South West Connect

Workplacement

This program provides opportunities for students studying a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course, either at school or TAFE, as part of their Higher School Certificate.

South west Connect

Youth Collective Impact

Our initiatives motivate and empower young people to lift their aspirations to become active and valuable contributors to their community.

Work Placement

This program provides opportunities for students studying a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course, either at school or TAFE, as part of their Higher School Certificate.

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    Parents

    Parents

    If your son or daughter studies a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course for their Higher School Certificate (HSC), they MUST complete 70 hours of Workplacement over 2 years. This will be organised for your child by South West Connect through discussions with their school.

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    Teachers & Vet Coordinators

    Teachers & Vet Coordinators

    South West Connect works in partnership with the teachers in the Fairfield, Liverpool and Merrylands schools and TAFEs in order to provide quality workplacement opportunities for Vocational Education and Training (VET) students.

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    Students

    Students

    Work Placement is the compulsory component of your Vocational Education and Training (VET) course that requires you to participate in an actual work environment. You will complete duties that reflect the elements of your chosen course and are aimed at your skill level.

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    Employers

    Employers

    South West Connect offers a service working with business and industry to give local business a link with potential future employees and an opportunity to connect with their community. Year 11 and 12 students who are studying vocational courses are placed with businesses for 35 hours of workplacement.

YOUTH COLLECTIVE IMPACT

SWC works with 150 primary and high schools (Government, Catholic and Independent) in South Western Sydney to empower young people and their families to create a better future.

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    Community Outcomes

    Community Outcomes

    • Improve education, social and employment outcomes for young people
    • Break the cycle for young people who have experienced disadvantage
    • Promote a connected community through initiatives that encourages volunteering and inclusion
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    Improve  Wellbeing

    Improve  Wellbeing

    • Teach SEL skills for success to assist young people to better cope with stressful or challenging situations
    • Promote resilience and empathy through positive mental Health and wellbeing initiatives
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    Lift Aspirations

    Lift Aspirations

    • Encourage young people to lift their aspirations and achieve their goals
    • Improve leadership skills, self-esteem, self-awareness and self-belief to create a better future
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    Life & Career  Transitions

    Life & Career  Transitions

    • Assist in the transition from primary school to high school then onto tertiary studies or employment
    • Increase student engagement and pathway options
    • Develop employability skills that are relevant and beneficial in school and beyond

Case Studies

Discover more about the impact of our projects and the contribution that our partners and stakeholders make to improving access to future career opportunities for young people.

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    CABRA-VALE DIGGERS CLUB PARTNERSHIP

    CABRA-VALE DIGGERS CLUB PARTNERSHIP

    Cabra-Vale Diggers Club collaborating with SWC to support 11,800 young people to improve their employability skills, career options and employment outcomes through sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships.
    (including hosting 1,600 work placement students over the past two decades across 3 VET courses)

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    LIVERPOOL GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP

    LIVERPOOL GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP

    SWC has organised over 1,600 workplacement opportunities for LGHS VET students over the past 11 years across 6 frameworks. A further 3,350 LGHS students have benefited from participating in the annual Youth Mental Health Summits, Work Ready and Mock interview sessions, Career and Transition Expos, Bully Prevention workshops and STEAM & Design Thinking initiatives hosted by SWC.

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    COLLABORATION WITH NSW DOE & CAREER IMMERSION

    COLLABORATION WITH NSW DOE & CAREER IMMERSION

    SWC’s collaboration with RIEP (Regional Industry Education Partnership) and EPPP (Educational Pathways Pilot Program) helps students gain work skills for life beyond high school. These include a range of Career Explorer and Work Immersion programs that assist with career decision making and transition to work (including the student restaurant takeover projects: Class Chefs and Student Pop Up Café).

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    EARLY INTERVENTION & EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

    EARLY INTERVENTION & EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

    SWC works with students, parents, educators and businesses to help students throughout primary and high school. We deliver a suite of programs that focus on building employability skills and gaining experience to help young people prepare for success at school and in the future, to secure productive jobs that match their interests and abilities.

