At Bendigo Senior Secondary College students have the opportunity to acquire industry-specific knowledge, skills and experience in the workplace before they leave school.
Work experience involves secondary school students in short-term placements that broaden their experience and understanding of the world of work and career opportunities in general. Students observe different aspects of work and may assist with tasks allocated by their supervisor. Work experience is not the same as Structured Workplace Learning.
Structured Workplace Learning allows students to acquire skills and knowledge in an industry setting as part of an accredited vocational training program.
Structured Workplace Learning and Work Experience
Many of the programs offered at the college have a real work focus.
Students are encouraged to consider their areas of interest and be actively involved in organising a workplace learning experience. These experiences vary from the largely observational Work Experience for VCE students to Structured Workplace Learning, which provides VET, VCE VM and VCE Industry and Enterprise students with opportunities to integrate their coursework with on-the-job experiences.
Organisation and Evaluation
Contact our Workplace Coordinators, Melissa Payne and Joanna Quinlan, who work with students and their teachers to set up, monitor and complete the workplace learning process. Students and their employer will be contacted, either in person or by phone, at least once during the period of the placement to monitor the placement progress.
At the end of the placement, an evaluation form, supplied to the employer, must be completed and forwarded to the College. It is recommended that the student and the supervisor have discussed the value of the experience and the overall performance prior to the completion of the form.
Payment
The minimum rate of payment is $5 a day. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has agreed to the following arrangements under the Tax System for students undertaking work experience.
Where the placement is with a Commonwealth department or body established under a Commonwealth Act, an educational, charitable or community welfare organisation not conducted for profit, the $5 per day payment will not be made.