THE WORKPLACE LEARNING GUIDE FOR2017 editin PARENTS AND CARERS 2017 editin Yur guide t hsting students undertaking wrkplace learning prgrams frm Tngabbie Christian Schl. This guide intrduces the cncept f wrkplace learning, what s invlved and the supprt available t parents, carers and students. 1
Cntents Sectin 1. Abut wrkplace learning 2 Sectin 2. Hw wrkplace learning wrks 4 Sectin 3. Hw yu can best help yur child 6 Can yu remember yur first time in the wrkplace? What insights and advice can yu give t yur child? Hw can yu supprt yur child t make their wrkplace learning a valuable experience? 1. Abut wrkplace learning Wrkplace learning prgrams frm part f the NSW secndary schl curriculum. They enable students t spend a planned perid f time usually a week in a wrkplace f their chice, enhancing their classrm learning, assisting their career chices and building their industry skills. Hw des wrkplace learning benefit yur child? Wrkplace learning helps students t: test their jb and career chices engage with the wider cmmunity cmplete curse wrk in a relevant industry setting learn what emplyers want in their wrkfrce build general wrk skills like wrkplace cmmunicatin, self reliance and team wrk develp specific industry skills, including vcatinal educatin and training (VET) curse cmpetencies gain cnfidence and maturity thrugh participatin in an adult wrk envirnment make infrmed decisins when planning their transitin thrugh schl and n t further educatin, training and wrk. What kinds f wrkplace learning prgrams are there? NSW secndary schls ffer tw main types f wrkplace learning prgram wrk experience and wrk placement. Mst students will have the chance t participate in at least ne f these prgrams during their time at high schl. 2
Wrk Experience These prgrams are usually first undertaken by students in Years 9 r 10 with sme pprtunities in Years 11 an 12. Wrk experience prvides a general intrductin t the wrld f wrk. Students are able t bserve a variety f wrk, usually in a field f their chice, and undertake supervised tasks apprpriate t their skill level. Wrk experience builds n the career planning and transitin activities in yur child s schl and can assist their curse and subject chices in senir high schl. Wrk placement Wrk placement prgrams are intended fr students enrlled in Higher Schl Certificate (HSC) industry-recgnised curses. These vcatinal curses may be delivered by the schl, a TAFE r by a private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin cntracted by the schl. The hst emplyer supervises yur child in the wrkplace, allwing them t practise and enhance the specific industry skills they have learned in their ff-the-jb curse wrk. During their wrk placement, students aim t achieve industry cmpetencies assessed by teachers. Students achieving cmpetency receive an industry-specific VET qualificatin that is recgnised thrughut Australia. Preparing Secndary Students fr Wrk a framewrk fr vcatinal learning and VET delivered t secndary students. The natinal framewrk is available at http://www.pssfw.myskills.gv.au/the-framewrk/ Wrk placement is a cmpulsry HSC requirement fr the fllwing Industry Curriculum Framewrk (ICF) curses: Autmtive Business Services Cnstructin Electrtechnlgy Entertainment Industry Financial Services Hspitality Human Services Infrmatin and Digital Technlgy Metal and Engineering Primary Industries Retail Services Turism, Travel and Events Wrk placement was a ttally different envirnment t schl. I gt hands-n experience and a better understanding f the industry. It helped me t see where I wanted t g and hw t get there. 3
2. Hw Wrkplace Learning Wrks Schls generally arrange their wn wrkplace learning prgrams. Where TAFE r a private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin delivers the curse, they arrange the related placements in cnsultatin with the schl. Yur child s schl r the curse deliverer will prvide parents and carers with the relevant infrmatin and advice. Hw will yur child find a wrkplace psitin? Here are the three mst cmmn ways fr students t be matched t a wrkplace: The schl, TAFE r private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin btains the wrkplace psitins and allcates them accrding t the student s interests, needs and career plans and the emplyer s requirements. Mandatry HSC VET wrk placements are prvided t the schl by Wrk Placement Service Prviders wh crdinate these quality placements. Teachers then individually match the students t the placements. In the case f wrk experience, students may need t lcate their wn psitins with supprt frm the schl and their parents r carers. These psitins need t be submitted t their schl r TAFE fr apprval. The schl will prvide intrductry letters and guidelines t the emplyer. Sme hst emplyers are very ppular and students will need t bk their wrk experience