National Careers Week
Toya Lipsys
Toya is in Year 12 studying VCAL and undertaking VET course – Cert II Building and Construction. As part of her studies, Toya must complete a work placement in her desired field. Toya is working with Laurent Franklin Builders every Friday to support her learning in Carpentry.
Laurent Franklin Builders is a family-owned and operated building company that specialises in all aspects of domestic building and has generously provided Toya with the experience and opportunity to broaden her understanding of the building industry.
‘The most beneficial part of this experience has been getting to know the tools more and being able to be more hands-on. Working with Laurent has been different from VET or school because I am working with mature people and starting to understand what I actually need to know to work in this industry’. – Toya Lipsys
Freyja Tew
Freyja is in Year 12 studying VCAL and undertaking VET Cert III Makeup. Unfortunately, Freyja has been unable to obtain any work in her desired field but has been working at the Geelong Foods Relief Centre every Friday as an alternate option to further her skills for the workforce.
The Geelong Food Relief Centre is the largest hunger-relief charity in Australia. They are the pantry to the charity sector linking surplus food and groceries to people in need.
‘The most beneficial part of this experience has been learning about the organisations that give guidance to people when they need support and becoming aware of what people may be going through in the community. Work placement is different from VET or school because I am working as part of a team to assist people who are struggling with food security and receiving feedback and instructions throughout the day from her managers’. – Freyja Tew
Paige O’Neill
Paige is in Year 12 studying VCAL and undertaking VET Cert II Screen and Media at the Gordon. As part of her VCAL and VET studies, Paige is currently completing work placement at Clonard with the Development Team. During this time, Paige has been an additional support in the planning and operations of many school events this year, including Open Day, International Women’s Day Breakfast, Mother’s Day Breakfast and the Annual Old Collegian Reunion. As well as this, Paige has worked on content creation projects, supporting staff and communicating news and events.
‘The most beneficial part of this experience is practicing and learning valuable skills that can be used and developed in my future career. It has been good to experience life in a workplace, gaining a better understanding of how things operate and feeling like you are going into the next stages of my career with some prior knowledge’. – Paige O’Neill
Poppy Jeffs
Poppy is in Year 11 studying VCAL and undertaking VET Horticulture. As part of her studies, Poppy is completing a work placement in her desired field and is working at The Wildwood Collective a plant gift shop in Pakington Street Geelong.
Poppy is spending her Fridays busy in the shop, watching over plants, learning about plant care and the creative side of operations, among other things.
‘Working with people who have experience in the industry and gaining knowledge from them has been so beneficial. It’s very different from school because we get to experience the industry we like and gain knowledge from those who pursued this career’. – Poppy Jeffs
Caitlin Laffy
Caitlin is in Year 12 studying VCAL and undertaking VET Certificate II Automotive Panel and Paint. As part of her studies, Caitlin is completing a work placement in her desired field and is working at Ianelli Panels in North Geelong.
‘My work placement is very different from school, work-wise. It has shown me what it is like to work in this industry and it has been really valuable in deciding that this is what I want to do. I’m learning new things each day I go and I really enjoy the work that I am doing’. – Caitlin Laffy
