School and beyond

A website aimed at NSW students and their parents, teachers and employers has been launched by the NSW Teachers Federation. It is called Students @ Work and is full of information about work/study balance, how many hours at work is optimum (especially in the senior years) and a host of links to other work-related services for students.

It also contains recent (2007) local research reports on full time students who also work part time. Interesting reading!

A range of great online safety resources for students can be found at SafeWork SA. These tests and activities target different age groups and cover a range of industries (including hospitality, office environments, retail, supermarkets) as well as generic activities, and many provide a certificate on completion.

We have used the Hunt the Hazards activity – a highly visual, interactive approach to hazards across many workplaces. Hunt the Hazards is suitable for students in Year 8 and 9, but all the activities would be a terrific addition to any work-placement preparation, allowing students to consolidate their learning.