dates well in advance. What is the general prcedure fr a placement? Befre the placement Hst emplyers receive wrkplace learning guidelines and return written details f the placement. Parents receive wrkplace learning infrmatin and give their cnsent by signing and returning frms. Parents can cntact the schl s careers adviser with queries r cncerns. Discuss with yur child and schl any adjustment the student may require t be able t participate successfully in wrkplace learning. Wrkplace psitins are arranged and apprved fr the students based n their curse wrk and/r career planning. Arrangements are cnfirmed t supprt student safety. Teachers cnduct activities t prepare students fr the experience. Parents r carers help their child with their preparatins and arrangements. During the placement Students attend the wrkplace every day f the prgram. Hst emplyers r nminated wrkplace supervisrs supervise the students in the wrkplace. A teacher makes a supervisry visit r phne call t the emplyer r supervisr and the student t check n their prgress, safety and welfare. Students may be assessed fr industry-based cmpetencies. Parents r carers prvide supprt and encuragement at hme. Students will advise their schl and hst emplyer if they are ill and unable t attend the placement. Incidents and issues are reprted t the schl. After the placement I like this apprach t learning. Yu actually get ut in the field and practise what yu learn instead f just ding the text bk stuff. Hst emplyers reprt n the student s perfrmance in the wrkplace. Teachers immediately fllw up with the students t ensure maximum benefit and check n student safety. Parents and students discuss their experience and pssible educatin and training pathways. 4 THE WORKPLACE LEARNING GUIDE FOR PARENTS AND CARERS 4
! As a parent r carer, yu MUST cmplete all dcumentatin. This includes prviding an emergency cntact number (yur wn r that f a nminated persn) n the Student Placement Recrd alng with yur child s Medicare number r dctr s details. When can students undertake wrkplace learning? Students can participate in wrkplace learning prgrams frm the age f 14. Students under 15 years cannt wrk befre 7am r after 6pm. Wrkplace learning may be extended int the weekend with special apprval frm the schl Principal, but nly if weekend wrk is an essential requirement f the industry. TCA will apprve wrkplace learning by individual students during schl hlidays. Will yur child be paid? N. Students are classified as vluntary wrkers and hst emplyers are nt required t make any payment t them under the Federal r State award cvering their industry, the NSW Annual Hlidays Act r the Wrkers Cmpensatin Act. Any payment t the student may invalidate the Department s insurance and indemnity arrangements. The ne exceptin is where yur child uses their part-time emplyment as part f their mandatry HSC VET wrk placement requirement. This arrangement must be negtiated with the emplyer and apprved by the schl, TAFE r private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin and in this instance the emplyer s insurance will apply. Hw far will students need t travel? Mst placements will be within cmmuting distance f hme. If yu are cnsidering a placement away frm hme r an interstate placement, yu shuld first cntact yur child s schl, r the relevant TAFE, r private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin alng with the schl, regarding the suitability f the placement. T receive apprval fr a placement away frm hme, there must be exceptinal educatinal value and the prpsed transprt, accmmdatin, and vernight supervisin arrangements must be suitable and have the special written apprval f the schl Principal r relevant TAFE NSW Institute Manager as well as the parent r carer. Additinal dcumentatin must be cmpleted. What abut travel arrangements? All travel is at the student s expense. Yu will be expected t assist yur child with their travel arrangements and supprt their travel csts fr the duratin f the placement. Cncessin fares are available fr travel n public trains, buses, ferries and sme private buses. T be eligible fr a cncessin, lder students may need t shw their cncessin card available thrugh the schl. As a parent r carer, yu must be satisfied that the travelling arrangements can be safely managed by yur child. If yu have cncerns, yu shuld discuss them directly with yur child and with the prgram rganiser. Fr timetables and ther infrmatin relevant t public transprt, call the Transprt InfLine n 131 500 r check the website www.131500.cm. If yur child has a disability r medical cnditin Yu will need t advise the schl, TAFE NSW Institute r private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin f any disability, learning and supprt needs, medical cnditin, (e.g. diagnsed at risk f anaphylaxis) r restrictin affecting