Career Development - Voluntary Work Experience
Voluntary work experience is separate and distinct from any course related practicum or clinical placement.
Compulsary insurance for voluntary work experience
Before commencement of unpaid voluntary work experience you must lodge, and have approved, an application for insurance coverage.
If you are not sure if you need to complete this form, or have any other questions regarding work experience, contact a Career Development Officer for further information.
University insurance policies protect a student undertaking a work experience opportunity that is approved by the University's Careers Service.
Why do voluntary work experience?
Relevant work experience, much like vacation work, is becoming increasingly important in terms of providing career development opportunities for students.
The advantages of voluntary work experience can include:
- Something to strengthen your resume
- Make contacts to unearth future job opportunities
- Gain new perspectives on employment and career pathways
Work Experience supports the further development of (selected) career-related graduate attributes:
Personal Management
- Develop abilities to maximise personal characteristics, experiences and relationships that improve life, learning and work
- Develop abilities for building positive relationships in life and work
- Develop strategies for responding to life and work changes
Learning and Work Exploration
- Link life-long learning to the career building process
- Participate in continuous learning supportive of career goals
- Locate, interpret, evaluate and use career information
- Evaluate social, demographic, technological, occupational and industrial trends that impact on work and learning opportunities
Career Building
- Develop abilities to seek, obtain/create and maintain preferred work/career options
- Engage in career decision-making
- Incorporate adult life reality into career decision-making
- Make career decisions suited to, and supportive of, personal needs, values and goals
- Demonstrate an understanding of engaging in, and managing the career building process
The Careers Service maintains a work experience register in order to recognise and approve career development activities engaged in by students.