At our school, Work Experience is a vital part of our career education initiative, designed to help students explore potential career paths and develop essential workplace skills. These short-term, unpaid placements with local businesses or organisations provide students with the opportunity to explore various industries and connect their education to real-world experiences, fostering motivation and informing their decisions about their future pathways.
Why Work Experience Matters
Work experience empowers students to:
- Explore potential career pathways and industries of interest.
- Develop hands-on skills and observe workplace operations in real-world environments.
- Build confidence, workplace etiquette and connections that can lead to future opportunities, such as paid work, apprenticeships or traineeships.
Key Information
- Eligibility: Students must be at least 14 years old and enrolled in an educational establishment to participate.
- Duration: Students can complete up to 30 days of work experience per year, with potential extensions for students with disabilities as approved by the school principal.
- Purpose: Work experience introduces students to workplace expectations, helps them explore career options, and develops skills such as communication, time management, and teamwork.
Flexible Work Experience Options
Students are encouraged to participate in work experience at any time during the school year, provided it aligns with logistical considerations and does not significantly impact their schooling. Placements can be tailored to individual needs, including:
- Weekly Placements: Attending work experience one day per week over a series of weeks.
- Short Blocks: Participating in block placements of three to five consecutive days.
This flexibility allows students to balance their education while exploring industries of interest and gaining valuable experience.
Models of Work Experience
- Work sampling allows students to explore a workplace or industry of their choice without specific time requirements. This model helps students:
- Gain an understanding of daily operations in the workplace.
- Observe professionals in their chosen industry and learn about career pathways.
- Develop soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability.
- Make informed decisions about whether they want to pursue further studies or a career in the field.
For example:
- A student interested in engineering might sample a role in construction or manufacturing to better understand the industry.
- A student passionate about veterinary science could observe daily tasks in an animal care facility.
Work sampling is a valuable first step for students unsure about their future career paths, providing real-world insights without the pressure of meeting mandatory placement hours.
- Structured work placements are linked to Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications and require students to complete a set number of workplace hours as part of their course requirements. These placements allow students to combine theoretical learning with hands-on industry experience, ensuring they develop practical skills essential to their training.
For example:
- Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care requires 200 hours of structured work placement, giving students practical experience in childcare settings.
- Certificate II in Plumbing involves 80 hours of structured workplace experience, allowing students to work alongside licensed plumbers, assisting with installations and maintenance tasks.
Structured placements provide students with a strong foundation of knowledge and experience, preparing them for post-school pathways in their chosen industries.
How to Get Started with Work Experience
Finding Your Placement. Students are encouraged to take an active role in sourcing their own work experience placements. This approach helps develop confidence, communication skills and initiative—qualities highly valued by employers. By sourcing your own placement, you take the first step in building professional networks and demonstrating your enthusiasm for future career opportunities. Remember, your initiative now can set the stage for greater opportunities later!
Here's how to get started:
- Identify Industries of Interest: Think about the fields or careers you'd like to explore, such as childcare, plumbing, administration or carpentry.
- Research Local Employers: Look for businesses within your local community that you can easily commute to using parent transport, public transportation, or a bike.
- Make Contact: Introduce yourself to potential host employers by phone, email, or in person. Employers appreciate hearing directly from students, as it shows genuine interest and initiative.
- Provide the employer details to the school's Industry Liaison Officer (ILO), who will assist with completing the necessary documentation, including risk assessments and insurance forms.
- Coordinate with the school (ILO) and employer to confirm the schedule and ensure the placement fits around your existing commitments.
For more information or to express interest, please contact our Industry Liaison Officer at careers@cabooltureshs.eq.edu.au.