Schools can support students to access workplace learning based on their learning and career pathway needs.

Work experience

Work experience is a short-term placement in a workplace, where students can learn about the world of work, build employability skills, and use their experience to make informed decisions about their future pathways.

Tasks may include:

• Work shadowing and observation
• Assisting staff with appropriate tasks
• Problem Based Learning (PBL), where workplaces provide the student a problem to solve or project to complete while on placement.

Work experience should be completed within regular school or business hours and should reflect the general arrangements of the industry (e.g. no more than 8 hours per day, scheduled breaks).

Structured workplace learning for VET

Structured workplace learning is required for some students as part of their vocational education and training (VET) courses. During placement, students are trained and assessed against the competencies of their VET qualification in the workplace. This is negotiated between the student, their Registered Training Organisation (RTO), and their school before placement.

Work trial for an apprenticeship or traineeship

Work trials are an opportunity for students to demonstrate their readiness and engagement to a potential employer before a potential apprenticeship or traineeship. These are designed to see if the student is a ‘good fit’ within the culture and activities of the workplace as an employee.

A work trial should be organised for a pre-determined, limited time that is enough for the student to demonstrate potential for the job. This can be a paid or unpaid placement, which is at the discretion of the employer. The placement should be completed within regular school or business hours and should reflect the general arrangements of the industry (e.g. no more than 8 hours per day, scheduled breaks).

The Department for Education workplace learning procedure applies to all government schools.

The Workplace Learning Agreement form must be used for all workplace learning arrangements and requires the Principal (or delegate) to provide the final approval via signature for the placement to go ahead.

Schools may also use the following resources in implementing and supporting the procedure:

• workplace learning monitoring report
• information for workplace learning providers
• workplace learning provider checklist
• Information for parents and caregivers

Catholic Education South Australia (CESA) and the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia (AISSA) manage their own workplace learning policies and procedures.

To provide employers and families with a consistent experience, the department, CESA, and AISSA have agreed to use the shared Workplace Learning Agreement form. The form allows space for a school logo and features logos from all sectors.

Catholic and Independent schools may also use any of the resources provided to government schools in-line with their own policies and procedures.

Workplace learning is an opportunity for you to learn about work and career choices. You can spend some time in a workplace to learn about the world of work and build employability skills.

You can complete workplace learning in a wide range of industries. These can be a pathway into a paid job, a future career pathway, or to try something new. Speak to your school’s Careers/VET Leader about opportunities in your local area.

You can visit the Student Pathways website, MyCareerPortal, and CareerChat to explore your options.

Before you begin your placement, the Workplace Learning Agreement form must be completed by you, your school, your parent or caregiver, and the workplace.

Hours of work

Workplace learning should occur in normal school hours and reflect a usual working day for an employee. The hours of work are agreed to by you, your school, your parent/caregiver, and your workplace on the Workplace Learning Agreement form.

If your placement includes school holidays or weekends, your school is required to have someone you can contact to maintain duty of care requirements.

Payment

It is not recommended that you are paid for your time while on workplace learning because the purpose of your time is to learn about work and gain employability skills.

If a workplace wants to pay you for workplace learning, speak to your school’s Careers/VET Leader.

Work health and safety (WHS)

Before you begin workplace learning, you must complete WHS training.

Safety is the most important part of work. While in the workplace, you have the right to be as safe and healthy as possible. This includes receiving an induction to the workplace and training for all equipment that you use.

You must take care of your own safety and the safety of others. This includes reporting hazards and using personal protective equipment (PPE) when appropriate.

WorkStart is WHS training that gets you ready to work in a safe and professional manner. Follow the instructions for accessing plink to complete WorkStart.

Aboriginal students can contact the Workabout program if they need help with getting PPE: education.workaboutcentre@sa.gov.au

Accidents and injury

You must report any accident or injury to your workplace supervisor, even if you think it is minor at the time.

You are covered by insurance if you are hurt while on workplace learning that is organised through the Workplace Learning Agreement form.

You may not be covered by insurance if the injury or damage was done on purpose, or you did not follow reasonable instructions.

Working with children or vulnerable people

If you are completing workplace learning in a child-related environment, aged care, or healthcare workplace, it is likely you will have additional tasks to complete before placement.

