Victoria University partners with top companies including Leo Burnett to offer dream placements

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4.jpgMore than 60,000 Victorian students are being given the opportunity to gain unprecedented access to five of Australia’s top companies following the launch of an innovative initiative by Victoria University that seeks to partner the State’s most passionate young people with inspirational industry leaders for the Work Experience of a Lifetime.

Open to Year 10 and 11 students state-wide, Victoria University’s interactive online competition will help open doors for students who often struggle to identify their career passion and gain meaningful work experience, giving them the chance to secure a truly immersive placement and highly-prized mentoring opportunities with powerhouses like Mushroom Group, Nova FM, Honda, Just Group and Leo Burnett.

Professor Peter Dawkins, vice-chancellor and president of Victoria University, said Victoria University strives to provide work experience opportunities for all of its students and is thrilled to extend this to high school students.

Says Dawkins: “Most Year 10 and 11 students try to secure two weeks of work experience each year which means that, in any given year, there may be more than 60,000 kids undertaking in excess of 4 million hours of work experience. Whether you’re a business, teacher, parent, or student, it is up to all of us to help ensure that every hour of this is well-spent and that participants get the real world experience they need to succeed in their professional lives.

“Victoria University has a long tradition of connecting students with high-profile organisations so they can gain experience that matches their career interests. The Australia-first Work Experience of a Lifetime project takes this one step further as we seek to give high school students the opportunity to gain invaluable experience and insights into what it’s like to work in some of the most exciting and competitive local industries.”

Ian James, managing director of Mushroom Group and adjunct professor in the College of Business at Victoria University, urged students to get their entries in and said his team is excited to help bring out knowledge of the music industry to the next generation

Says James: “The Mushroom Group covers all aspects of the business – records, publishing, touring, booking, merchandising, film and television – and the successful student will have the opportunity to meet the people who make things happen and learn what it really takes for an act to succeed. They will also learn what qualities are needed if they are to progress their own career.”

Entries to the Work Experience of a Lifetime competition are open until 6 June and require students to upload a written and visual submission showcasing their passion for an industry represented by one of Victoria University’s participating company partners. Winners will be selected shortly after and the program will run for one week in the July school holidays.

For more information, visit the website: www.vuworkexperience.com.au.