Youth Programs & INITIATIVES

South West Connect is committed to empowering young people in South West Sydney to be resilient and resourceful individuals.

  • VET Students Careers Summit

    VET students (Yr 10-12) acquired skills and knowledge to help them get the most out of their work placements through being mentored and...

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  • Ambition+ PLUS

    Ambition PLUS is an immersive careers-focused program that aims to help students learn skills and knowledge to improve all aspects of their...

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  • Youth Mental Health Summit/Youth Wellbeing Success Summit

    The 2023 Youth Wellbeing Success Summit (YWSS) was a day dedicated to promoting youth wellbeing and success. The event connected school...

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  • Project CARE/FUSION

    Project CARE is an aged and youth empowerment volunteer program for high school students and aged care residents.Project CARE encourages,...

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  • Dare to Dream Big

    The SWC Dare to Dream Big program is a social & emotional learning (SEL) early intervention program that works with primary schools to support...

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  • Class Chefs

    Class Chefs gives a group of up to 30 students the chance to run a restaurant for the day. They plan, cook, prepare and serve a 3 course fine...

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  • Mini Seek A Skill

    Mini Seek A Skill is an interactive careers expo where Stage 3 students (Year 5 & 6) have an opportunity to interact with adult volunteers...

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  • Expos

    SWC has a strong and proud history of hosting expos for 18,900 students over the past decade. Ranging from large scale events for 3,300 high...

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  • Mini Career Mentors

    The program involves several classes of Year 5/6 students from different schools exchanging letters in the school year with adult volunteers...

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  • FUSION (Fun Unite Smile Ignite Older New) An Aged and Youth Partnership

    FUSION – Bridging the cultural and generational gap and promoting careers and volunteering in aged care and healthcare. The project...

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  • STUDENT POP UP CAFÉ

    The “Student Pop Up Café” initiative provides an opportunity for an entire class of VET Hospitality (Food & Beverage) students to run a...

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  • STEP Up to Success

    The program works with young leaders to train them to build resilience and life skills in raising their aspirations, financial literacy &...

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  • Big Dreams Bigger Futures

    SWC’s ‘Big Dreams, Bigger Futures’ project supports children to realise their aspirations and achieve their full potential. The project...

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  • Second STEP

    The Second Step program is an evidence based program approved by the Australian Government, designed to teach children how to understand and...

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  • Aspirational ‘Behind the Scenes’ and ‘Future Links’ Tours

    Students visit local businesses and discover the many career options available to them across different sectors including health, hospitality,...

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  • Future Links Future Ready

    SWC has partnered with local schools & businesses to deliver a unique & innovative approach to navigating careers and connecting with employers....

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  • STEPS to a Brighter Future & Dream Big For A Better Future

    These programs include an Aspirational Behind the Scenes / Future Links Tour and an Evidence Based Program to help participants connect with...

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  • Seek a Skill Interactive Careers Expo

    SWC and its partners developed the Seek a Skill Interactive Careers Expo, as a means of addressing the skills and jobs shortages across Western...

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  • Dare to Dream

    “Dare to Dream” helps primary school (including CALD and refugee) students at risk of generational unemployment and welfare dependency with...

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  • Yamaha Student Grand Prix

    The Yamaha Student Grand Prix Partnership created in partnership with SWC due to the skills shortage of experienced technicians in the marine...

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  • Mini Career Pals (Literacy and Career Aspirations program)

    The program involves a class of Year 5/6 students from different schools exchanging letters throughout the school year with adult volunteers...

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  • FRIENDS for Life

    FRIENDS for Life – FfL is an Evidence Based Program (EBP) that develops numerous social and personal skills, as well as building positive...

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Our Impact

 

Learn more about our collaborative approach, impact, how we support work placement stakeholders, and what work placement is by viewing these videos: