Work experience is an ideal way of assisting students to identify potential career interest areas, become ‘work ready’ and build employability skills.
Arnold, a student at Berendale School, is a proud retail trainee at Melbourne’s Southern Golf Club receiving support and assistance from two Ticket to Work partners; Youth Connect and Marriott Employment Options.
Youth Connect’s Workplace Learning Coordinators Program (WLC) has been a partner in the Bayside Glen Eira Kingston ‘Ticket to Work’ program for four years. Ticket to Work is a program that aims to improve the employment and education outcomes of young people with disability.
Youth Connect’s WLC Program assists Ticket to Work students through the provision of work experience placements, across an array of industry areas, in their final years of school. Work experience is an ideal way of assisting these students to identify potential career interest areas, become ‘work ready’ and build employability skills. In addition, work experience is often a gateway to ongoing employment with that business. One such type of employment is School-based Traineeships, whereby students undertake a mix of paid employment, vocational training and senior school studies.
In 2014, as part of the Ticket to Work program, Youth Connect assisted a student from Berendale School to find the “job of his dreams”. Arnold, who has a very keen interest in golf, was successful in his one month work experience trial, organised by Youth Connect, with Southern Golf Course. Through Youth Connect’s liaison with this employer, Arnold was offered a School-based Traineeship in their Pro Shop. Arnold is now working two-days per week, undertaking a ‘Certificate III in Retail’ and spending the rest of his week at school completing his Year 12 studies.
Peter, the Manager of Southern Golf Club’s Pro Shop, said “The traineeship Arnold is undertaking here at Streat Golf has allowed Arnold to be directly involved in an industry he is passionate about, and helps our business Streat Golf to provide Members and guests with a greater level of service. Arnold’s contributions to the business have yielded some positive comments in his short time, whether it is through small tasks like stocking drinks and replenishing stock on the floor or to the finer details members notice, like having their Golf Clubs cleaned before they play golf. The tasks Arnold is currently undertaking aid the business in the day-to-day running of being a Member’s Service Industry.”
Youth Connect worked closely with another Ticket to Work partner, Marriott Employment Options, to secure Arnold’s traineeship. Marriott Employment Options, A Disability Employment Service, now work closely with Arnold and Southern Golf Course through the provision of ongoing assistance and support. This assistance means that Arnold and his workplace colleagues have access to regular disability employment expertise and advice. Of his traineeship, Arnold says 'The people here are very nice and help me learn new things. I like coming to work here on Wednesday and Fridays because I like all the jobs I have to do."
Arnold is due to complete his traineeship in 2014 and at this stage is hoping that this is the beginning of a long career in the golf industry.
