What are the objectives of Work Based Learning?
The Banyule & Nillumbik LLEN School to Work Program aims to assist local senior secondary school students (usually Year 10, 11 & 12) find a suitable host employer who can provide a work placement that aligns with the student’s Vocational Educational & Training (VET) Certificate.
The placement offers students an opportunity to experience on the job training in their chosen field of work and an understanding of how a future workplace operates. The placement can be either one day a week for an agreed period (usually 10 weeks) or a one-week block.
Work Based Learning Information or Schools
The School to Work team will meet with all secondary schools in the local area to discuss supporting work placements for students in 2026!
Get Involved in 2026
If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a Work Based Learning Host Employer to help a young person gain hands on workplace and industry experiences, please contact the Work Based Learning Coordinator George on 0451 696 079 or email: swl@bnllen.org.au
Nillumbik Historical Society Case Study
Jean has a personal connection to the Nillumbik Historical Society that goes beyond heritage. “I research my own family history to learn how my family fits into early Melbourne,” she said, noting her ancestors include a great-great-grandfather who settled in Diamond Creek in 1852.
After years of involvement, she is now president and is in charge of an enthusiastic team of volunteers.
The Society and BNLLEN started working together in 2017 to encourage student participation through structured workplace learning and work experience. In addition to supporting significant projects like digitising the Society's 1870s literary institute minute books, students have assisted in the creation of garden memorials, the digitisation of collections, and the scanning of letters from World War I. "There's a tonne of work to be done," said, Jean, “and it really helps [cut down on] the amount of time that we would normally take to do it.”
Liam, a VET student completing a placement with the Historical Society, quickly became an engaged and valuable team member. Jean said the experience was “a real bonus” for both sides. “He saw what’s out there – what libraries and museums actually do for the community, not just being a library or a museum.” During a professional training session, Liam participated fully and shared his technical skills. “He had terrific input”, contributing insights such as the difference between iPhone and SLR photos, Jean said.
Jean encourages young people to explore their curiosity about history. “Just be curious,” she suggests. “Understand that history describes what we do today - it’s not just ‘today’, it’s also what comes before.”
She also sees work placements as an opportunity to build transferable skills. “We use a database… and the one thing I always say to students is: everyone uses a database.”
Her advice to other employers is to learn alongside students. “Don’t think you know it all,” she said. “You’re always going to learn something yourself… the good teacher teaches the student how to learn.” And the student, she added, “needs to be interested in what the place does – to understand that history is important.”
One of Jean’s most memorable student experiences involved a young man named Jamie. After volunteering at the Society, he asked how he could stay involved after finishing school. Not only did Jamie return, he brought his sister and cousin to join him in reading In Flanders Fields at the Society’s Remembrance Day service. “It was the best reading of that poem,” Jean said. “Perfection.”
Archie is a VCE student at Macleod College, focusing on biology and health-related subjects. With a passion for staying active and healthy, he enjoys playing basketball and footy, and even works as a basketball referee.
Coming from a family of nurses, Archie acknowledges their influence on his interest in the human body, even though it wasn’t the direct reason for his chosen career path. His curiosity about the workings of the health system led him to select Austin Health for his work experience.
Archie felt fortunate to be placed at Austin Health, where he observed a variety of high-level healthcare roles. He shadowed the physiotherapy team, pharmacists, and nurses. Reflecting on his first day, he said:
> “It was a bit confronting, but not to the point where I was worried. I didn’t need to step out. Instead, I thought about how amazing it is that we have this team to help patients, which made me even more intrigued by what they do.”
Initially unsure about what happens within a healthcare setting like Austin Health, Archie quickly gained insight. The staff not only handled intense situations but also took time to explain procedures and share knowledge while caring for patients. This experience reinforced the importance of respecting patient confidentiality, a key lesson Archie now values deeply.
His biology studies helped him recognise certain aspects of the work at Austin Health, though he admits there’s still much he doesn’t understand.
> “There’s a lot I have no clue about, which I think is cool,”he shared, adding that staff reassured him by explaining that much of the learning happens on the job, even after completing formal education.
Archie was particularly inspired by the physiotherapy team at Austin Health. Watching them help a patient stand for the first time after surgery opened his eyes to the healthcare side of physiotherapy, which he found both fascinating and fulfilling. This experience shifted his perspective, making physiotherapy a potential career interest.
However, he recognises the competitiveness of the field and views nursing—offering a broad range of opportunities—as his top choice.His advice to other students considering work experience is simple:> “Do it!”
He acknowledges the uncertainty many students feel about their future careers and emphasises the value of trying new things.> “This program is all about learning what you like and don’t like, and deciding if it’s for you. I’ve learned so much this week, and it’s made me excited for the future.”