Secondary School

Year Ten Work Experience

The Year Ten Work Experience program is a highly regarded and integral component of our Careers curriculum, designed to extend students’ awareness of the professional world beyond the classroom context. Since the students have returned, our school community has been enriched by the Year Ten cohort as they have shared their insights and reflections following their placements.

The program provides students with a valuable opportunity to participate in authentic workplace settings, enabling them to explore prospective career pathways while cultivating essential transferable skill and consider how they will make their impact in the future. In doing so, it promotes personal and professional development, particularly in the areas of communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

This year, our students embraced placements that took them as far as Esperance and South Hedland, while many chose opportunities closer to home in Denmark and Albany. Our boarding students also made the most of the chance to gain experience near their hometowns. As in previous years, our Year Ten cohort enjoyed the privilege of exploring a wide variety of immersive placements across an impressive range of industries. In 2025, these included agriculture, tourism, real estate, marine conservation, trades, allied health, veterinary nursing, hospitality, education, aged care, and many others. It is always rewarding to hear students reflect on the skills they developed, the knowledge they gained, the challenges they navigated, and the meaningful connections they built.

Some of the student reflections include:

Ruth Darmody

My work experience placement was held at Pioneer Health Albany, focusing on the fields of medicine and nursing. I was able to take part in a variety of activities, including observing treatment rooms, assisting with patient communication, setting up and cleaning, and supporting nurses. This experience gave me valuable insight into the wide range of responsibilities involved in nursing and what the role looks like behind the scenes. I also learned that showing initiative and asking questions was the best way to make the most of my week. Even small tasks, such as cleaning rooms between patients or preparing for the next procedure, contributed to my learning and understanding of the profession. Overall, the placement was a valuable opportunity to gain real-world experience in a field I am interested in.

Lucy Bailey

For work experience this year, Fraser, Olivia, and I went to Elders Albany. I had a very enjoyable week. Throughout the week, I drove around with a stock agent - Nigel Hawke, driving to his clients' farms and drafting and weighing sheep and cattle. I also went to

the Katanning sheep sale and the Mount Barker cattle sale. We also went to Kojonup with the Agronomist, Bridget, for a field day where we learnt about different types of crops. Overall, it was a really great experience, and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in agriculture.

Kari Taylor

My work experience week included a large range of different opportunities. From one-on-ones to groups and classes in aged care, they included physiotherapists, OTs, speech therapists, which included a very entertaining opera session, allied health assistant and a very elaborate tour of the hospital. I had the chance to meet new people, learn so many new things and had an amazing week outside of the classroom. Thank you so much to all the teachers and businesses who helped organise this!

Elina Caelli

During my work experience, I had the opportunity to join the team at the Fitzgerald River National Park with DBCA (Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions). Over the week, I worked alongside the rangers and conservation officers, and gained an insight into their daily activities. These included campsite maintenance, banking, wildlife and nature reserve inspections, wattle eradication, and much more.

One of the highlights of my placement was being able to work out in the park and experience the incredible natural scenery while learning on the job. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the team and appreciated how welcoming and supportive everyone was.

For any students interested in wildlife, conservation, or the environment, I would highly recommend this as a Year Ten work experience placement. It’s a great way to learn practical skills and gain a real understanding of what it’s like to work in this field.

A sincere thank you to the following businesses that hosted GSG students this year:

· Adam Morris Film Maker

· Advanced Family Sports Podiatry

· Albany Day Hospital

· Albany Farm Fresh Eggs

· Albany Health Campus

· Albany Imaging

· Albany Museum

· Albany Orthodontics

· Albany Physiotherapy

· Albany Primary School

· Albany Shellfish Hatchery

· Camp Quaranup

· CBH Albany

· CGS Engineers

· City Of Albany

· Cobain Motorcycles

· David O’Keeffe Electrical

· DEMCO

· Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions

· Dog Rock Chemist

· Dome

· Duncraig Primary School

· Elders Albany

· Flinders Park Primary School

· Gilbert Legal

· Golden Hill Steiner School

· Gnowangerup District High School

· Great Southern Physiotherapy

· Greenstone Legal

· GSM Auto Electrical Services

· H and H Architects

· Health First Albany

· Juniper Aged Care

· Kingdom Kare Childcare

· Kukerin Primary School

· Mackenzie’s Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

· Mark Blythe Fine Jewellery / Asara Jewellery

· MGM Bulk

· Mira Mar Veterinary Services

· Merrifield Real Estate

· Mount Barker Veterinary Services

· Ocean Beach Physiotherapy

· Penny Baker Artist

· Pioneer Health

· Pioneer Health Dental

· Roberts Gardiner Architects

· Spec Savers

· St Joseph’s College

· WA Country Health

· Wade Marshall Plumbing

· Wauters Building Company

· West Cape Physio

· Westerberg Marine

· Western Irrigation

· Yakamia Primary School

· Yongerknow Malleefowl Centre

· 12 Volt World

The school extends its sincere appreciation to the businesses that so generously welcomed our students, providing them with valuable opportunities to develop practical skills and gain meaningful experience while shaping their future aspirations. We trust that the enthusiasm, curiosity, and fresh perspectives our students brought to your workplaces contributed positively in return. A special thank you is also owed to the supervisors who devoted their time to guiding our students, answering their questions, and engaging them in enriching activities throughout their placements. Your dedication to supporting and mentoring the next generation is deeply valued, and we look forward to continuing these partnerships in the years ahead.

Mrs Renae O'Donnell | VET and Careers Coordinator