Workplace learning in a child-related environment

You must complete Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse, and Neglect – Education and Care training. This can be accessed through plink, where you also complete WorkStart WHS training.

The type of training you need to complete depends on your work placement. Use the department’s tool to find out which training you need.

You may also need a Working with Children Check (WWCC), which you can get through the SA Government website. There is no cost for this check for workplace learning students.

Workplace learning in aged care and healthcare

If there are extra requirements, this is decided by the workplace. You may need a Vulnerable Person Related Employment Check, which you can get through the SA Government website. There are costs for these checks.

Immunisations may also be required for some healthcare placements. The workplace can provide you with more information on what is needed.

If you are unsure of any special requirements of your work placement, speak with your school’s Careers/VET Leader.

Workplace learning enables young people to learn about the world of work through hands-on, immersive experiences in the workplace. It allows for students to make informed choices about their career pathways and decisions to undertake further training, such as vocational education and training (VET) and tertiary education.

Through supporting young people, workplaces can nurture skilled young people in their transition from school to employment and contribute to a pipeline of high-quality future employees.

Businesses and organisations that host students for workplace learning are referred to as a workplace learning provider.

Workplace learning agreement form

The Workplace Learning Agreement form is completed by the student, their school, their parent/caregiver, and the workplace before workplace learning begins. All sections of the form must be completed, with the final signature provided by the school Principal (or delegate) to comply with legal and policy requirements.

How students are prepared for workplace learning

The school Principal (or delegate) provides the final approval for workplace learning to begin. Through this process, they confirm that the student has demonstrated readiness to begin placement.

This process includes the completion of work health and safety (WHS) training. The department offers a free, online training course, WorkStart [link pending], for secondary students to complete to meet this requirement. In the training, students learn about safe work practices, how to report and address hazards, and what to do if they are unsure or feel unsafe. For more information, speak with the student’s school.

Your role as workplace learning provider

Before placement

• Complete all relevant sections of the Workplace Learning Agreement form and return this to the student and/or their school
• Notify employees of their potential role in assisting workplace learning
• Plan a site induction for the student for their first day of work (or before)
• Notify the student of any additional requirements they may have for their first day of work, including: uniform, PPE, and additional training.

During placement

• Provide the student with opportunities to learn about work and try new tasks based on their skill level or readiness
• Maintain high expectations of the student, while giving them opportunities to learn and develop the skills for work and adult life
• Report on the student’s progress when the school visits or calls the student
• Notify the school promptly of any incident, injury, or concerns involving (or that may impact) the student
• For students completing VET – Work with the RTO and trainer to report on student progress and identify areas of potential growth.

After placement

• Contribute to a report for the student if requested – the requirements may be different for different students
• Consider how further students could be supported in your workplace and communicate with the school if you are open to more students in the future.

Hours of work

Workplace learning should occur in normal school hours and reflect a usual working day of an employee. The hours of work are agreed to by the student, their school, their parent/caregiver, and the workplace on the Workplace Learning Agreement form.

If the placement includes school holidays or weekends, the school is required to have a contactable person to maintain duty of care requirements.

Student travel for work placement

It is the student’s responsibility to plan for and travel to and from the workplace on time. If travel is required during the working day in work vehicles, this should be recorded on the Workplace Learning Agreement form.

Payment

It is not recommended that students are paid while on workplace learning because the purpose of their placement is to learn about work and build employability skills. If payment is provided, this can change the nature of the arrangement between the student and the workplace.

Workplaces may elect to provide payment to students, however it is at their discretion.

Accidents, injury and insurance

All workplace learning students enrolled in government schools are covered by a personal accident insurance scheme. This is funded and administered by the Department for Education. This also applies to interstate placements.

Students are covered by insurance if they are hurt at work as long as they are doing an approved workplace learning program that is outlined in the Workplace Learning Agreement form. This is why it is important that the form is completed before the student begins their placement.

Students may not be covered by insurance if the injury or damage was the result of their negligence, recklessness, or failure to follow clear and reasonable instructions.

Ambulance costs are primarily the responsibility of the student and their parent/caregiver. Those who are covered under private insurance should contact their insurer to recover costs. Where a student does not have private cover, a request for payment by the department can be made.

The Department for Education recommends that workplaces consider their own insurance arrangements prior to taking on a student when completing the Workplace Learning Agreement form.

