During Work Experience Week our Year 10 students explored different workplace roles across a wide variety of sectors. The impressive list of occupations with over 200 different employers this year included business, education, retail and the medical and legal professions.
Work experience is not necessarily about making a career choice for the future. Whilst it is an opportunity to learn skills and develop networks, some students select a workplace to help them secure a part-time job or discover the inner working of roles such as hairdressing or drama. Overall, it gives insight into the world of employment and the invaluable opportunity to:
- develop employability skills such as effective communication, commitment and reliability
- explore possible career options
- understand employer expectations
- increase self-awareness, maturity, independence and self-confidence
Mount Lilydale Mercy College students are very well-received in the community and they are great ambassadors for the College. Once again, our Year 10 students performed an exceptional range of tasks, as the photographs indicate, and we can be very proud of their achievements. Well done Year 10s!
Pictured here are Jared Wake, Jessica Bonanno, Kimberley Fiorentino and Bailey O'Neill.
Here is a student reflection on Work Experience Week:
Work experience was a great opportunity that allowed all Year 10 students to experience what it’s like to work in an area that they are interested in. For me that was working in a vet clinic and a rescue shelter. It was hard to find a placement in this area, but I eventually found one at Pets Haven in Bayswater. I helped out by walking the older dogs, cleaning animal cages, hanging and folding washing, cutting up blankets and taking the puppies out to the toilet. The puppies thought it was play time as soon as they were taken outside.
I also helped to look after the cats and kittens when their cages were being cleaned. Many of the dogs we walked and the cats that we looked after got adopted during the week that I was there. I even adopted a 10-week old kitten named Freya. She has settled in well at home. When work experience came to an end I was a little sad as I had made many friends and met many people with the same interests. It was a great experience that I really enjoyed. — Ebony Damen (Year 10 Gold)
