Students gain practical experience and learn more about career choices.
Workplace learning provides opportunities for students to:

explore first-hand the world of work
gain job-ready skills and knowledge
practice general and industry-specific skills
identify career options and pathways
be inspired about new work opportunities.

Opportunities
Engadine High School (EHS), provides negotiated ongoing Workplace learning opportunities including work experience for students who are at least 14, as well as work placement for students studying Vocational Education and Training (VET) subjects.
Workplace learning only occurs during school terms unless the Principal approves a holiday placement for individual Year 11 or 12 students. However, placements are not allowed in the December–January school holidays.
Students are not paid for workplace learning.

Learn more about the differences between work experience and work placement:

Work experience
Students spend time in an industry or job of their choice during work experience. Students can be inspired and motivated by the people they meet and benefit from connecting with employers.
Arrangements are made with school approval. Talk to your school careers adviser for more information.
Work experience helps students:

link classroom learning to the workplace
put classroom learning into practice
decide if they like the job or industry
learn the realities of the workplace
understand study, training and work opportunities
choose elective subjects
prepare for life after school.

Work placement
Work placement is a mandatory requirement of many VET courses, including Industry Curriculum Framework (ICF) and some VET Board Endorsed courses. Students develop industry-specific competencies, employability skills, and appropriate work attitudes in a work environment.
Most industries work outside school hours, so students must be flexible and prepared to travel. For example, construction students might start at 7am and hospitality students may work evenings.
Completion of 70 hours of work placement during Years 11 and 12 is usual. The school or external VET (EVET) provider will organise a suitable host employer.

Industry Curriculum Framework courses
Students must complete work placement as part of their ICF studies. Placements are coordinated by a work placement service provider, but some may be organised by schools and EVET providers.
VET Industry Curriculum Framework courses offered at EHS with mandatory work placement requirements include:

Hospitality - Food & Beverage - Certificate II
Entertainment Industry - Certificate III
Construction Pathways - Certificate II

VET Board Endorsed courses
Work placement is also a mandatory component of many VET Board Endorsed courses. Work placement in these courses is organised by the school or EVET provider.
VET Board Endorsed courses offered at EHS with mandatory work placement requirements include:

Sport Coaching – Certificate III.

More information
To learn more about work placement and view a full list of work placement service providers in NSW, visit Work Place Learning and The Youth Partnership.
For additional information on VET courses, see Courses and study options.

Location
Students should participate in workplace learning in NSW – where possible. Schools located near a border may arrange interstate placements, if required, with the Principal’s approval.

Accommodation away from home
The Principal must approve any workplace learning involving accommodation away from home. Before approval is given, the following are considered:

educational value of the workplace learning
suitability of the proposed transport, accommodation and overnight supervision arrangements
parent or carer's approval.

The school or external vocational and education and training (EVET) provider must discuss arrangements with the student and parents or carers and confirm supervision and emergency contact arrangements. Both the 'Student Placement Record' and 'Workplace learning – accommodation away from home' forms must be completed and submitted to the school.
The duty of a school or EVET provider to care for students extends beyond the work day of the placement, particularly where accommodation is away from home. This duty cannot be delegated by the school or EVET provider.
The school or EVET provider must take reasonable care to keep all students in placement away from home free from harm and minimise the risks so far as is reasonably practicable.

Child protection
Any person, other than family members, supervising students overnight must complete the following ‘Working With Children Check’ documents:
Working With Children Check

Work readiness
Schools and EVET providers must prepare students before they start workplace learning.
Preparation includes:

safety in the workplace
employer expectations
what to do if help is needed during the placement.

Go2workplacementExternal link is an online course to help VET students prepare. Students receive a work placement ready certificate on course completion.
https://myworkexperience.com.au/auth/login is an online course to help students prepare for work experience. Students receive a work experience ready certificate on course completion.

Safety, Workplace learning documents and Public Liability Insurance - (Certificate of Currency)
Workplace learning will not be approved if there are any doubts about the safety of our students.
View the department's public liability insurance - Certificate of Currency.
For more information on managing risk, visit Keeping Students Safe.
For more information on Workplace learning documents, visit Guides and Forms

School Leaving Age Information

All NSW students must complete Year 10 or its equivalent. After Year 10, and up until they reach 17 years of age there are a range of flexible options for students to complete their schooling.

Currently in Year 9

A young person who has not completed Year 9 and wants to undertake a full time (as defined by an appropriate award) apprenticeship or traineeship may only do so under extraordinary conditions (Exemption policy 1.3.6). They may lodge an application for exemption from enrolment for consideration with the Executive Director. Principals are advised to speak to their DEL prior to lodging the application.

Completed Year 9 / Year 10

In exceptional circumstances, some young people are able to complete the equivalent of Year 10 in TAFE NSW with written permission from the school Principal and the TAFE NSW General Manager using the 8-page application from your local TAFE website. Principals are required to advise the DEL that they have supported an application for a student to complete Year 10 via TAFE as the student will be removed from the roll once approved by TAFE (do not forward documentation) Principals are required to keep the 'approved' TAFE application forms in the student's file and once the form is returned to the Principal, the student can be marked as 'LEFT' on ERN. Schools are required to keep copies of the documents and ensure the student understands that if they don't complete the TAFE Equivalent of Year 10 Course they will be in breach of the Education Act and they have to return to school to complete Year 10. Schools are advised to send a letter home to that effect.
Young people who have completed Year 9 and wish to leave school before completing Year 10 to engage in an apprenticeship or traineeship must obtain an Exemption from Attendance/Enrolment at school (Exemption policy 3.1.2). The Principal then grants an Exemption from enrolment. The Principal is required to attach a copy of the training contract and summary training plan authorised by the Registered Training Organisation (RTO), to confirm that the apprenticeship/traineeship has been approved (See attachment G in the Exemption policy). Schools are required to keep copies of those documents and ensure the student understands that if they don't complete the apprenticeship/traineeship they will be in breach of the Education Act and they have to return to school to complete Year 10 or TAFE. Schools are advised to send a letter home to that effect.

Completed Year 10 / Year 11

Young people who have completed Year 10, but are younger than 17, may leave school if they are engaged in full-time study, full-time employment (average of 25 hours) or a combination of the above (including an apprenticeship or traineeship). Not an Exemption Please note that the Principal is required to keep copies of documents that indicate the student is employed. Schools are advised to send a letter home to that effect.

Key Points

Schools are required to retain copies of all documentation relating to the exemption in the student's file until under the DoE's Records Management guidelines.
For students entering an apprenticeship or traineeship, they should not be marked as 'LEFT' in ERN until the Principal has issued the Certificate of Attendance/Enrolment from school under Section 25 of the Education Act 1990.

School leaving information – current at 4.2.20