For more information, contact the student’s school.

Workplace learning is an opportunity for your child to learn about the world of work, begin to develop employability skills, and learn about self-reliance and responsibility. Students looking to study vocational education and training (VET) through school or an apprenticeship or traineeship can complete workplace learning as part of their training application.

Workplace learning agreement form

The Workplace Learning Agreement form is completed by you, your child, their school, and the workplace before workplace learning begins. All sections of the form must be completed, with the final signature provided by the school Principal (or delegate) to comply with legal and policy requirements.

How students are prepared for workplace learning

The school Principal (or delegate) provides the final approval for workplace learning to begin. Through this process, they confirm that your child has demonstrated readiness to begin placement.

This process includes the completion of work health and safety (WHS) training. The department offers a free, online training course, WorkStart, for your child to complete to meet this requirement. In the training, they learn about safe work practices, how to report and address hazards, and what to do if they are unsure or feel unsafe.

How to support workplace learning

The transition to the workplace can be a time of significant growth for young people. They can be supported by:

• Discussing their time at work at the end of each day and asking them about their daily tasks and learning
• Contacting the school if there are any concerns regarding safety or engagement in the workplace
• Developing home routines that support the transition to the workplace.

Hours of work

Workplace learning should occur in normal school hours and reflect a usual working day an employee. The hours of work are agreed to by you, your child, their school, and the workplace on the Workplace Learning Agreement form.

If the placement includes school holidays or weekends, the school is required to have a contactable person to maintain duty of care requirements. This may not always be possible, for example during school closure periods in December-January.

Travel

It is the student’s responsibility to organise travel to and from the workplace. If travel is involved because of the nature of the placement, this should be recorded on the Workplace Learning Agreement form by the workplace.

Payment

It is not recommended that students are paid while on workplace learning because the purpose of their placement is to learn about work and build employability skills. If payment is provided, this can change the nature of the arrangement between the student and the workplace.

Workplaces may elect to provide payment to students, however it is at their discretion.

For more information, speak to your child’s school.

Accommodation while away from home

If your child intends to complete workplace learning away from home, alternative accommodation and contacts should be arranged and recorded on the Workplace Learning Agreement form.

Workplace learning provider requirements

Workplace learning providers are required to maintain a safe work environment for students and comply with all work health and safety legislation. In this agreement, they must also:

• Complete the Workplace Learning Agreement form
• Provide a suitable range of tasks for the student that meets their level of readiness
• Maintain high expectations of the student so they can develop employability skills
• Facilitate a site induction for the student
• Provide suitable supervision of the student
• Communicate with the school should any issues arise.

Workplace and student responsibilities

Your child has the right to feel safe and free from harm during workplace learning. Workplaces should consider the special responsibilities of working with young people prior to the agreement, particularly if young people are not usually in the environment. This includes receiving an induction to the workplace and training for all equipment that they will use.

Your child must take reasonable care for their own safety and the safety of others. This includes reporting hazards and using personal protective equipment (PPE) when appropriate.

Parents of Aboriginal students can contact the Workabout program if they need help with getting PPE: education.workaboutcentre@sa.gov.au

If your child is doing workplace learning in a child-related environment, aged care, or healthcare, they may have additional training requirements before placement it completed. This may include completing Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect (RRHAN-EC) training or obtaining a screening check or police check.

All students completing workplace learning on a department site must have a Working with Children Check (WWCC). The WWCC is free for secondary students completing workplace learning.

Vaccinations may also be required for some healthcare placements. Your child’s school and the workplace can provide you with more information on what is required.

Insurance for workplace learning

All workplace learning students enrolled in government schools are covered by a personal accident insurance scheme. This is funded and administered by the Department for Education. This also applies to interstate placements.

Students are covered by insurance if they are hurt at work as long as they are doing an approved workplace learning program that is outlined in the Workplace Learning Agreement form. This is why it is important that the form is completed before the student begins their placement.

Students may not be covered by insurance if the injury or damage was the result of their negligence, recklessness, or failure to follow clear and reasonable instructions.

Ambulance costs are primarily the responsibility of the student and their parent/caregiver. Those who are covered under private insurance should contact their insurer to recover costs. Where a student does not have private cover, a request for payment by the department can be made.

For more information, contact your child’s school.