Albany Senior High School would like to thank the following businesses for hosting our year 11 and 12 students who participated in Workplace Learning during 2019. We appreciate their generosity and acknowledge that the program would not exist without their support.

VET

This year has been a tumultuous one for our VET students at ASHS with the change of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) for all of our certificate courses offered at school. This happened not just once, but twice for one group of students and their teacher, causing undue pressure and extra work for all. Students worked brilliantly to complete their certificates and some even succeeded in finishing a two year course in one year. Congratulations to all of the students who were successful in gaining a certificate in one of the six courses offered here at ASHS. The school based certificates were Certificate IIs in:  Music Industry; Business; Information, Digital Media and Technology; Sport and Recreation; Sport Coaching; Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways.

A number of students also completed a Certificate II course through TAFE, whereby they attended TAFE one day a week and WPL another day a week. Some of these students completed pre-apprenticeships, while others completed courses which will lead them to further training and employment. The certificates offered at TAFE this year were Certificate IIs in: Building and Construction, Plumbing, Electrotechnology, Child Care, Community Services, Salon Assistant, Hospitality.

WPL

The Department of Education’s upgraded Duty of Care Policy meant that there were significant changes with the organisation of work placements this year. This meant that there was a multilayered level of Risk Management required to be undertaken prior to placements commencing. One aspect of this required students to demonstrate work readiness by finding their own host employer for both first and second semesters. The majority of our students were able to do this and enjoyed their placements, and we would like to thank our employers whole heartedly for generously providing our students with these opportunities. Without them, the program could not operate.

School Based Traineeships

During the year seven students completed a school based traineeship in a range of industry areas and businesses in Albany. The traineeships involve the student being paid to attend the workplace one day per week, and complete a Certificate II or III in conjunction with the hands on learning. Congratulations to those students for their success.

All of these programs provide valuable alternatives to students wishing to undertake hands on learning and training, and in doing so, enrich the lives of our students. We would like to thank all of the businesses and organisations which make this possible, and look forward to their support in future years. If any parents would like to be involved as a host employer, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Mandy Dennis and Janice Ford

VET/WPL Coordinators