Year 10 Work Experience Week

Catherine Jones

Careers Counsellor

Our Year 10 cohort stepped into the workforce this term - taking on placements for a week-long period. For many, this is their first experience of real-world employment and a step toward personal independence. Making their way to the workplace, familiarising themselves with a new environment, meeting and working with new people, learning new skills - all of these things are part of a daunting, yet very exciting, experience.

Our students have been extraordinarily lucky in having opportunities across a diverse number of industries - capentry, scientific research, retail and education to name but a few. Most students pursued these opportunities themselves, finding and securing placements in which they have a real and ongoing career interest. Well done to you all on a great working week!

We extend our thanks to all those employers who have given generously of their time and resources; we are sure that where possible, the BSC community will endeavour to return this support.

Emil Huth - Walter & Eliza Hall Institute for Medical Research

I learned a lot about how scientists work and what tasks they have to complete. The work involved using interesting equipment that I had never seen before with unbelievable technology. We extracted and multiplied the DNA of mice and also looked for different genes in mouse-DNA.

Alexander Patoulidis

Greg Thomas Lawyer

My work experience involved going into courts and looking at cases and their briefs, which we then evaluated and put together. I chose this work experience path so I can look at our legal system from the perspective of the lawyers and defendant. I found that my experience has been a fantastic one and it has convinced me that this is the right career path for me.

Erica Garefallou - Woolworths

I chose Woolworths because it was a good road in to get part time employment there and slowly start my career. I was doing registers and I learned how to use them very quickly. I did stock-up which means I was putting products into the empty shelves. I also performed facing up, which means putting the products at the very front so everything looked full and pretty and I did some cleaning. I learned a lot of stuff and I actually ended up getting a job there so I am very happy!

Angie Cauchi

Ascot Vale Primary School

I went to a primary school and worked with Preps, Grade 1 and Grade 2 students. They were all so adorable. I helped in any way I could which meant that I helped the kids with their work and if the teacher asked me to do something I would do it - no questions asked! I wish work experience could have lasted two weeks because I had so much fun with them - or that I could do that whole week again just to experience it one more time!

Anthony Papaconstantinou Builders Mark

I worked with a carpenter and I had a great time. I was helping out - using tools I had never seen before and building things that I have never done before. I enjoyed it because I was making frames, getting wood, cutting wood for the frames and using a nail gun to put them together. Then, we would lift the frames up and put them in place.

Hannah Cimenoglou

Two Bulls IT

For my work experience I worked at an IT company called Two Bulls. I was required to test an app made by the employees there. The app was made for farmers to tell if their horse is fouling or not. It was interesting to test and know about the process that has gone into making this app.

Employer Comment: Hannah is a credit to your school and has been really helpful this week.

Annabelle Fotiadis

Myer

During my placement at Myer, I learned what the retail workplace is like, and the complexity behind it. While working there I was able to confidently help customers and understand good customer service. It became quite tiring standing for hours and moving clothes from fitting rooms, but in saying this I know I was lucky to have such a rare opportunity as working at Myer.

Hugo Deveny-Borg

LaLuna Bistro

LaLuna Bistro is run by celebrity chef Adrian Richardson. I mostly did food preparation and ran errands. I found the job very enjoyable as I enjoy cooking and doing hands-on things like that. I also found the environment very fun as it was loud and not sad.

Zac Joan

Ballinger Technology 

Throughout the week I worked on producing a batch of products. I systematically soldered parts to motherboards and at the end of the week I tested them all.

Harvey Carroll

Westin Hotel

I learned a lot about how a hotel functions behind the scenes. It was great to see all of the different sorts of people who all co-operate with each other to perform a task. Almost all areas of the hotel business intertwine with each other and everyone does something to contribute to the 'big picture'. It was a great experience and I would do it again.

Employer comment: Harvey has been wonderful this week. He has initiative and was always eager to learn. He is very polite and hardworking.

Stacey Ye - Coburg Aquarium

Working at Coburg Aquarium was a fun experience, particularly since I got to work with the fish while also experiencing what type of maintenance is important to running an aquarium.

Eleanor Frost - Victoria Police

I worked at the Preston Police Station for my work experience. I got to ride in police cars and go to places I have never been before. I also got to sit in the watch house and hear everything that goes on there - like listening to the police radio and some of the phone calls that came through. I also photocopied some forms that people had to get when they may be planning a party that might be loud.

Employer Comment: Eleanor had a very positive attitude and was able to quickly adapt in very busy workplace, gaining the trust and confidence of the people she worked alongside.

Zak Demir

Boss Sign Concepts

I did work experience at a sign-making company where I learned about the process behind signwriting. I weeded, cut and printed vinyls, measured jobs for customers and operated machinery that involved cutting acryllics, wide format printing and laminating.

Julian Gillies-Lekakis - Moonee Ponds Primary School

I worked at my old primary school with my Prep teacher. At first, I was unsure whether I would enjoy it – running around after 5 year olds all day was a pretty hectic start! But as the week progressed I discovered why teachers love what they do. They love seeing their students learning, growing and developing as people. For most of the week I was working with a boy who had a learning difficulty. Despite the obstacles, I cannot stress enough the amount of pride I had in him and all that he had learned. I felt like I made a difference.

Employer Comment: Julian has been an amazing help to the school. He has taken initiative to assist students and teachers and been an excellent role model for students!

Josh Sim - ExecuJet

During the week I was able to go to the Air Traffic Control Tower and I really enjoyed that. I also went into heaps of private jets that were really fancy and nice. In the hanger I worked on a jet. I was looking for any corrosion and was cleaning the outside and inside of the jet’s wings. Overall I really enjoyed the work experience week.

The Brunswick Star

Issue 4 · 01 Jun 2017

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