YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE
YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAM
The Year 10 Work Experience Program is a mandatory placement, which Year 10 students are required to undertake with an employer. We advise our students to find a placement that will provide an insight into the industry which relates to their course and career interests.
If the student will be under 15 years of age during the Work Experience week, please contact the Pathways office.
The Work Experience Program for 2026 will be conducted during the last week of Term 2, 2026. In certain circumstances, where students are unable to participate in the program during Work Experience Week, students may be allowed to find placements during the June/July, September/October holidays or at the end of the year during JumpStart. This requires approval from the Head of Year 10.
All students MUST complete Safe@Work modules, both General and Industry specific before placement can commence.
Students are expected to make their own arrangements with employers. We do not encourage parents/carers to undertake this task on behalf of their child. We strongly advise our students to plan ahead and make enquires with prospective employers well in advance. We encourage students to think about their recent subject selections, career action plan and use their Morrisby reports for ideas on possible placements that they would like to explore.
We appreciate students may already have part time jobs and are developing their work related skills. However, we believe students need to explore beyond these realms and into future possibilities. For this reason, students are not permitted to undertake the mandatory Work Experience Program placement with their current employers, as this contradicts the aims of the program.
Students will primarily observe and learn, and undertake manageable tasks; they will not undertake activities which require extensive training or expertise.
Work experience forms a compulsory and legal requirement when undertaking Work Experience.
Work Experience is essentially ‘shadowing’ an industry you may have an interest in the future. You are NOT ‘on the tools’ for example, if you are thinking of a Building construction Work Experience. There are very limited and strict Work Experience restrictions which a in place to ensure a student’s safety while in a work environment that most students would not have encountered previously.
Work Experience is designed to give the student:
- A better understanding of the work environment and what employers expect of their workers.
- An increased self-understanding, maturity, independence and self-confidence.
- An aspiration to continue study and/or undertake further training.
- An opportunity to explore possible career options.
- A better understanding of how the school curriculum can help prepare young people for work.
- An introduction to workplace recruitment practices.
- The opportunity to include the employer’s work experience evaluation in future job and course applications.
- The opportunity to ‘try out’ a career interest area, prior to undertaking VCE/VET/VCAL studies in Year 11 & 12.
- Advanced opportunities for part-time and casual employment.
- The opportunity to develop work-related competencies and acquire skills e.g. communication, teamwork skills.
please see all relevant forms needed to complete for year 10 work experience below
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
Prior to commencing work experience, students MUST all complete Occupational Health and Safety training, through safe@work. They will need to complete the General Module, which is generic to all workplaces and an Industry Module, which is specific to the industry they will be observing. This will be completed at school and certificates will be printed in class upon completion of modules. Catch-up sessions will also be run.
Copy of certificate needs to be forwarded to pathways Office
WORK EXPERIENCE CONFIRMATION PACK
A confirmation pack including the arrangement and travel forms, along with Work@safe General and Industry specific certificates, work experience employer feedback form will be emailed to the employer, parent/carer and student approximately 2 weeks before work experience placement.
If your student commences their placement without this completed pack, it will not be classed as part of the schools work experience program and they will not be covered by the Department of Education and Training’s public liability and work cover.
Completed original Work Experience forms, original copies or photocopies of completed Safe@Work modules AND any other required documentation, ie: Construction Induction Card (for students working on building site) or Working With Children cards must be provided to Pathways office.
WORK EXPERIENCE ARRANGEMENT FORM
Work experiences arrangements in Victoria and reciprocating state must be made using the Work Experience Arrangement Form. All sections of this form must be completed, signed and dated by the Employer, Parent/Carer, Student and Principal before the work experience can commence. All completed forms must be handed back to the Pathways/Careers Office.
Please Note: Once this form has been signed by the Principal, this document will provide your student with Work Cover and Public Liability Insurance
WORK EXPERIENCE TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION FORM
It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to arrange transportation to and from the student’s workplace. If it is proposed that the student may need to undertake vehicle travel with their employer and/or supervisor during the arrangement, the employer must complete Work Experience Travel and Accommodation Form . The parent/carer must complete the Parent/Career Consent section in this form. This form must be completed, signed and dated by the Employer and Parent/Carer.
