may want to consider the last week of Term 3 as the perfect opportunity to undertake work experience.

Drop into Pathways to discuss further and collect the ‘Preparing for the Workplace’ pack.

Work Experience in the Australian Defence Force (ADF)?

Interested work experience through the Defence Force? The Defence Work Experience Program provides you people interested in careers in Defence the opportunity to sample life in Defence and learn more about the ADF. Activities are hands on and interactive to assist students in making informed career decisions. Participants must be 15yrs or over at the time of placement. Click on the link to see the current opportunities. Defence Work Experience Program Jobs List.

Pathways Website – www.vscpathways.com

Did you know VSC has its own careers website? It’s a ‘One Stop Shop’ for everything you need to assist with Career planning, research, information and help, available 24 hours a day. Please see attached the Term 1 Career Tools Newsletter with lots of informative reading. To access the website please click on the link vscpathways.com or go to the VSC website and click on the Pathways tab. Features:

Latest news and events
Senior school options
Work experience and OH&S in the workplace
VET – Vocational Education and Training
University Admissions requirements through VTAC
Find what careers suits you & course discovery
Interactive Career bullseyes
Gap Year
Resume creation & finding a job
Youth allowance and money matters
Informative career videos
Plus lots, lots more to help individual career development

Career Development is the lifelong process of managing life, learning and work (paid and unpaid) over our lifespan. The ability to make informed decisions, manage and transition through change for a personally determined future.

Young people build their career development through self-awareness; understanding how they make decisions and how these decisions impact future aspirations through exploration, identifying interests, values and preferred learning styles through careers exploration activities such as Morrisby in Year 9 and Careers Tools in Year 10. The ability to research a wide range of career options helping them to select subjects they may enjoy learning whilst aligning to tertiary course pre-requisite requirements in the future or apprenticeship/traineeship requirements and work.

Career development is further enhanced by juggling the expectations and requirements of school with extra-curricular activities like sport and family responsibilities, part-time work, community involvement and social interests.

To further assist your Career Development please visit vscpathways.com an easy-to-use interface with links to a multitude of career resources for both Students and Parents. We encourage all VSC students and their families to explore the Pathways website to assist in making positively informed decisions about their future.

Stay Safe. Stay Well. Stay Connected.

VSC Pathways Team

Community Notice Board