Connecting Learning to Life
Work placement is beneficial to Year 11 Students as it provides them with practical experience and allows them to gain hands-on experience in a real-world work environment, helping them to understand the day-to-day responsibilities and tasks associated with different professions. It also allows students to explore potential career paths and industries, giving them a better sense of whether a particular field aligns with their interests, skills, and long-term goals. Sometimes, students come away from experience and think that a career is definitely for them, which is great, but other times, they come away and know that that career path is not for them, which is also a valuable lesson to have gained. Work placement also allows students to develop essential workplace skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management, which are valuable in any future job or academic environment.
Ava – Balshaw’s Florist
During my work placement at Balshaw’s Florist, I’ve learned a lot about the art of floral arrangement, particularly how to make small bouquets in jars, which require a balance of creativity and technique. I’ve also gained valuable experience in maintaining the shop, including cleaning and properly displaying flowers to enhance their beauty.
A highlight for me has been seeing how each arrangement can bring joy to customers. It’s rewarding to contribute to something that brightens someone’s day, and it has given me a deeper appreciation for the attention to detail and care that goes into floral work.Â
Hannah – Santa Maria College Junior School
During my work placement at the Santa Maria Junior School, I learned that communication is very important. I need to be more patient when dealing with younger children, as they may not always understand the task straight away.
A highlight for me has been able to work with younger children and experience all different types of learning.
Samantha – Ross and Galloway
While on work placement, I saw the behind-the-scenes work required to sell a house. I was shown how software and websites store information about clients and their houses. I learnt about all the steps required to sell a house that people don’t generally see, which really showed me the reality of being a realtor.
The highlight of my work placement was that I got to receive real life experiences that a real estate agent completes daily such as rental inspections which was interesting to see the processes and steps performed during these inspections.
Jessica – Santa Maria Science Lab
Tumi – Bride & JoyÂ
While on work placement, I learned to connect with customers. I also learnt that working in a consignment store was something I had grown to enjoy. Consigners are happy by getting their percentage from their clothing, and customers are happy because we have helped them find a dress, shirt or formal item that they love with all their hearts.
One of the biggest highlights of my work placement was learning how the shop works from the inside out. I loved working with the other employees in the store.Â
“I have really enjoyed this experience for myself and the business as well. It has been wonderful to work with such an energetic team member, and I would certainly hire Tumi in the future” Jacyln, Owner of Bride and Joy
Daniella – Wags Daycare & Grooming
“I’ve learned how important it is to work well with others. If you can’t communicate your ideas, needs, and suggestions at work, you’re likely to miss out on connections and risk being seen as less valuable to the team. And by ‘invaluable,’ I don’t mean you don’t matter, but that you might not come across as a leader or team player – things that lead to better opportunities and promotions. Being able to work in a group is just as important as being able to work alone, and having collaborative skills makes you more attractive to employers.
During my placement, I learned how to handle and transfer dogs of all sizes, from small breeds to large ones like Great Danes. I got practice monitoring smaller dogs, who can be quick to change temperaments, and learned to manage them effectively in group settings. I even had experience splitting up fights between big dogs who stood as tall as me when they reared up. I also picked up some skills in taking quality photos for social media, capturing the dogs’ personalities in ways that the team appreciated. By the end, I’d also learned the daily routines and jumped in to help with afternoon pack-ups.
Even though I don’t plan to work at a doggy daycare or become a vet, being around dogs for two weeks was a lot of fun. Plus, I was lucky to work with a diverse group of people. It was a good experience that showed I can work with all kinds of people and treat them respectfully, just as they did with me. I also learned a lot about dog behaviour that I’ll definitely remember. One woman from the team was from America and had worked in doggy daycare there, too. She knew so much about dog health and behaviour, which was amazing to see. Watching someone be so passionate about a career path I hadn’t even considered was definitely a highlight.”
Daniella received a letter of recommendation from Wagz Daycare & Grooming.
Congratulations to everyone who completed their Work Placements.
- ACCESS, CareerDevelopment, Featured, RealWorldLearning, SkillDevelopment, Workplace Learning
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
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