Involve students and young people in your workplace!

The Workplace Learning Coordinators Program (WLCP) assists Secondary schools in the region with their Work Experience, Structured Workplace Learning and School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships, through increasing opportunities for young people on work placements with local employers and businesses.

Student Friendly Workplaces

The Wimmera Southern Mallee Local Learning and Employment Network (LLEN) maintains a list of student friendly workplaces for the Schools in the region.

This list will help students access the workforce.
By registering on the list employers indicate their willingness to be contacted about programs that contribute to student learning and positive local futures.

These programs give businesses the opportunity to share their skills and knowledge, promote their business and industry as well as allow them to get involved in the education and development of young people in ythe  community. 

As one of our active employers you can choose to participate in one or all of the following:

• Host students on Work Experience
• Host students on Structured Workplace Learning (SWL)
• Employ a School Based Apprentice or Trainee
• Increase opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Why should you get involved?

HOW DO BUSINESSES GET INVOLVED?

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Host students on Work Experience

Work Experience is usually undertaken by Year 10 and 11 students on a one or two week block.

It helps students gain a firsthand look at an industry, job or workplace and is mainly observational.

Host students on Structured Workplace Learning (SWL)

Senior students undertaking Vocational Education and Training Programs in schools (VETiS), the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning VCAL or the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) subject, Industry and Enterprise, can undertake work placement in either one week blocks or on a one day per week basis during their senior years.

These placements are more hands-on and students are expected to undertake tasks in the workplace related to their course of study.

Employ a School Based Apprentice or Trainee

Businesses can employ an apprentice or trainee part-time while they finish their senior school certificate.

Employer:  “We support the School Based Apprenticeship program because it gives you an indication of the work ethic of the student.  It provides you with the opportunity to slowly improve it if necessary, whilst allowing your work to continue to the standard that is demanded.  As opposed to employing a full time apprentice, you’ve got ‘space’ between the days they work.  We are looking forward to Dalton working fulltime in the business now that he has established his presence in the workplace.  He has gained respect from his co-workers and they too are ready to accept an unskilled worker in their midst as they assist in his on the job training”.

Dalton:  “Taking on a School Based Apprenticeship has helped me to be sure of the career path I have chosen.  It’s the best of both worlds because I still get to catch up with my mates at school 3 days a week but I also like the structure of work 2 days a week.  It’s easing me into full-time employment. Classroom learning makes more sense and I’m able to use that knowledge on the days I’m at work.   The transition between work and school hasn’t caused any problems, in fact it, keeps me connected to both, although after the first year I’m looking forward to leaving school and working fulltime.  I think I would’ve missed the social side of school if I’d gone straight into a fulltime apprenticeship”.

Increase opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students

A key aspect to the WLC Program is to increase the number of work placement opportunities for young Indigenous students in the region.

If your organisation would like to know more about Aboriginal people and culture – the WLC can assist with identifying cultural competency trainers who can come to your organisation and provide the appropriate training.

These are some of the fantastic benefits of becoming involved.

Involvement in the program:

• Helps businesses with recruiting junior staff for their organisation
• Gives students a greater understanding of the industry through the job placement
• Gives students employment experience in an area of their interest which could lead to a sucessful career.
• Helps keep our young people in the area, particularly if they are employed immediately post school
• Helps address skills shortages in the region and at the same time enhances the skills of our local youth
• Improves employment rates in the region
• Helps establish working contacts with local registered training organisations and schools
• Builds a stronger community.