WorkReady

The University of New England has a strong focus on providing career ready graduates who can provide leadership in Australia and across the globe.

WorkReady is a program available only to enrolled UNE students and will provide an opportunity to gain practical knowledge and skills relevant to both study and career choice, providing students with the skills and ability to make informed decisions on career direction.

WorkReady does not cover overseas placements.

What are the benefits of completing a WorkReady unit?

UNE students will be provided with an excellent opportunity to gain a strong practical knowledge of their chosen career. WorkReady also provides students with the ability to make professional contacts within work situations and to obtain invaluable references on the completion of work placements.

A number of students are still confused as to what career path they may take. WorkReady provides the opportunity to ‘taste’ different career directions, industries and the suitability of their own abilities. Some students may decide that they need to change their course of study, their previously chosen career path or may decide to continue studying at a postgraduate level before they enter employment.

It is expected that as students complete WorkReady, they will also be developing highly regarded employability skills such as:

• Planning and organising
• Communication
• Problem Solving
• Initiative and Enterprise
• Team Work
• Learning
• Self Management
• Technology

These practical skills are invaluable to a student’s future employer, therefore making UNE students more competitive in the graduate market.

How can students participate in WorkReady?

There are three main components of WorkReady – all as important as each other.

1. WORK300/500

This is an academic unit that is part of your course of study. It will have weighting towards your Award, and there will be both a practical on-the-job component (a minimum of 120 hours) as well as an assessment task, set and assessed by a UNE Academic in your School. This unit may only be completed once throughout the course of your Award.

If you are enrolled in WORK300/500 for Sem 1,2010, you must have the following completed by the 14th March 2010:

• have this Blackboard unit completed with the workbook and resume submitted to the Student Assist office
• have the academic assessment portfoilio completed and signed by your Academic Supervisor
• have organised a host employer for your 120 hours of work placement

If you have any difficulties, please contact the Student Assist office on 02 6773 2897 to make an appointment to discuss with a Careers Officer.

Your academic assessment task will be due by the date assigned by your supervising academic or the 15th June at the latest.

2. WorkReady – Work Placement

This is a hands-on experience in a work place of your choice. There are no time constraints, or assessment tasks involved. You may take a Workready placement as often as you wish throughout your time at UNE.

If you wish to complete another WorkReady placement at a future time, you will need to contact the Career Development - Student Assist office for another Employer Agreement.

3. Professional Work Placement

Some Awards stipulate that you must complete a number of hours of on-the-job training before you can graduate. WorkReady can assist in providing insurance for these non-paid placements and will also provide documentation of the hours completed and where the placements have been undertaken.

You may be eligible to complete a combination of WorkReady components.

All placements must be approved through Career Development – Student Assist.

What are the procedures?

Go the the tab at the top of this page for the program that you are interested in, this will give you a step-by-step guide to what is required.

All paperwork for your placement must be completed at least 2 weeks prior to your placement commencement.

WorkReady paperwork is only processed on Tuesdays, so it is important for you to submit your paperwork early.

If you want more information, please make an appointment with a Careers Officer on 02 6773 2897 - for off-campus students, appointments can be done via phone.