Next week our Year 11s studying 3 OP subjects or less will commence their 3rd block of Structured Workplace Learning (SWL); the following week our Year 12s begin their final block.

At times students ask why we make it a necessary component of their studies – a valid question as it indicates that the link we would hope to achieve has not yet resonated with all of our students.

In essence it takes students out of the classroom and into the workplace where they are effectively placed in into a professional atmosphere and try to soak up as much as they can. It teaches maturity, responsibility and patience, as well as the skills needed to survive in the work place. Employers are, for the most part, very friendly and welcoming. They can offer students a real insight into their line of work and give them an opportunity to try it out for themselves.

Work experience can help develop skills in communication and team working.

We encourage our students to identify possible career paths and then to go and talk to people currently doing that sort of job – the hope being to create an opportunity. This will often lead on to either a work experience opportunity, a school-based apprenticeship or traineeship, or full or part-time work.

In a competitive job market – to stand out from the crowd, completing Year 12 and attaining the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) is essential, but it is not enough. Work experience is necessary for many career options to give the evidence that students are genuinely motivated and help them to stand out from the crowd. More importantly, it will enable them to:

• Put theory into practice – effectively responding to the subjects studied at school
• Understand more about an industry and decide if it’s right for them – effectively, trying before committing
• Develop their ‘job hunting’ skills – many employers appreciate an enthusiastic student who proactively seeks employment

We firmly believe that combining SWLs with our students’ studies in Years 11 and 12 is a very effective programme that can be very rewarding. However, for the individual it ultimately comes down to “you get out what you put in”.