Work Experience Policy

Work experience is a form of vocational workplace training that enables students, typically studying in Year 9 or Year 10 at high school to get an insight into an industry and the workplace in which they are located.

This policy provides guidance relating to the consideration, approval and management of student work experience (vocational training) with Firewize.

This policy applies to students over the age of 15 and below the age of 21 who are enrolled with a a school, TAFE or University.

This policy applies to all employees of Firewize and students aged 14 years old and not more than 21 years old at the time of the work experience.

The objective of this policy is to provide (where appropriate) an opportunity for work experience for students interested in working in the fire protection industry or allied services, and to ensure a safe workplace.

Firewize will only provide work experience opportunities where the genuine needs of the person can be met. The work experience opportunity should provide meaningful duties and opportunities to observe duties that are relevant to the study or career aspirations of the applicant.

Work experience participants shall receive adequate induction, orientation and support upon commencement of their placement. During their work, the work experience student shall be under the Direct supervision of their designated supervisor at all times.

Work experience opportunities shall be limited to positions that:

• pose a very low-risk to health and safety;
• operate within ordinary working hours (Monday to Friday, 6:30am – 5pm).

Certain types of work are prohibitted from the work experience programme including;

• work on a building or construction site at any time before the building is at lock-up stage;
• operating power-operated machinery (threading machine, power or battery operated tools, welders, forklifts);
• work on or adjacent to live electrical equipment or cabling;
• working at a height above two metres (this includes from most ladders).

Work experience shall not to commence until all required formal paperwork has been completed. 

Prerequisite Training for Students

According to the Victorian government, common hazards exist in many workplaces. It's important to learn about these workplace hazards so work experience students can stay safe while at work. To help, the Department of Education & Training requires students to complete at least TWO training modules at school PRIOR to undertaking work experience;

1. safe@work General module; and 
2. the relevant safe@work industry module.

Prior to undertaking work experience a student MUST have completed these two modules.

Work Experience Payment

Work experience participants are not employees, therefore there is no requirement for payment. The following rates are not payment for work completed but rather a gesture of reimbursement for some of the costs associated with the placement (for example travel to and from work).

• Work Experience (Secondary School) $25/Day
• Students are to be paid out of petty cash from the relevant business unit. 
• Students will receive payment on their last day of work experience.

Direct supervision

Direct supervision means the work experience student works side by side continuously with a competent employee of Firewize responsible for observing and directing the work experience students activities in the interests of safe and/or effective duties.