Have you ever thought about helping a young person take their first steps into the workforce? Curious to learn more but unsure of where to start or how it works?
Taking on a student for work experience or committing to a school-based apprentice or trainee can provide so many benefits and rewards. Chamber members, Proserpine State High School, has provided some ideas and information to help regional businesses.
Work Experience
Proserpine State High School runs their week-long Work Experience Program every school holidays, being April, June/July, September/ October and early December.
They are seeking to partner with regional businesses of all sizes, shapes, and industries keen to take on a student for work experience for the September 2023 school holidays (18-29 September), later in the year (27 November-8 December 2023), and beyond into 2024.
How does it work?
You might remember your own work experience when at school.
Work experience aims to provide students a week-long taste of what it takes to be an employee and exposure to a range of different work settings and industries. Regional businesses can take an active role in not only the student’s education and employment choices, but also help strengthen connections with local schools and the community. Businesses also receive support from the school and Education Queensland who covers the student’s insurance while they are on placement.
For students it’s a chance to learn more about job possibilities, develop their skills and knowledge, and increase their self-awareness of their strengths and capabilities. All it takes is a chance to take on a student for a week.
School-based Apprenticeships & Traineeships (SAT’s)
Another pathway available to engage our local students are school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
This program provides students aged 15 years or older secure part-time employment with a local business while they undertake a nationally recognised qualification and complete secondary school education.
There are a number of benefits taking on a school-base apprentice/trainee, such as:
- Employing and training a young person part-time in your business which might meet a current staffing need.
- Providing a recruitment pathway into your business for a keen young person before they graduate from high school.
- Mentoring and coaching a young person and giving them hands-on industry experience and valuable employment skills.
So, how does it work?
Firstly, identify a suitable part-time position in your business and develop a position description. Once done, contact Proserpine State High School (details below) to register your interest and learn more.
Alternatively, you might be approached by a student wanting to come on board as an apprentice or trainee. If contacted by a student, get in touch with their school to learn more.
The school will help coordinate details and agreements between you and the school, student, parent/carer, and Registered Training Organisation (RTO) that will oversee the training plan. Part of this process will be entering into a National Training Contract – a legal binding agreement to provide employment, structured training, mentoring, and support during the term of the contract.
Link and Launch Program
Additionally, the Proserpine State High School has its Link and Launch Program which offers recent high school graduates additional support to transition into work, training or study.
The Link and Launch Program helps school leavers navigate the system and consider a range of post-school study, training, and work options in line with their individual goals, aspirations, skills and strengths. Link and Launch aims to support young people to make independent choices that will equip them to make a successful transition.
Proserpine State High School is one of the 36 sites in Queensland selected to run the Link and Launch program. They are proud to offer Link and Launch assistance to any local young people who have completed Year 12, regardless of which school they attended.
Want to learn more?
Businesses can register at any time to let us know they would be available to support students with work experience or to advise of any apprentice or trainee positions available. Local businesses can also advertise on school job boards and access a candidate pool.
We encourage all Chamber members and the broader business community to support our local young people.
To learn more, contact Proserpine State High School’s Bernadette Porter or Shelley Simpson via email or phone 4945 0111.
Advocating for the Whitsunday region’s economic prosperity