yur child that may affect the safety, wellbeing and supervisin f yur child in the wrkplace. This imprtant infrmatin shuld be included r attached t yur child s Student Placement Recrd. Health Care Plans may need t be made available t hst emplyers. If yu are nt sure, speak with yur child s General Practitiner. If yur child needs any adjustments in the wrkplace t accmmdate their additinal supprt needs r disability, yu must discuss this with the schl s Learning and Supprt Team during the planning prcess. Fr mre infrmatin n child prtectin, emergency prcedures, prhibited activities, insurance and ther matters related t wrkplace learning, please g t: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/ vetinschls/wrklearn/ wrklearnplicy.html 5
Fr Additinal Infrmatin fr Parents and Carers abut wrkplace learning cnditins and prvisins, please g t: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetinschls/wrklearn/additinal_infrmatin_pandc.html Yur child s safety Student safety and child prtectin are the first pririty fr the NSW Department f Educatin. Hst emplyers must ntify the schl r TAFE immediately f any health and safety incidents, including near misses invlving a student while n placement, t enable the NSW Department f Educatin t fulfil its Wrk Health and Safety (WHS) bligatins. All hst emplyers receive The Wrkplace Learning Guide fr Emplyers t help them prvide safe and effective learning pprtunities fr students attending their wrkplace. Sme activities are cmpletely prhibited, while thers have cnditins attached, fr example, prir training r in sme cases particular vaccinatins. The emplyer is required t ensure that all staff are aware f child prtectin issues and f their special respnsibilities when wrking with schl students. Departmental staff will fllw clear prcedures in respnse t any reasnable suspicin r allegatin f miscnduct by emplyers r their emplyees against students. Students must reprt any immediate safety cncerns, risks r incidents t their emplyer. They must als reprt any safety issues r incidents t their schl r TAFE as sn as practicable, but within 24 hurs. In emergencies There are prvisins in place t supprt students in the rare event f an accident r emergency during their time in the wrkplace. Yur child will carry a Student Cntact Card listing their Medicare number and nminated cntacts bth during and utside nrmal business hurs. This lets them knw wh t cntact shuld they sustain an injury r feel at risk and unable t raise the matter with their hst emplyer. During nrmal business hurs the nminated cntact will be prvided by their schl, TAFE, r private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin alng with the schl. Outside nrmal business hurs, the student must cntact yu, their parent r carer. Yu are NOT required t investigate r reslve the issue: simply remve yur child frm risk f harm and ntify the schl, TAFE r private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin as sn as pssible (e.g. the next day). The schl r TAFE will fllw up the issue with the wrkplace and advise yu f the utcme. If yur child has any cncerns, they must call the schl r TAFE immediately. Insurance and indemnity The Department has insurance arrangements fr students injured while participating in apprved wrkplace learning, including students injured while travelling directly t r frm their placement. Parents/carers are respnsible fr any expenses incurred by their child as a result f accident r injury, prir t a claim submitted under these insurance prvisins. Fr mre infrmatin, please g t: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetinschls/ wrklearn/wrklearnplicy.html. Yur child s Student Placement Recrd All cntacts, arrangements and apprvals relating t yur child s placement will be recrded n their Student Placement Recrd. This enables imprtant infrmatin t be shared, signed and apprved by all parties. Please make sure yu lcate the Student Placement Recrd in yur child s infrmatin package and prvide the infrmatin as required by the schl, TAFE r private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin. Once the frm has been cmpleted and signed by all parties, yu will receive a cpy t keep. The Student Placement Recrd lists yur child s individual wrk arrangements (start and finish times, lunch breaks, clthing requirements etc), the tasks they ll be undertaking, any vaccinatin r pre-training they may need, their Medicare number, emergency cntacts and any additinal supprt arrangements fr students with learning and supprt needs. 3. Hw yu can best help yur child The rle f parents and carers is vital t the success f any wrkplace learning prgram. By taking steps t understand what s invlved and by prviding the necessary supprt at hme, yu can help yur child get the mst ut f their placement and make imprtant decisins abut their future. 6
