- Facilitated Work Experience
Highlands LLEN manages facilitated work experience placements, connecting students with corporate partners across growing industries.
- Work Experience – Explore Working In…
Explore Working In provides students with supported industry experiences, showcasing the diversity of roles, workplaces, and pathways each industry has to offer.
Facilitated Work Experience\
The Highlands LLEN Facilitated Work Experience Programs are delivered through strong partnerships between secondary schools across the Highlands region, local employers, training providers, and the Highlands Local Learning and Employment Network (HLLEN).
These programs provide students with structured, supported work experience opportunities across a diverse range of industries, allowing them to explore real workplaces, develop employability skills, and gain insight into potential career pathways. Highlands LLEN manages employer engagement, coordination, and logistics to ensure placements are safe, meaningful, and aligned with school requirements.
Facilitated Work Experience Programs are designed to complement school-based career education, supporting students to build confidence, industry awareness, and informed pathway decision-making.
- Grampians Health
Grampians Health is one of Victoria’s largest regional health services, delivering comprehensive care across hospitals, aged care, community health, mental health, and specialist clinical services. Serving communities throughout the Grampians region, it offers a broad understanding of careers in nursing, allied health, administration, support services, and healthcare operations.
- City of Ballarat
The City of Ballarat is one of regional Victoria’s largest and most diverse local government organisations. It delivers a wide range of community services, programs, infrastructure, and facilities that support the wellbeing, development, and growth of the Ballarat region. As a major employer, the City offers insight into many career pathways across community services, infrastructure, planning, events, and administration. Work experience opportunities exist in areas such as the animal shelter, libraries, childcare centres, the Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre, the Eureka Centre, and other council operations.
- UFS
UFS is a long-standing, community-owned, not-for-profit health organisation dedicated to improving the wellbeing of people across the Ballarat region. With services including pharmacies, medical centres, allied health, and community health programs, UFS plays a key role in supporting accessible healthcare. The organisation provides insight into a wide range of health, customer service, and community support careers.
- Pyrenees Shire Council
Pyrenees Shire Council is a community-focused rural local government organisation supporting residents across its townships and farmlands. The Council delivers essential services, maintains local infrastructure, and drives community development initiatives that strengthen the region. It provides insight into careers within local government including planning,
- Moorabool Shire Council
Moorabool Shire Council is a rapidly growing local government area committed to creating thriving, connected communities across its urban and rural regions. The Council delivers a wide range of services, programs, and infrastructure—including community services, planning, environment, recreation, works, and customer service. It offers valuable exposure to diverse career options such as communications, arts, economic development, libraries, emergency management, maternal and child health, statutory and strategic planning, sustainable environment, and sports and recreation.
Explore Working In\
The Explore Working In programs are facilitated work experience initiatives delivered through partnerships between secondary schools, local employers, training providers, and the Highlands Local Learning and Employment Network (HLLEN).
These programs are designed to showcase the diversity that the trades and industries have to offer, providing students with opportunities to visit workplaces and see first-hand what is being done in real work environments. Students meet local employers and engage in meaningful conversations with people working in the industry across our region, hearing directly about their roles, experiences, and career pathways, as well as the education and training requirements and options needed to enter the industry.
Explore Working In supports students to build industry awareness, confidence, and informed decision-making as they consider future education, training, and employment pathways.
- Agriculture
This work experience gives students a hands-on look at the variety of careers in modern farming. The day starts at Federation TAFE, where students learn about training options and career pathways in agriculture. Students then head out on a bus tour to four local farms, exploring dairy, cropping, sheep and beef farming. Along the way, they’ll meet farmers, see different farming systems in action, and learn how technology, animal care and sustainability all play a role in today’s agriculture industry. This program is perfect for students who are curious about farming and want to see what working in agriculture is really like.
