What Employers and Students are saying about Workplacements for VET Students & Darwin Businesses.

Certificate I in Automotive

Danial Goddard (2002 VET in Schools Student),
Certificate I in Automotive
4th Year Apprentice at Kerry’s
Tuesday, June 19, 2005

Danial did his Certificate I in Automotive in Year 11. He had finished 1st term of year 12 and was then offered the Apprenticeship at Kerry’s.  Danial is 20 years old.

Before you did the VET Auto course at school, had you thought about the kind of career you wanted?
I had a half idea that Auto was probably the way I was going to go. Growing up I always had an interest in cars through speedway and my Dad’s a mechanic.
Born with you’re head under a bonnet then hey?
Yer, pretty much...
So why did you decide to do a VET program at school?
Well, because I knew I liked doing mechanics I thought that I may as well do something that I enjoy and figured it would be good to have some skills before I left school.  Basically have some fun while learning some useful skills.
How did you feel in general about leaving school?  Where you anxious about it?
To be honest, I wasn’t really sure about whether or not I wanted to leave school, which is why when I got offered the job I didn’t know if I wanted to take  it or whether I wanted to finish school.  I always thought about finishing school but that didn’t happen.
So what was the deciding factor in leaving school?
The fact that I got offered this job and I know that it’s not that easy to get an Apprenticeship really, so I thought I better grab the opportunity.
Was the Workplacement an important part of your VET course?  Would the VET course have been as valuable without the Workplacement?
Yep, you really have to go to the workplace ’cause you learn all the theory stuff in the classroom but it’s good to go out and see what you’re actually learning about.  And it helped me get a job...
What would you say to someone considering doing VET at school?
I would really encourage them to do it - it’s a good thing to have some skills behind you.  My VET course basically got most of the stuff you do in the first year of trade school out of the way, so it means you’re able to do more things when you start your apprenticeship.
What’s the best thing about doing/having a trade?
Knowing you’ve got something behind you and having a certificate to say I’ve done that - I can do that.   And that you have skills that will get you a job anywhere in Australia or even oversees.
When do you think you will finish your qualification?
Well I have1 thing to sign off in my roca book (Training Record Book) and that’s it, so hopefully I’ll finish before I turn 21.
What are you’re plans for when you’re qualified?
Not sure....probably stay here for a couple of years then see how far I get from there.

Certificate II in Clothing Production

Trish talks about hosting Workplacement Students at Elna Sewing Centre…

Why did you decide to host Workplacement Students?
Like many businesses, finding staff is a huge issue for us.  There is an enormous demand on our industry at the moment so we decided to do something proactive and host VET Students on Workplacements.

What would you say to Employers who are thinking about hosting VET students?
Go for it, you won’t regret it!

Certificate II in Hospitality

Candice Duncan ~ VET Course Graduate
Shannon Spark ~ Manager YouthWorX NT 
Certificate I in Hospitality (Kitchen Operations)
Quality Hotel Frontier Darwin
Tuesday, June 14, 2005

What year did you leave school, what year were you in?
Year 12.
Had you thought about what you wanted to do before you left?
Yes, that’s why I did VET in the last year because I didn’t want a TER, because I knew I wanted to be a chef...if I’d done it(VET), they would recognise that as prior learning so I could skip to my second year.
 …and for that you did certificate I or II?
Certificate I in Commercial Cookery.
So when you started you apprenticeship, you were about half way though your 1st year?
No I had completed my 1st year, and started as a 2nd year.
So more money, you’re on a second year wage?
Yes.
Before you had decided to do VET, how did you feel about leaving school?
I was looking forward to it.
In terms of your workplacement what did you get out of it?
Actually realizing what goes on in a kitchen, I had a few ideas and some friends who were chefs, but actually getting in there and doing it for myself, it was really good – and I got a job out of it!
Yes! You impressed them on your first week and Mary-Anne said she would like to give you a job at the end of the year – that was fantastic!
Shannon: And how do you think it helped in terms of your confidence?
Yer, it helped heaps, say I had just gone for a job interview and they say, “Okay we are going to give you a trial”, I would have been really nervous. But I wasn’t because it was unpaid and just experience itself, just being in the kitchen.
You have the luxury of not being under too much pressure.
…and they knew I was learning, it was really good.
So that was basically your job interview, fantastic.
What would you say to someone who is just starting out?
If you really want to get into a field do it, because it really gives you that step up, especially with the workplacement, that helped me heaps and got me a job. It’s a huge foot in the door.
That’s it you’re a real person, they’ve met you, they know you. Your not just another name on a resume…amongst 100 resumes.
Exactly
And what do you think is the best part about being a chef, now that your three years into it?
Satisfaction from people, when people turn around and say that was the best meal they have ever had, it is really rewarding. Your rewards are straight away, they don’t come weeks later.
The hours are hectic but you deal with it.
And what’s been your biggest achievement so far in your apprenticeship?
I did a few competitions. I was awarded the Dean’s Award through the university, through my studies, so that was really good. I came second in a competition the Golden Chefs award….that’s a regional comp….I had a partner with me, we did really well and will be entering again this year. That’s always exciting!
Tell us about that competition…
Candice: You invent a meal, you get a black box, you don’t know what’s in it, and get two hours to create your own menu using what’s in the box…and then you get four hours to cook it. You do four meals with entrée, mains and deserts. They have judges from down south come up, from Nestlé, its run by Nestlé, and the president of the Culinary Federation of Australia. So yer, it’s really good.  You have to have done commercial cookery and be under 23 years old to enter.
I have just finished my fourth block, I have one more to go before I get my certificate, and then I have another year as an apprentice on the job. And then I am qualified!
And what are your plans once you are qualified?
I plan to move to Perth next year, I am going to continue over there and then look at getting my degree in teaching and becoming a TAFE lecture. 
Leading off onto another path…
I like teaching; we have a first year apprentice here now, so I get to teach him a few things and I enjoy it.
One thing leads to another. And there is just as much a shortage of lecturers as there is a shortage of people working in the industry.
Shannon: That’s amazing, a few years ago you were the shy kid being taught, and now it’s all turned around.
It’s amazing how that was only two years ago.
It changes your life doesn’t it, and it’s certainly gratifying for us to hear what you have got out of it.
Heaps, it’s been one of the best things I did while I was at school, it’s been really good.

