What can you learn from a work experience placement?

If you’re thinking about employment but aren’t sure where to start, work experience can be a great way to take that first step.

At Barossa Enterprises, we can support you to experience a real workplace, build your confidence and develop practical skills while learning more about the type of work and environment that suits you.

A work experience placement is about much more than learning how to complete a particular task. It gives you the opportunity to experience workplace routines, understand what it’s like to be part of a team and build skills you can take with you into future employment.

During your placement, you can practice everyday workplace skills such as arriving on time, preparing for the day, following instructions, working safely, communicating with others and knowing when to ask for support.

You can also learn more about what works for you. Do you enjoy practical, hands-on tasks? Do you prefer working with people? Do you like having a consistent routine, or would you rather have more variety in your day? Experiencing a workplace can help you better understand your strengths, interests and preferences.

It can also help you think about some of the practical parts of going to work. This might include how you will travel to and from your workplace, the type of environment where you feel most comfortable and the supports that can help you participate with greater confidence and independence.

At Barossa Enterprises, your employment pathway is centred around you—your interests, strengths, goals and aspirations. Depending on what you want to achieve, we can support you with workplace communication and social skills, building confidence and independence, preparing a resume, practicing for interviews, understanding workplace expectations, travel training and looking for employment. We can also continue to support you once you start a job.

You don’t need to have your future completely mapped out before giving work experience a go. It’s an opportunity to try something new, build on your strengths and gain a better understanding of what you might like your next step to be.

Your family, school, employer and support team can also be part of the journey, working together to help you move towards employment that is meaningful, rewarding and sustainable.

Interested in exploring work experience or taking the next step towards employment? Contact the Barossa Enterprises Employment Services team to talk about how we can support you.