Choose your own adventure
Our Careers Exploration Menu
Year 5/6
Build career ambition early
Young people at the centre
Early careers education
Self exploration tools
Classroom speakers/videos
Virtual reality workplace tasters
Year 7-10
Explore options with industry
Come and try events
The reinvented careers night
Industry tours
Years 10-12
Get vital work experience
A full year work readiness program
Work placements: individual
Work experience: group
Industry challenges
Year 12
Prepare for work
Work explainer lessons
Micro credential courses
Pathways support
Local Jobs
Build career aspiration
1. Putting young people at the centre – underpinning research
Career learning needs to be underpinned by young people’s perspectives about work. LLENs and other youth-led research tells us what young people want to know:
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Young people interview 95 employers and survey 1000 young people in our region to find out what young people need to know to transition from school to work.
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Young people interview women in trades to find out why young women are not taking up the higher-paid male-dominated trades (despite having positions ear marked for them).
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Young people’s perspectives in shaping Victoria’s tourism future.
2. Early career education (year 5/6)
Career learning needs to start early to help children develop a healthy sense of self and understand who they could become by showing them exciting possibilities.
LLENs offer programs and workshops for Year 5/6 students:
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Passions & Pathways supports primary school (year 5/6) teachers to run a 10-week subject exposing students to the world of work through play-based in-class workshops, workplace visits, hands-on learning experiences, and talks with employers and Young Industry Ambassadors.
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Young people interview women in trades to find out why young women are not taking up the higher-paid male-dominated trades (despite having positions ear marked for them).
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Dream Seeds is a Youthrive Victoria 90-minute workshop designed for year 5/6 students in rural primary schools that builds aspiration, resilience and connection for rural students leaving primary school, to better prepare them for secondary school.
3. Self-exploration tools (under development)
Students need to understand who they are and what they like doing to motivate them to
keep learning at school and exploring future possibilities.
LLENs offer tools at all year levels:
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All our LLEN can connect young people to one-on-one careers coaching to develop a life and career pathway plan that matches their vision, values, interests and aspirations to assist in transition planning, subject selection, work experience and career choices for their future.
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Young people’s perspectives in shaping Victoria’s tourism future.
https://myfuture.edu.au/> Find out more
4. Classroom videos and speakers
Young people find career learning most authentic when it is delivered by people in work, and this helps them find possibilities they (or their families) have never thought of.
LLENs offer videos and speakers for all years in secondary school:
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Find a speaker or classroom video to match your students interests from one of our school friendly businesses – contact your LLENs!
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VET Champions showcases high-achieving Victorians who have risen to success through a vocational education and training (VET) pathway.
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Young Industry Ambassadors (aged 18-30) recruited from a range of workplaces and training institutions across our region, inspire school students about future opportunities, career goals and the importance of staying in school.
Find out more -
My Big Tomorrow provides educational resources and videos about a wide range of careers. It is provided by the University of Newcastle and structured around the Stage 5 curriculum to help strengthen literacy and numeracy skills. It will help your students think about the practicalities of different careers.
Explore real career options
5. Virtual Reality workplace tasters
Career learning needs to be for all students, regardless of geography.
LLENs offer VR technology experiences for all years in secondary school:
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VicVICE: Your Career Insight Virtual Reality (VR) workplace tasters (built on a multi-award winning education platform) allow secondary students to experience workplaces and try out basic industry tasks, in industries that might not be available in their geography or that they hadn’t considered because of gender norms.
Currently covering: Food and Fiber, Transport and Logistics and Health Care.
6. Come-and-try events
Young people lack confidence to choose vocational careers they have no experience of. Careers learning can let young people have a try.
LLENs offer come-and-try events for all years in secondary school:
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Find a come and try event to match your students interests from one of our school friendly businesses – contact your LLENs!
Regular events include:
Go Ag! Agricultural tasters and experiences
Hospitality immersion experiences
Allied Health come-and-try day
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VicVICE: Your Career Insight Virtual Reality (VR) workplace tasters (built on a multi award winning education platform) allow secondary students to experience workplaces and try out basic industry tasks, in industries that might not be available in their geography or they hadn’t considered because of gender norms. Currently covering: Food and Fiber, Transport and Logistics and Health Care.
7. The re-invented careers night
Young people and their families need a chance to talk to real people in work about options
that match their interests and are available now, and in the future.
LLENs have reinvented the careers night for later secondary school levels:
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Find Their Feet reinvents the careers night for students in Year 9/10 pre-subject selection. Created for secondary students and their families, this is not your typical careers event or expo. It uses student interests, strengths and skills as a starting point to curate one-on-one discussions with future-focussed employers. Students leave #FindTheirFeet feeling inspired and confident with a much clearer idea of where they’re headed and how to get there.
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Contact your LLENs!
8. Industry tours
Industry tours are an important way for young people to get a sense of the practicalities of different careers and to speak to people in work.
LLENs offer tours for later secondary school levels:
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Find a tour to suit your students from one of our school-friendly businesses – contact your LLENs!
Get vital work experience
9. A full year work readiness program
Some students need more exposure to the world of work to keep them connected to school.
LLENs offer a full year program for young people at risk of leaving school from Year 10:
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Project Ready supports teachers to run a year-long weekly VET program of individual and group work placements, community projects, wellness activities, work readiness activities and industry visits (it includes Certificate II in Active Volunteering) for groups of students at risk of disengaging in years 10 to 12.
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Build 10 is a Certificate II Building and Construction program (35 week), developed by Bendigo TAFE with support from DET and GLLEN, targeting Year 10 students within Bendigo Government schools with some risk of early school leaving who also have a strong interest in pursuing a pathway into the construction industry.
