Work Experience
What, When, Where, How
Work Experience Booklet with the below information in the attachment.
Work placement paperwork- THis must be signed by parent/carer, employer and careers advisor before any work experience can commence.
-Do you need a white card to complete work experience? White card courses are run at the school.
Information booklet for parents/carers-
WORK EXPERIENCE information:
Work experience serves as a comprehensive introduction to the professional landscape, providing students with the opportunity to observe and engage in various aspects of their chosen field. This invaluable experience entails supervised tasks tailored to their skill level, contributing significantly to their career planning and seamless transition from school to the professional sphere.
The integration of work experience into a student's educational journey enhances their understanding of potential career paths and can inform thoughtful course and subject selections in stage 6. It is recommended that students engage in work experience at least once throughout the academic year, with the flexibility to undertake up to four placements.
To ensure a seamless process, students are required to exhibit organisational proficiency, completing and submitting all necessary paperwork duly signed and approved before the commencement of the work experience. We encourage students to take an active role in securing their placements, whether through personal connections, local community networks, or direct engagement with businesses aligned with their interests. Students MAY be required to complete a white card course before starting. Please see career advisor first.
WHAT is work experience:
WHERE to begin:
Decide what occupation and/or industry you'd like to try out.
Your interests and values. You may want to explore career options that align with your current interests and skills. You may know little of the world of work or what kind of work you would like to try. Create a career profile in
(log in required) to learn more about yourself, and find career paths that suit your strengths, interests and aspirations.
Find a host workplace.
How do I find a host workplace?
Once you have carried out some independent career research and have a few ideas about where you might like to seek a placement, speak to your career's advisor and decide which option you would like to pursue.
That first step - talking to people at a potential host workplace – can feel the hardest. It may take a few attempts to find a business or organisation that is able to take you at the time you are looking for placement.
Helpful hints-
- Research businesses in your area that have occupations you would like to explore.
- Consider the location and how you will get to and from work.
How do I approach the host workplace?
There are a variety of options for connecting with employers and companies. You could visit, phone or email them, or complete online forms/applications if that is what they require.
Let’s say that you plan to contact a business that does not have an office – for example, one in thebuilding and construction industry. You could text them and ask for a suitable time to contact them. If youare able to set up an appointment time that suits them, they should have more time to talk to you.
Alternatively, cold canvassing is the process of directly approaching employers. Calling strangers isn’t always the easiest thing to do, and it can be tricky to remember all the information you need to convey.You may find the supplied sample telephone script helps you to structure your conversation.
Set up the placement:
What do i do next?
Once you have found a host employer, your career advisor will be able to help you set up the placement. There are procedures that must be followed. The careers advisor will help you understand everything you need to know and do. They will alert you to any ‘restricted’ or ‘prohibited’ activities or industries that are seen as too dangerous for a placement. Your career advisor will run you through the administrative and legal aspects of setting up a workplacement, which include:
- Completing placement paperwork (which setsout the responsibilities of the employer and the school during your work experience placement)
- Being aware of legislation put in place to protect you, the school and the employer, with regards to:
*Work Health and Safety
*Public liability (Insurance)
*Discrimination and harassment
- Undertaking pre-placement work health and safety training (if necessary)
- Understanding your work hours
- Completing the "Work readiness program" and signing off
-Please see the careers advisor in the careers office for a work experience pack.
Complete POST-PLACEMENT documentation:
Discuss your work placement:
Sharing your experiences of the work placement will involve reflecting on:
- your learning in the workplace
- the impact on your career planning
- how your experience might help you to prepare your pathway plans or portfolios
- your work readiness
- comments made by the employer/supervisor
Write a 'thank you' letter or email:
After the workplace learning placement, you can write a letter or email of appreciation to the employer/supervisor. Doing this will remind the host workplace of you if they are looking for future employees. Also, if this placement was your introduction to this industry, and you would now like to undertake a VET subject or Australian School Based Apprenticeship, you may be able to approach this host to seek future placement options.
Update your resume information with your placement details:
Now is the time to update your resume with your placement details. If you have asked your host employer or supervisor to be a referee on your resume, update these details also.
Places to complete a one day white card course are below if you need to complete it before they are offered at school.