A checklist fr parents and carers BEFORE the placement R Becme familiar with wrkplace learning by reading the infrmatin prvided and attending infrmatin sessins. R Encurage yur child t discuss with yu their develping career interests and wrk preferences. R Suggest they g t www.myfuture.edu.au t find ut mre abut preferred industries and related careers. This website is als useful fr yu as a parent t visit. Yu may like t lk at the infrmatin tgether. R Urge them t cmplete the Wrkplace Learning Research pages in their Emplyment Related Skills Lgbk Online. R Discuss with yur child any adjustments they may require in the wrkplace t allw them t cmplete a successful placement. R Discuss what they hpe t learn frm the placement and any questins they might want t ask their hst emplyer r supervisr. R Encurage them t cmplete all pre-placement activities arranged by their schl, r where invlved, by the TAFE r private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin. R Advise the schl f any suitable placements yu knw abut r culd ffer. R Tell thse arranging yur child s placement (their schl, TAFE r private r cmmunity registered training rganisatin) f any disability, learning and supprt needs r medical histry e.g. anaphylaxis, that may require adjustments in the wrkplace. R Ask yur child fr their Student Placement Recrd in their infrmatin package and cmplete the relevant part. When cmpleted, this frm will include vital infrmatin relating t yur child s placement arrangements. R Cmplete the accmmdatin away frm hme dcumentatin if applicable. WHEN a psitin is cnfirmed R Make wrkplace learning a pririty. This may mean rescheduling ther activities. R Help yur child prepare their clthing (e.g. enclsed ftwear, business attire) and ther requirements fr the placement. R Help them find ut mre abut Wrk Health and Safety legislatin and make sure they knw and understand what it means fr them while they are at wrk. R Make sure yur child has safe travel arrangements t and frm wrk. R Check that they have the infrmatin they will need n the first day (starting time, address and cntact persn) including their cmpleted Studen Cntact Card. R Cnfirm their meal arrangements. They may need t bring fd with them. R Explain that their safety and wellbeing is f the highest imprtance during the placement. DURING the placement R If yur child has a diagnsed medical cnditin, ensure yur child carries apprpriate medicatin. If yur child is at risk f an anaphylactic reactin, they must carry an adrenalin aut-injectr e.g. EpiPen within easy reach each day. R Encurage yur child t cmplete any assignments r jurnals. R Have a cnversatin abut their day in the wrkplace. e.g. - tell me abut the things yu d during the day at wrk. - have yu learned anything unexpected and especially interesting? - what are the educatin and training requirements f the jb(s)? - what are the wrking cnditins like? Is there a unin? - if here is anything f cncern, have yu raised it with the emplyer? - d yu think this might be the right industry fr yu? IMMEDIATELY AFTER the placement R Encurage yur child t discuss their hst emplyer s reprt with yu. R Make sure they recrd their experience in their Emplyment Related Skills Lgbk Online. R Review and discuss their career and wrk aspiratins and their ptins fr educatin and training. R Encurage them t value the netwrks they are making and t maintain a recrd f wrkplace cntacts fr advice, assistance and pprtunities in the future. 7
Imprtant cntacts Thank yu fr taking time t read the infrmatin in this guide. We hpe that yu feel cnfident and well-prepared t supprt yur child as they take up these valuable wrkplace learning pprtunities. Yur first pint f cntact: Mrs Katherine Kerr kkerr@student.tcs.nsw.edu.au Fr further assistance, advice and infrmatin: www.det.nsw.edu.au/ vetinschls/wrklearn/ wrklearnplicy.html see the Parents sectin fr Additinal Infrmatin. www.inwrkingrder.cm.au fr infrmatin n injury preventin and wrkplace safety fr yung wrkers. www.schltwrk.cm.au see the Parents and Cmmunity sectin. www.talkingsafety.rg Infrmatin, tips and resurces t help imprve yung wrker safety and ensure cmpliance with NSW WHS legislatin. www.det.nsw.edu.au/ vetinschls/schltwrk/ parentscmmunity/ Parents/carers and cmmunity can play an imprtant rle in their children s career decisin making. www.myfuture.edu.au Supprt and encurage yur children in their career making decisins. www.pssfw.myskills.gv.au/theframewrk Preparing Secndary Students fr Wrk-a framewrk fr vcatinal learning and VET delivered t secndary students. State f NSW thrugh the Department f Educatin 2016. This wrk may be freely reprduced and distributed fr persnal, educatinal r gvernment purpses. Permissin must be received frm the Department fr all ther uses. Last updated February 2016. ISBN 9780731387496 SCIS 1751938 SGE2024701/2016V1.0 8