10. Work placements: individual
A lack of work experience is the main reason young people are disadvantaged in labour markets.
LLENs connect young people with placements, apprenticeships and work experiences.
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Structured Workplace Learning Statewide Portal lets you find current:
Work placements
school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs),
other work experience opportunities
offered by employers across Victoria.
11. Work experience: group
While work experience is absolutely vital, individual work experience placements can be hard to find, and employers in our region report they don’t mind what that experience is, including community involvements. LLENs offer group work experiences focused on community or industry challenges.
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Youth Take Over is a group work experience program for years 11 to 12 and school-leavers that helps build pathways to employment in an industry that interests them. Young people are mentored by community and industry experts and work in a team to complete a project that responds to a community or industry challenge, culminating in a ‘take over’ event to showcase their work.
12. Industry challenges
Short industry challenges can also give young people vital experience.
LLENs can connect young people to challenges and skills development opportunities.
Challenges involving tech skills:
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Youth Take Over is a group work experience program for years 11 to 12 and school-leavers that helps build pathways to employment in an industry that interests them. Young people are mentored by community and industry experts and work in a team to complete a project that responds to a community or industry challenge, culminating in a ‘take over’ event to showcase their work.
Challenges involving trades
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Wet Trades Program (CCLEN) is 9-week program aimed at year 8-12 students interested in 'wet trades' (e.g bricklaying, painting, tiling). Students attend TAFE one day per week to learn about, and try their hand at, these trades and get their White Card qualification.
Get vital work experience
13. Work explainer lessons
Young people report they need a better understanding of work, and in particular work finance and rights (TFN, minimum wage, superannuation).
LLENs will develop explainer lessons for classrooms.
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(in development)
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short, interactive in-school sessions delivered by the LLEN, which aim to support young people in understanding the importance of those key employability skills, applications and interview process, work finance and rights and how to present for the world of work (social media etc.).
14. Micro-credential courses (under development)
There are a range of other experiences young people would like to leave school with and that employers consider advantageous on a CV.
LLENs can connect students to opportunities to get ‘micro-credentials’.
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Find a micro-credential course to match your students interests from one of our school friendly businesses – contact your LLENs!
L2P learner driver mentor program helps young people to get the supervised driving experience required for a probationary licence (Campaspe Cohuna LLEN hold the L2P contract).
White card (face-to-face construction industry induction training) with an approved RTO.
First Aid (St Johns Yo Bendigo)
Responsible Service of Alcohol and Barista (Yo Bendigo)
Traffic control
Header and truck driving
Learn Local courses for your area includes pathways to work subjects (for over 18s)
15. Pathways support
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The Victorian Government Jobs and Skills Centres provide free information to everyone – anywhere in the region – on careers, job searching, free TAFE, other opportunities. Located at Bendigo TAFE, 154 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo 3550, 1300 100 606).
Head Start is a school-based apprenticeship and traineeship (SBAT) program that helps students in years 10-12 get paid on-the-job training and employment that contributes to their VCE, VCE Vocational Major or VPC and leads to a qualification. Speak to your LLEN for your local contact.
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The Victorian Government has created Jobs and Skills Advocates who can help young people with all aspects of finding employment, training or education and getting other support you might need. They also post special opportunities on the Jobs Victoria online hub. Anyone can call the hotline 1300 208 575 or visit an Advocate in the Bendigo Library.
Axis Employment are a Disability Employment Service who deliver NDIS funded employment programs and services to people with disability in our region. You can visit their website to request an appointment at their Bendigo or other offices.
Access Australia is an employment service that specialises in supporting people with disability, mental health issues and youth. You can visit their website or visit their head office in Bendigo at 18-20 St Andrews Ave. Freecall 1800 268 549
Bendigo and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC) can help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job seekers with resumes and being job ready as well as linking you to apprenticeships and traineeships and employment service providers. Call (03) 5442 4947 or visit 119 Prouses Road, North Bendigo.
Headspace Work and Study can help young people aged between 12 and 25 and currently receiving or seeking support for mental health through a participating headspace centre, with looking for a job, study and with career advice and mentoring. They offer online support or centre based support in Bendigo.
Jobs Victoria Career Counsellors provide personalised career guidance. This is an online service, and includes helping you find employment support, training and education, information and tips on getting a job, support in applying for jobs and connecting you to other services such as housing support or counselling.
Disability Employment Services can help you get ready to work, write your resumé, train in interview skills, help you find a job and support you once you are the workforce. There are eligibility requirements for this service.
Transition to Work
Workforce Australia Program - If you have left school early, or you’re having difficulty finding a job after school, the Transition to Work program can help. The program provides tailored, intensive support to prepare for work, apprenticeships, traineeships or education. There are eligibility requirements for this service.
The Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program offers foundation courses in language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills. It also offers courses that let you improve these skills while you work towards a qualification. There are eligibility requirements for this service.
ParentsNext help parents with children from 9 months to 6 years old, who get Parenting Payment plan for future study or employment. Support includes helping you set study and work goals and help you access services in the local community.
16. Local Jobs search
Effective career learning is underpinned by real labour market information. Knowing what is really on offer can stop young people choosing from a limited menu of 10 popular options (whether they suit them or not) that research has shown is the norm.
LLEN have built a local jobs portal for our region and young people and provide a lesson and video explainer for students to explore both entry level jobs and jobs in their interest area:
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Local Jobs is an online portal for jobs in the north central region of Victoria. You can teach students how to search for a job using our free teacher toolkit and get our monthly information reports to inform your careers education. Sponsorship from Agnico Eagle Community Partnerships Program allows the LLENs to offer the use of the portal for free, for both employer and job seeker members.