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Work Experience and Work Placement – what is the

difference?

Work experience is an informal program that enables students to get a feel for a career they are
interested in pursuing – tasks performed, education and training pathways, skills and attributes

required, and the like. It hopes to inspire students to work towards achieving their career ambitions.

Students coming into the workplace for work experience have little industry knowledge and skills,
and generally only perform very basic tasks and observations in the workplace. Work experience

is usually only a week long.

Work placement is a mandated program undertaken by VET students to show and develop their

theoretical knowledge in a real workplace setting. Students have an opportunity to expand their skill
sets by applying their classroom learning to real-life scenarios. They gain practical experience and

advice that will help them in their future careers in their chosen industries. Work placement occurs
for a prolonged period of time, usually about 100 – 120 hours.

https://schoolsindustry.com.au/work-placement-2/for-employers/work-placement-vs-work-experience/

Work Experience Dates

Students consult with their preferred work place to arrange a time for work experience that suits the

student, their family and the work place. This may be during the school holidays or weekends, but
must be negotiated with the school beforehand. Workplace Learning Procedures 2020, p. 30

Insurance

Students who have completed and returned all required forms before commencing work experience

are covered by Samaritan College’s insurance. Workplace Learning Procedures 2020, p. 45

Work Experience Prohibitions

Students are only permitted to go to sites where the school reasonably believes a child safe

environment exists. Accordingly, work experience is not permitted where:
 the student will be engaged in activities that require them to go ‘door to door’

 the student will be delivering unofficial mail and/or letterboxing
 the student will be involved in the erection, alteration or demolition of buildings higher than ten

metres

 the student is required to operate equipment, machinery or vehicles for which they do not hold
the appropriate licence or certification