- Big Builds
This work experience provides students with a hands-on introduction to large-scale construction and infrastructure projects shaping the Ballarat region. The day begins at one of Ballarat’s leading commercial building companies, where students will learn about project planning, site management, safety, and the wide range of careers involved in major builds. Students will then take part in guided tours of key local infrastructure projects, giving them behind-the-scenes insight into how large builds come together—from concept to completion—and the skills, trades, and professional roles required across the industry.
- Automotive
This work experience gives students an insight into the diverse and evolving automotive industry. The day will commence at Federation TAFE, where students will be introduced to automotive training pathways, workshop environments, and the skills required across the industry. Students will then participate in guided tours of a range of local automotive workplaces, including a car dealership, heavy road transport operations, and agricultural automotive businesses. Throughout the day, students will also have the opportunity to meet and chat with local tradespeople working in the industry, allowing them to ask questions and gain firsthand insight into real career pathways
- Finishing Trades
This work experience provides students with an introduction to finishing trades within the construction industry. The day will be conducted at the Building Skills Centre, where students will discuss training and career pathways and gain an understanding of the skills required across finishing trades. Students will also be given the opportunity to take part in hands-on activities in wall and floor tiling, plastering, and bricklaying, allowing them to experience the practical nature of these trades in a supported learning environment.
- Welding Industry
This work experience provides students with an in-depth introduction to welding within the manufacturing industry. The program will commence at BGT, where students will have the opportunity to complete a practical welding project while learning about workplace safety, core skills, and training pathways. The program also includes guided tours of local businesses, showcasing the diversity of manufacturing across the region. Tours will give students behind-the-scenes insight into commercial construction, large-scale manufacturing, and general welding workshops, highlighting the wide range of career opportunities available within the welding trade.
- ADF
This work experience provides students with the opportunity to spend a day at the local Ranger Barracks, experiencing life within the Australian Defence Force. Students will gain insight into Defence careers, daily routines, teamwork, and the skills required to work in a disciplined and structured environment. The day will explore a range of roles within the Australian Defence Force, including pathways into the full-time Army as well as Army Reserve options, helping students understand training requirements, expectations, and potential career pathways.
- Police/Youth Justice
This work experience provides students with an introduction to policing and youth justice. The day will commence with presentations by people currently working within the justice sector, where students will be introduced to training pathways, entry requirements, industry expectations, and the skills required for roles in policing and youth justice, including communication, ethical decision-making, teamwork, and community engagement.
Students will then participate in guided visits to local policing and youth justice services, gaining insight into the range of roles and career pathways available within the justice system. Through these experiences, students will learn about day-to-day responsibilities, the importance of safeguarding and confidentiality, and the role these services play in supporting community safety and working with young people.
- Beauty
This work experience provides students with an introduction to the beauty industry. The day will commence with a training provider specialising in beauty services, where students will be introduced to training pathways, industry expectations, and the skills required across beauty roles, including professionalism, hygiene standards, client communication, and workplace presentation.
Students will then participate in guided visits to a range of local beauty businesses, such as salons and service providers (including brows, nails and a day spa), giving them insight into the diverse career opportunities available within the industry. Through these experiences, students will gain an understanding of day-to-day salon operations, the range of beauty services offered, and pathways into further training and employment within the sector
- Food and Service
This work experience provides students with an introduction to the food and service industry. The day will commence at Federation TAFE, where students will be introduced to training pathways, industry expectations, and the skills required across food and service roles. Students will then participate in guided tours of a range of local employers, including a restaurant, food manufacturing business, bakery, and an events venue, giving them insight into the diverse career opportunities available within the industry
- Aged Care / Disability
This work experience provides students with an introduction to the aged care and disability support sector. The day will commence with a local training provider specialising in aged care and disability, where students will be introduced to training pathways, industry expectations, and the core skills required to work in care and support roles, including communication, empathy, and person-centred care.
Students will then participate in guided visits to a range of local aged care and disability support services, gaining insight into the different settings and career opportunities available within the sector. Through these experiences, students will learn about the day-to-day responsibilities of care and support workers, explore the importance of dignity and safeguarding, and better understand pathways into further training and employment in this growing industry.