Rockhampton students will be the first to benefit from a new government booklet aimed at helping more teenagers secure school-based apprenticeships.
Be Work Smart gives young people advice and guidance on how to impress potential employers, whether it’s for an apprenticeship in Queensland or other job opportunities in the state.
The booklet was launched at Rockhampton State High School on May 25, but will be distributed to a number of educational institutions in Queensland – subject to availability. Students and teachers can also download the document and work through it online or offline.
Education Minister Kate Jones and Training and Skills Minister Yvette D’Ath visited Rockhampton to talk to students about the booklet, which they said is designed to help youngsters “get the right job and keep it”.
“Be Work Smart has resulted from extensive consultation with employers, training providers and schools, and has been produced to improve the job-readiness of applicants in response to employer feedback,” said Ms Jones.
“This workbook will teach the skills to help students secure a job, whether that be a part-time job while they complete studies, an application for an apprenticeship or a first step into the full-time workplace.”
Help with school-based apprenticeships
According to Kirsten Dwyer, Rockhampton State High School’s Principal, the booklet will act as a key tool for guidance officers, transition officers and teachers who want to provide careers advice to students.
The guide explores a range of employment-related issues, such as securing interviews, understanding workplace health and safety rules and showing initiative. There are also self-test exercises outlining apprenticeship scenarios.
The importance of positive employee attributes, including communication, punctuality, honesty and organisation, are covered in detail. Literacy and numeracy, problem solving, teamwork and technology are also discussed.
Furthermore, students are told what they can expect from their first day on a job, including tips to impress their boss and factors to consider before arriving, such as the availability of parking spaces.
Teachers are encouraged to hand out a Be Work Smart certificate to students who complete the tasks and questions set out in the booklet. Ms D’Ath said any young person looking for a job can benefit from working through the information provided and the exercises, with the booklet set to be used across senior grades.
“Every job a person applies for is an exam of a kind, and studying Be Work Smart gives jobseekers the tools to put their best foot forward,” she explained.
By Leanne Macnamara, Public Affairs Coordinator
