Work Experience & Work Placement
Valley Farmers has a dedicated agricultural careers team that helps to match students with the most suitable agricultural workplaces for work experience or fixed term school-based work placements.
Short term 10 work experience students; and
Year 11 and 12 students who require work placement for their Vocational Education & Training (VET) program, as part of their Structured Workplace Learning. For example, students undertaking a Certificate II in Agriculture.
DISCLAIMER: Valley Farmers’ role in this program is to assist the student in finding a work experience or work placement that is suitable for their study requirements and interests by connecting students with local farmers.
The final agreement, responsibility and liabilities associated with the work experience or work placement programs are between the student (and the student’s parent/s or guardian if under 18), the student’s school or VET provider and the engaged workplace.
Work Experience FAQ
Q. Do I need any prior experience?
A. No experience is necessary, that’s what work experience and work placement is all about!
Q. What types of farms are available?
A. Gippsland is a premier Australian food bowl, generating over $7 billion annually through dairy, beef, lamb, and horticultural production. We are fortunate to be surrounded by a variety of farming produce, systems, sizes and skillsets. Therefore, we will discuss your interests and determine which farm would best suit your career goals.
Q. What types of jobs will I perform?
A. This is to be decided between the student and the farmer. It could potentially be a huge range of tasks including working with animals and livestock, fencing, mechanics, administration, milking, cleaning or manual labour. Farmers will understand that you won’t be doing the full A-Z farmer’s tasks from day one. The most important consideration for both student and the farmer is to only perform tasks where the student is safe and feels safe.
Q. What hours do I work?
A. Students are not permitted to work between the hours of 11 pm and 6 am or beyond a time which is 10 hours before the start time of a work experience day or a school day which the student is expected to attend.
Your start and finish times (within the allowed hours) will be agreed to between yourself and the workplace however we remind both student and farmer that this is only supposed to be an ‘experience’ to let you decide whether to pursue agriculture further. However, as a rule, farmers and student should be aiming for an average of 7-8 hour days.
Q. How do I get to farm?
A. Students need to arrange their own transport to the workplace. This can mean being transported by family or friends or some farms are near towns so riding a bike or walking may be a possibility.
Q. Do I get paid?
A. Yes. The minimum rate of payment for students undertaking work experience and school-based work placements in Victoria is $5 per day. It is at the discretion of the engaged workplace if they wish to pay you more than the minimum required rate.
Q. Do I get to drive tractors, motorbikes and operate machinery or power tools?
Year 10 Work Experience
A. No, unfortunately the Victorian Work Experience Policy and Guidelines prohibit Year 10 Work Experience students from operating powered mobile plant (including tractors, Ag bikes and ATV’s).
https://www.vic.gov.au/safework/workplace-hazards-fact-sheets
Work Placement
A. Yes, work placement students are permitted to use these types of plant or equipment only if they are explicitly required in the performance criteria or assessment requirements of a unit of competency the student is undertaking as part of a VET qualification. Employers must provide students with the relevant health and safety induction, and any activities must be carried out under direct supervision.
Q. What items do I take for a day’s work?
Dress appropriately for the workplace and the weather conditions. This means:
Appropriate footwear such as safety boots or gumboots;
Long sleeve shirts and pants;
A hat; and
Wet weather jacket.
The workplace will provide you with any work specific Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves etc. If your work placement is a dairy then ask about wet weather pants / jackets or milking aprons as the farm may be able to lend you some. We suggest taking a backpack with a complete change of clothes and to assume that you are responsible for bringing your own snacks, water and lunch.
How to apply
Students complete the expression of interest form below.
One of Valley Farmers Career Guidance volunteers will be in touch to determine your needs and career goals.
Valley Farmers matches you with a suggested agricultural workplace for your placement.
The student then works directly with that workplace using the standard process as managed by their school and the Department of Education.