Employers
Did you know?
91% of employers who hosted a student said that the young person was engaged in the placement
91% of employers felt the process to organise placements was easy
79% of employers felt supported by the school
89% of students enjoyed their placement
81% of industry partners said working with a tech school helped improve community knowledge of their industries
Employer Resources
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FMPLLEN is contracted by The Department of Education to link schools and students with industry and employers.
We have various ways for you to connect :
Hosting a student for work placement
School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Industry Visits – for teachers and / or students
Industry Videos – tell your story in a video
FMP Career Expo
School expos
FMPLLEN professional development events
Speaker opportunities
Industry partnerships
If you are interested in any of these options, please contact us – info@fmpllen.com.au
More information about how to ‘Get your business or industry involved in work-based learning for school students.’
How can I get involved with local young people?
Not sure where to start? These common questions can help guide you.
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Getting started is easy. Simply register your interest and our team will be in touch to understand what might work best for your business.
We’ll guide you through the options and support you from there
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DescThere are a range of flexible options, including:
Work experience placements
Structured workplace learning (SWL)
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs)
Industry tours, guest speaking or mentoring
We’ll help you find an option that suits your capacity.ription text goes here
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This can vary depending on the opportunity.
Some employers host a student for a short placement, while others choose ongoing involvement. We’ll work with you to find something manageable and realistic.
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Absolutely. Many employers start here.
We provide guidance and support to help you feel confident, and you don’t need prior experience to get involved.
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You won’t be doing this alone.
We provide initial guidance and help coordinate connections with schools and students. Depending on your needs, we can also connect you with other local services and supports to help make the experience work well for your business.
We’re here to help you get started and point you in the right direction.
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We understand that things don’t always go perfectly.
If any concerns arise, we’re here to help work through them and provide support along the way.
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Students are supported by their school and are at different stages of readiness.
Part of the experience is helping them build confidence and develop workplace skills — and we’re here to support that journey with you.
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Yes — we’ll work with you to understand your preferences and what would suit your workplace best.
Our goal is to create a positive and meaningful match.
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Students receive from their employer $5 per day during either Work Experience or Structured Work Placement.
We can talk you through any requirements depending on the type of involvement.
How we support you
You won’t be doing this alone.
We provide initial guidance to help you understand the different ways you can get involved, and support you to connect with the right school or opportunity.
Depending on your needs, we can also connect you with other local services and partners who can provide additional support.
Our role is to help you get started and ensure you feel supported along the way.
Even a small level of involvement can make a meaningful difference — and we’re here to help you take that first step
What’s the difference between: Work Experience / Structured Workplace Learning ?
In Victoria, Work Experience and Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) are both programs that allow secondary students to learn in a workplace, but they are quite different in purpose, structure, and requirements. Here’s a clear breakdown:
Work Experience (WE)
Who it's for: Usually Year 9 and 10 students (sometimes Year 11).
Purpose: To give students a general taste of the world of work, develop employability skills, and explore career interests.
Connection to studies: Not necessarily linked to what the student is studying at school – it’s more about career exploration.
Duration: Typically 1–2 weeks (usually block placement).
Assessment/Outcomes: Not formally assessed; more about personal development and career insights.
Payment: Students receive a minimum token payment ($5–$10 per day, set by the Department of Education).
Insurance: Covered by the Department of Education.
To view a copy of the latest Victorian Work Experience Arrangement Form -
Structured Workplace Learning (SWL)
Who it's for: Mainly VCE Vocational Major (VM), VPC, or VET students in Year 10–12.
Purpose: To provide practical, hands-on experience directly related to the student’s VET or applied learning studies.
Connection to studies: Must be directly linked to the student’s course (e.g. a student doing VET Hospitality will do SWL in a café/restaurant).
Duration: Can be block (e.g. one or two weeks) or one day per week over a term/semester.
Assessment/Outcomes: Students often complete structured logbooks or tasks that contribute to their VET competencies.
Payment: Token payment is the same ($5–$10 per day).
Insurance: Also covered by the Department of Education when arranged through the school.
To view a copy of the latest Victorian Structured Workplace Arrangement Form -
In short:
Work Experience = career exploration, general introduction to work.
SWL = industry-specific, linked to VET/applied learning, with structured tasks and assessed outcomes.
How does SWL support work readiness for students?
Structured workplace learning provides the opportunity for:
enhanced skill development
practical application of industry knowledge
assessment of units of competency
achievement of some learning outcomes
enhanced employment opportunities.
How do I offer Work Experience to students?
The FMPLLEN coordinate a School to Work (Portal) which gives access to employers to join the local list of companies who offer work experience and structured workplace Learning to local secondary students.
see link below
https://workplacements.education.vic.gov.au/guides/employer/
To access a ‘host employer guide’
click the video above to hear from girls in trades as a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship
click the video above to hear from parents who have their child enrolled in a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship
School Based Apprenticeships & Traineeships (SBATs)
Get paid to learn while you’re still at school, start your career early while completing your education.
Benefits include:
Available across many industries
Earn money while completing school
Start your career pathway while completing secondary school
Can count toward VCE / VCEVM or VPC
Provide block credit in VCE & VCEVM
Useful links:
HeadStart - Support provided for SBAT’s in Govt Schools
