Year 10 Work Experience - Information for Parents

Year 10 students undertake a one-week placement during school time, and have the option of undertaking a second placement in the week following the cessation of classes for Year 10 in December.

Benefits of Work Experience

Work experience offers students the opportunity to:

• Further develop their subject-based skills
• Learn about the world of work
• Explore possible career options, and
• Enhance interpersonal and communication skills.

Prospective employers and course selection personnel are always impressed by the inclusion of work experience on a resume when a student is applying for a job or entry into a particular academic course.

Obtaining the placement

Each student is to seek her own work experience placement, which should be in an occupation that she is considering as a career after leaving school. Please encourage your daughter to think about a range of careers. As this is the only opportunity to undertake work experience during her time in Year 10, it should not be wasted on an occupation that she is not seriously considering for her future employment.

Whilst some students find it difficult to contact employers personally, it is a skill which, once gained, will stand them in good stead in their working life. Please encourage your daughter to make her own (initial) contacts. Students will receive some instruction in this and may speak with the Work Experience Co-coordinator about this at any time.

During the work experience, a staff member will contact each student at their workplace and employers will complete a Report Form, which becomes part of the student’s school record.

Recommendations for placements

Girls should locate a work experience placement as close as possible to the school in order to minimise teachers’ travelling time. The local area, Frankston, Dandenong and the Central Business District (and suburbs within this geographical ‘triangle’) is suitable. Other areas are not preferable. Interstate or country work placements will not be permitted.

The following are not acceptable work placements:

• Working under the supervision of a family member or close friend.
• Working in shops (unless she is seriously considering Retail as a career pathway)
• Working in an organisation where the student currently has, or has had, part-time employment.
• Working an unreasonable distance from the college (see above).
• Working in a primary school that she attended as a student.

Requirements for students under 15 years of age

Students under the age of 15 years at the time of work experience are not permitted to work in Declared High Risk Industries as determined by the Department of Education and Training. These include a wide variety of industries, and any student who will be under 15 should speak with the Work Experience Co-coordinator individually regarding their options for work placement.

The employer’s/supervisor’s of students under 15 will also be required to undertake a criminal records check before the college can agree to the work placement.

Finalising placement arrangements

All placements should be finalised well in advance and students, employers and parents will be required to complete and sign their sections of the Work Experience Arrangement Form. Parents are asked to read their section of the form carefully and to ensure that you disclose any medical information that the prospective employer should be advised of, in order to provide a safe working environment for your daughter.

This form, along with the two OH&S certificates (see below) should be submitted to the Work Experience Co-coordinator during the first week of term 1 for checking and submission to the Principal. The ‘Guidelines For Employers’ information sheet has to be given to the employer.

OH&S requirements

Students are required to complete comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety training prior to undertaking work experience. This on-line training can be accessed at www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/safe@work Students must complete the general module and the industry specific module related to the industry to which their work experience is connected. Assessment is conducted by undertaking the two tests and if successful, printing the two certificates.

Other advice for parents

It is advisable that you visit the workplace with your daughter and also check the travel arrangements. Please remember that it will be winter (and short daylight hours) and that you need to consider your daughter’s moral and physical safety. Do not sign the Arrangement Form if you are unhappy about the placement.

The Work Experience Arrangement Form is an official legal document, which must be completed and signed by the student/parent/employer as well as the Principal before a student can undertake work experience.