Work placement is a planned opportunity in a quality host workplace that enables senior school students studying particular industry-based courses to practise and develop their industry competencies and their employability skills in a vibrant real work context.
Work placement is a mandatory component of at least nine industry-based vocational education and training (VET) courses that students can choose as part of their studies for the NSW Higher School Certificate.
Work placement usually involves a week of unpaid placement in a relevant industry in Year 11 and a further week in Year 12, usually with a different host employer.
Work Placements in NSW Government Departments
NSW government agencies can provide great opportunities for quality work placements for senior students while also showcasing the range of interesting work undertaken by government agencies.
The Premier’s Department Circular (2004-32) identified the successful transition of young people from school as a significant government priority. Government agencies are urged to become involved by offering quality work placements to students in Years 11 and 12.
To get involved, contact the Sydney Access Program that coordinates work placements for Government agencies located in the Sydney, Parramatta and North Sydney CBD areas.
To get involved in other areas of NSW, contact the nearest member of the network of Local Community Partnerships (LCPs) that operates across NSW. The LCPs coordinate HSC VET work placements and act as a single point of contact between host employers and schools and TAFE NSW.
To see how easy it can be to host a student, check out the new resource, HSC Work Placements in NSW Government Departments-Support Kit available on the side bar on this page. A copy of the kit and promotional cards have been sent to the CEOs of over one hundred NSW government agencies. Copies of both have also been provided to every Local Community Partnership in NSW.
For more information or additional copies of the kit or promotional cards, contact Brendan Gembitsky on telephone (02) 9244 5245.
