Over many years, as part of our Year 10 Work Experience program, Numurkah Secondary College Year 10 students have had the opportunity to visit and observe a workplace to learn job-related skills in a field of interest.
The school runs a one-week block of Work Experience, during which all Year 10 classes are cancelled. The 2024 Work Experience Program will run from Monday the 24th of June until Friday 28th June.
Numurkah Secondary College staff are very supportive of this program and will assist students during the planning process. NSC have a positive relationship between the school, local community and industry. Students are visited or called by teacher and/or Work Experience Coordinator at their Work Experience workplace. Students will have a Work Experience Journal to complete, so it is important to use the placement time to learn as much as possible about the workplace and to develop positive relationships with employers and work colleagues.
Students are provided with an opportunity to debrief after their placement. This will involve reflecting on: learnings in the workplace, work readiness, the impact of the placement on their career planning and comments made by the employer/supervisor on the evaluation form.
If students (or parents/carers) have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Cathy O’Sullivan, Work Experience Coordinator.
WHY DO WORK EXPERIENCE? The benefits of Work Experience for students include:
Better understanding of the work environment and what employers expect of their workers.
An opportunity to explore possible career options.
Increased self-understanding, maturity, independence and self-confidence.
Increased motivation to continue study and/or undertake further training.
An introduction to workplace recruitment practices.
Enhanced opportunities for part-time and casual employment.
Opportunity to include the employer’s work experience evaluation in future job and course applications.
The chance to ‘try out’ a workplace, possible pathway options prior to deciding on senior school options.
KEY DATES Friday 15th May – All Work Experience Arrangement Forms to be handed back to Cathy completed and signed by parents/carers, students and employers. Friday 15th May – All students to have completed the general & industry specific safe@work module and have sent Cathy or Mr Barnard the certificate. Tuesday 18th June – Cathy to send finalized Work Experience Arrangement Forms to employers, parents/carers and students via email. 18th and 19th June – Students to contact employers to reconfirm their placement. Monday 24th June until Friday 28th June – Work Experience Week
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS AGE OF STUDENTS Students must be 15 years of age to do Work Experience.
TIMING OF WORK EXPERIENCE Students must not work between 9.00 pm and 6.00 am, and they must have a 10-hour break between placement days/shifts. Students are not permitted to work on weekends as part of their work experience.
PAYMENT The Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Ministerial Order 382) requires that a minimum payment of $5.00 per day be paid to students on Work Experience. Employers are NOT obligated to pay more than this amount.
Some non-profit and government organisations (e.g., schools) are exempt from this payment (i.e. students are not paid for Work Experience). Students shouldn't decide about their Work Experience placement based solely on their rate of pay as it is about the experience.
WORK EXPERIENCE ARRANGEMENT FORM Once you have confirmed your work experience, please complete the form below and be sure to include all the information requested.
Work Experience Confirmation Info Cathy will then email you a copy of the Work Experience Forms to be signed by you, your parents, and the employer. When everyone has signed, please return them to Cathy for processing.
When your work experience has been processed and is approved, you will then receive an email with all the information along with a copy of the forms confirming your upcoming work experience.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY Prior to doing work experience you must complete the industry specific safe@work module which can be found at: Industry Specific safe@work Module
WORK COVER Students doing Work Experience are covered by WorkSafe Insurance by the DET (state of Victoria) The student is covered by public liability insurance in accordance with ministerial order 1413. Students must supply completed Work Experience Arrangement Forms along with their certificates for both the general and industry specific safe@work modules.
To undertake Work Experience with animals, students need to complete the ‘Proposed Work Experience with Animals' More information can be found at: Further Work Experience Info
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER !!
Students should be contacting potential employers and making the arrangements and not the parents. This is part of the learning process for students and employers tend not to look favourably upon students who get their parents/carers to call for them.
Your placement should not be with someone you are very familiar with (e.g. your parent/guardian or an extended family member because they will treat you with familiarity, and you need to have an authentic experience)
You cannot work at your current part-time job for Work Experience
Be willing to try Work Experience in a few different workplaces, because you may not get your first preference. It’s a good idea to have at least five options and do not expect to get a placement with your first try as some students have had to try more than 5 workplaces before they get a place.
Please note that applications for Victoria Police, Zoos Victoria and Melbourne SeaLife Aquarium will require assistance from Cathy or Chris.
MAKING CONTACT WITH AN EMPLOYER
You can either call, visit or email employers to ask for a Work Experience placement
Ensure you gather the relevant information from your employer/contact person (e.g. full name, phone number, email address, address, etc.)
APPLYING BY PHONE This is the best way to approach a potential employer to find out if they do take on Work Experience students. Remember:
Have important details about Work Experience in front of you in case they ask, especially the dates.
Speak slowly and clearly, be polite and sound keen and interested, smile as this will make your tone of voice sound happy.
Ask to speak to someone who can advise you about student Work Experience and make a note of their name.
If the relevant person is not available, leave your full name and phone number for them to call you back.
If you don't hear back for a while, feel free to follow up with another call or email.
If they cannot help you, thank them for their time (and perhaps ask if they can suggest someone who may be able to offer you a place)
If you are asked to send more details through an email, remember to do so.
APPLYING BY EMAIL This is a good way to make initial contact as well as a good way to follow up a phone call. Remember:
Make sure you include all relevant details in your initial email (e.g. your full name, school name, dates of Work Experience, etc.)
Ensure that you give them your contact details so they can call you to discuss if needed.