Please Note: If this form is not signed, your child cannot travel in a vehicle with the employer or any employees of the company. Both your student and the company WILL NOT be covered by insurance. For this reason, we ask that EVERYONE MUST complete this form. We have had students who have been given a lift home when they became ill at work and students who have ‘popped’ to the local café for lunch etc. These students weren’t covered by insurance.
CONSTRUCTION INDUCTION CARD (WHITE CARD)
Students working on domestic or commercial construction sites MUST have a Construction Induction Card (CIC) previously White Card.
A CIC is a mandatory requirement if a student steps onto a building construction site. If you are unsure, check with your employer.
Employers risk large on the spot fines if a student enters a construction building site without the Construction Induction Card (CIC) previously White Card
Students will also need to create their Unique Student Identifier (USI) number. The USI is a number that you will use throughout your schooling and work lifetime for any qualifications you want to undertake.
WORK EXPERIENCE GUIDELINES
FOR EMPLOYERS
These are guidelines for employers, explaining what is involved as a work experience employer and their responsibility towards our students. This to be given to potential employers, along with the employers FAQ sheet.
FOR PARENTS/CARERS
A guide for students, parents/carers, with information regarding work experience and how parents/carers can help
WORK EXPERIENCE WITH ANIMALS
Students undertaking work experience involving animals could be exposed to risks not found in other workplaces. These guidelines have been developed to assist students, parents/carers and schools to consider the hazards associated with animal contact, and to help employers plan suitable activities and provide a safe and rewarding experience for students.
Students are not permitted to undertake work experience with horses or livestock due to the inpredictability of the animal. You are able to work at a horse stable ‘mucking out’ but NOT riding or in direct contact with the animal.
Please read the Guidelines for Students Undertaking Work Experience with animals before completing the Proposed Work Experience with Animals Summary of Student’s Experience Form. This form must be completed, signed and dated by the Parent/Carer.
PROHIBITED WORK INDUSTRIES/BUSINESS
Not a definitive list, see the Pathways office for full list of restrictions and activities while on Work Experience
- Abattoirs
- Any business where firearms and/or ammunition are manufactured, repaired or sold
- Butchers or Fishmongers, retail activities ONLY
- Equine business, Students are NOT permitted to undertake riding activities.
- Fishing vessels
- Funeral Homes
- Gaming
- Morgues
- Prisons and correctional centres.
- Recreational vessels
- Sex Industry
- Tattoo Shops
- Security Industry
- Commercial airports: Administration ONLY
Applying for a TAX File Number
How to apply for a TFN either online or by paper depending on your circumstances and residency status. It is free to apply.
A tax file number (TFN) is your personal reference number in the tax and superannuation systems.
It is free to apply for a TFN.
Your TFN is:
- a unique number (usually 9 digits)
- an important part of your identity
- yours for life – you keep your TFN even if you change jobs or name, move interstate or go overseas.
Australian citizens with an Australian passport – TFN application
How Australian citizens apply for a TFN with myGovID, if you’re 15 years old or older and have a passport (beta testing).
Australian residents – TFN application
How Australian residents for tax purposes of all ages apply for a TFN, if you don’t have an Australian passport.
Foreign passport holders, permanent migrants and temporary visitors – TFN application
How visitors living in Australia with a valid foreign passport or travel document (visa) apply for a TFN.
Norfolk Island residents – TFN application
How Norfolk Island residents of all ages apply for a TFN depending on your circumstances.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – TFN application
How Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can apply for a TFN if you don’t have enough identity documents.
What are the expectations of the student?
The emphasis during work experience is always on trying to provide an interesting and valuable placement. To ensure a valuable learning experience, a number of arrangements need to be made.
Students are encouraged to:
- Find their own placement, wherever possible. The school, however is able to help the student.
- Fill in the Work Experience Arrangement Form and return it to the school promptly. • Before work experience, complete the appropriate safe@work occupational health and safety modules. Students will receive a Certificate.
- Behave as an employee while on placement, conforming to all the workplace rules and instructions from their supervisor.
- Remember while on work experience students are representing their school, therefore school policies and codes of conduct apply at all times.
- Complete activities set by the school during the placement.
- Understand that the placement may involve confidential and sensitive information which must be kept private.
- Understand that all office equipment, use of telephones, internet and photocopying is for work purposes only.
- Wear the appropriate footwear/protective clothing/ uniform as requested by the employer.
- Seek feedback from the employer at the end of the placement and thank them. Work Experience ‘Learning about work’ For more information, contact your local school.