Certificate I in Automotive

YouthWorX NT chats with John Watkins, Service Manager of Kerry’s, about hosting VET Students…

What benefits does Kerry’s get from providing Workplacements?
Qualified automotive technicians are hard to find, and this is a great way to address the skill shortage, not only for us but the whole industry. Kerry’s are serious about giving back to the community and helping young people is important to us.

How do you figure out what kinds of jobs to give the Workplacement students?
The Students usually bring along a Training Plan which helps a lot. Then we talk to them before they come in about what skills they have and the kinds of things they want to practice. That means we can then set aside jobs for them before the Workplacement starts, which keeps them actively interested.

How do your staff feel about having Workplacement students around?
As long as we involve them in the planning of what the student is going to do, and keep them informed they are great about it. They have another set of hands around to help them with their work and having young people around livens up the workplace. 

Have you ever used Workplacements to recruit apprentices?
Yep, quite a few times. We’ve got two young blokes on who started out with us a VET Student on Workplacement. Paul is in his second year and is going really well, and Jo Blow who has just started his third year.

Certificate II in Clothing Production

Sandra Hawkett from Casuarina Senior College talks about her Workplacement at Elna Sewing Centre

What did you think was the best part of your Workplacement?
I loved that I got to do so many different things, usually you just help out with repars but at Elna's you get heaps of variety. Being able to meet peple in the industry will really help me when I get out into the workforce.

Did you get to try out many of the skills that you have been learning in the classroom?
Yes and more. It was so much fun being able to work on different projects, and to use the skills that I had learned at the uni, also learning new techniques that will help me later.

Do you think this Workplacement helped you to decide what you want to do when you leave school?
Most definitely! I was very lucky to do my Workplacement here at Elna's with Trish as she is so encouraging and helpful. I really enjoyed working at the shop.

Were there any positive outcomes?
Absolutely, my first workplacement at Woodrock Fabrics led to part time work, which then led to an apprenticeship with the Elna Sewing Centre where I did my second Workplacement.

2007, Semester 1

The Team @ YouthWorX NT has been extremely busy visiting with VETiS Trainers and their students in the preparation and organisation of VETiS students Workplacements. The June / July period is the busiest period for VETiS Workplacement, with the majority of students participating in either their first or second Workplacement blocks for the school year.

2007 has seen the introduction of new VETiS programmes with Registered Training Organisations with the Darwin, Palmerston and Rural Service Regions. This year, Horticulture and Transport and Distribution (Maritime Operations) have been introduced as VETiS course options for local students. In total, there are 35 VETiS programmes that YouthWorX NT will service throughout the course of the school year.

Students enrolled into VETiS Programmes through Taminmin High School completed their Workplacements over Weeks 9 and 10 of Term 2 (12th – 22nd June), with those students enrolled into programmes through Casuarina Senior College, Charles Darwin University, and Darwin High School completing Workplacement blocks in Week 10 and throughout the Semester holiday break.

Over the semester period, there were more than 255 applications received for students to participate in VETiS Workplacement blocks with local Host Employers, while a number of the Taminmin High School VETiS Rural Skills and Conservation & Land Management students completed their Workplacements on stations scattered throughout the Northern Territory and interstate.

In collaboration with LCP Service Provider Highlands Local Learning & Employment Network Inc (LCP Region 87), two VETiS Rural Skills students completed a two-week Workplacement block with Narrawin Stud near Ballarat, Victoria. Highlands Local Learning & Employment Network Inc LCP Project Manager, Andrew Wallace, was extremely supportive of the Workplacement opportunity for the students, and assisted YouthWorX NT further in completing the Workplacement visitation. The opportunity to collaborate with another LCP Service Provider in the organisation of Workplacements for the students was a positive and reinforcing experience.

In commencing delivery within the East Arnhem LCP region, four Certificate I in Engineering students enrolled at Nhulunbuy High School completed a one-week Workplacement block during the holiday break within varying departments at Alcan Gove.

Again, the Team @ YouthWorX NT would like to extend their gratitude to the support of all of our Host Employers, and would like to welcome the new Host Employers that are participating within this Workplacement period.

Employers and local Industry wishing to become involved in the provision of Workplacement opportunities for Vocational Education and Training students are encouraged to contact YouthWorX NT for an Employer Information Pack. Contact the Team @ YouthWorX NT on (08) 8981-8870 or
info@youthworxnt.com.au.