School to Work Program

WynBay LLEN is funded to deliver the School to Work program, which supports schools to engage with industry and provide high-quality work-based learning opportunities for all students. 

These work-based learning opportunities include:

• work experience (WE)
• structured workplace learning (SWL)
• school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) for non-government school students
• workplace visits and industry tours
• life skills programs and work-readiness activities.

The Department of Education has established the School to Work Portal — a public website available to students and schools across Victoria, allowing them to search for appropriate placements offered by a diverse range of employers. 

WynBay LLEN administers the School to Work Portal in the Wyndham and Hobsons Bay areas and we can help your business get online and link with schools and students by advertising and sharing opportunities your business may have on this portal. 

Employers can advertise 3 types of opportunities on this portal:

Structured workplace learning (SWL) placements provide students with the opportunity to integrate on-the-job experience with secondary study. It is delivered as part of a students’ secondary schooling certificates and subjects, such as Vocational Education and Training (VET), the VCE Vocational Major, VCE Industry and Enterprise or the Victorian Pathways Certificate. Host employers will need to provide supervision and direct instruction to students as they practice and extend the industry skills they have learned in their vocational programs at school. 

For more information click here.

Work experience is the short-term placement of secondary school students, generally from years 9 and 10, in your workplace. The host workplace agrees to provide appropriate supervision in an approved environment, usually for a shorter period of one or two block weeks. The student’s role is primarily to learn through observation. They may also be able to participate in entry-level tasks that do not require any specific skills or training. 

For more information click here.

School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBAT) offer students the option of combining part-time employment, school, and training. The program involves a contract with an employer, a registered training plan and leads to a nationally recognised VET qualification. In government schools, SBATs can be sourced through the Head Start program. Head Start provides support to students before and during their SBAT. For more information, see Head Start apprenticeships and traineeships.

For more information click here.

Benefits for Employers:

Becoming a host employer or involving yourself in school activities is a great opportunity for you to:

• participate in the education, career development and training of young people in your community
• talk to students about your industry, its career paths and future directions
• promote the attitudes and skills you want in your workforce and identify young people with potential for your industry
• strengthen your links with the community and raise your business profile
• increase the supervisory, training and mentoring skills of your staff.

If you are interested in hosting students at your place of employment, please contact WynBay LLEN.