Structured Workplace Learning (SWL)

Student Guide

What is Structured Workplace Learning (SWL)?

Structured workplace learning (SWL) is the workplace component of a nationally recognised industry specific vocational education and training (VET) in secondary schools program. It provides supervised learning activities contributing to an assessment of competency and achievement of outcomes and requirements of a particular Training Package.If you undertake a SWL while you are in years 11 and 12, it can contribute to the requirements of your ACT Senior Secondary Certificate.

What are the benefits of SWL?

  • You will develop knowledge, skills and attitudes that are relevant to and recognised within a range of employment, training and further education settings.
  • You will receive training in an industry context outside the school and gain an understanding of the variety of roles and responsibilities in the workplace.
  • SWL will assist you to base future career choices upon current knowledge of career opportunities, occupational trends and expectations of the workplace.

1. Getting Started

  • Contact your VET coordinator or VET classroom teacher at your high school or college. They will provide you with advice about various programs or opportunities that may be suitable for you.
  • Find a host employer by talking to your parents, family, friends, school/college VET coordinator or a teacher. You can also use InPlace, the employment section of the newspaper, the Yellow Pages or the Internet to contact businesses.

2. The 4-Way Agreement

Once you have identified an employer and the employer has confirmed they will host you for your SWL placement, your VET coordinator will provide you with a 4-Way Agreement. The Agreement must be signed by you, your parent/guardian, the principal or coordinator and the employer. It is your responsibility to get the employer to sign the 4-Way Agreement and return the signed Agreement to the school. This should be completed and returned to the school at least one week prior to the placement.TheAgreement MUST be signed by all four parties for you to be covered by the appropriate insurance. All ACT public school students are covered by accident and public liability insurance. Non-government schools have their own insurance arrangements.If the 4-Way Agreement is not signed by all four parties, you cannot attend the placement as you will not be covered for insurance purposes.

3. During the Placement

Your VET teacher/coordinator will contact the employer on the first day of your placement to check on your attendance. Your school will be contacted if you do not attend the placement.An appropriately qualified person from your school will visit you during your placement to check how the placement is progressing, to address any issues and to gather any evidence for competency based assessment that may be required.

Student Responsibilities

•attend the workplace on the required days, at timesnegotiated with the workplace supervisor

•participate in a workplace induction on the first day

•observe the rules and regulations of the host employer

•ensure that behaviours do not endanger your own health and safety and that of fellow workers or others

•wear appropriate safety clothing and abide by work, health and safety (WHS) procedures

•notify your school of any grievance or dispute with the placement

•notify your school and the host employer of any absence from the workplace before the absence

•you may be required to fill out a log book provided by your school

•discuss your placement with your VET coordinator or appropriate VET teacher.

Host Employer Responsibilities

  • students must be given a workplace induction on the first day
  • students should always be supervised
  • students must be advised about any safety risks and advised of the site health and safety representative
  • students should experience as many aspects of work as possible, in particular any tasks associated with competencies that may be assessed and they should be provided with meaningful and work related tasks
  • if the student is absent or if their attendance is irregular, please telephone the school
  • if for any reason it is inappropriate for a student to attend on a particular day/s please notify the student.

For more information please contact:

ACT Education Directorate

Workplace Learning Administrator