Work Experience: Can be an invaluable experience.

Work experience program in brief: Out to work Monday 22 to Friday 26 June – with a few exceptions Students will be visited on site by a staff member of the College between Wednesday 24 June and Friday 26 June Debriefing in Pastoral Care after the students return.

What to do when your son or daughter gets the contract (26 May). Sign the contracts as soon as possible and return to our office within one or two days. Read the material provided and keep the information supplied for future reference. Talk to your son or daughter about what they are going to say when they ring the employer.

Before work experience Workplace Health and Safety Seminar – at the start of exam block 12 June. THIS IS A COMPULSORY PROGRAM - no Seminar, no Work Experience WH&S Certificate, vital information and student copy of Contract will be given out at the Seminar Some students may also need to do an online course to qualify for a white card before attending work experience on a construction site. Student MUST phone employer on the following day to ask if an interview is required

Some discussion before work experience would be helpful: A discussion about what the student is going to say when they ring the employer. Talking about what makes a good employee and how to get the best out of the work experience week would also be helpful prior to the week beginning.

Organise appropriate clothing This need not be expensive if the clothing is corporate wear this may be dress pants for men and at a pinch school slacks could be used or may be purchased from second-hand stores such as Lifeline or St Vincent de Paul. Some occupations have particular requirements from a safety perspective e.g. steel capped boots on construction sites or closed in leather shoes in a laboratory. Of course appropriate dress varies enormously from workplace to workplace. What is perfect for an upmarket or fashion forward boutique would not suit an accountant’s or law firm.

Getting there: Plan the trip to the work place. What is the most efficient means to get there – the journey planner on the Translink website is helpful see information/journey-planner. A practice run is always a good idea – it helps the student’s confidence and allows for an estimate of how long the trip will take. information/journey-planner information/journey-planner

What to do if: If your son or daughter is ill and can’t make it to work experience it is important to ring both the employer and the school. In case of accident the student is covered by our insurance and an incident report needs to be made as soon as possible. Ask employer if they know when the teacher is visiting and if either the employer or the student is unavailable get is touch with the school and negotiate a different time.

Our expectations Workplace Health & Safety Punctuality Attendance every day Meet workplace expectations Be enthusiastic, proactive, polite and helpful

Harassment in the Workplace Please notify us as soon as any form of harassment takes place We will remove the student and place her/him elsewhere if possible We will approach the employer and remove them from our database EQUALLY, a student may be removed from a placement for unacceptable performance

Remember: The employers, many of whom have taken our students for a number of years and only take our students, are doing us a favour. It is incumbent on the students to represent themselves, their families and the College in the best possible light. Please ensure the students write a thank-you letter and give it to their employer on the last day. The employers will also fill out a report for the student and return it to the College this can then be used as a reference or as part of their resume.