VM Work Related Skills

UNIT 1

Careers and Learning for the Future

Focus:

This unit recognises the importance of sourcing reliable information relating to future education and employment prospects to engage in effective pathway planning and decision-making. Students will investigate information relating to future employment, including entry level pathways, emerging industries, growth industries and trends, and evaluate the impact of pursuing employment in different industries. Students will reflect on this research in the context of their individual skills and capabilities and education and/or employment goals. They will develop and apply strategies to communicate their findings.

Area of Study 1: Future careers

This area of study evaluates information relating to employment by considering the reliability and credibility of information sources and the scope of labour market information available, including skills shortages and industry growth areas, emerging industries and current and future trends. Students will apply strategies to improve planning and decision-making related to gaining employment. Students will develop research skills and collate evidence and artefacts relating to their future employment prospects.

Area of Study 2: Presentation of career and education goals

This area of study enables students to consolidate their knowledge and understanding of future careers and their personal aspirations, skills, capabilities and attributes. Students will develop strategies for conducting research and presenting their research findings, seek feedback and refine their goals through self-reflection.

UNIT 2

Workplace Skills and Capabilities

Focus:

As the nature of work changes over time, so do the skills, capabilities and attributes needed for success. Fundamental to achieving personal goals relating to future education and employment is the ability to recognise and develop individual skills, capabilities and attributes that are valued in a chosen pathway. In this unit, students consider the distinction between essential employability skills, specialist and technical work skills, personal capabilities and personal attributes, and understand the importance of training and development to support the attainment and transferability of skills. Students will collect evidence and artefacts relating to their personal skills, capabilities and attributes and promote them through writing resumes, cover letters and interview preparation.

Area of Study 1: Skills and capabilities for

employment and further education This area of study considers the changing nature of work and the impact this has on future career pathways. In this outcome, students distinguish between transferable skills that are valued across industries and specialist and technical work skills required for specific industries. They are able to recognise how personal capabilities and attributes contribute to future success and demonstrate their own skills, capabilities and attributes through artefacts and evidence.

Area of Study 2: Transferable skills and capabilities

This area of study recognises the relationship between transferable and employability. Students will investigate the role of ongoing education, training and development for essential and specialist skills, and how these skills can be applied across different jobs and industries. Students will apply strategies to promote their unique skills and capabilities through writing job applications and participating in mock interviews.

UNIT 3

Industrial Relations, Workplace Environment and Practice This unit focuses on the core elements of a healthy, collaborative, inclusive and harmonious workplace and is separated into three main areas: 

1. wellbeing, culture and the employee-employer relationship

2. workplace relations

3. communication and collaboration.

Students will learn how to maintain positive working relationships with colleagues and employers, understanding the characteristics of a positive workplace culture and its relationship to business success. Students will investigate key areas relating to workplaces relations including methods for determining pay and conditions, workplace bullying, workplace discrimination, workplace harassment and dispute resolution. Students will discover how teamwork and communication skills contribute to healthy, collegiate and productive workplaces.

Area of Study 1: Workplace wellbeing and personal accountability

This area of study introduces students to the features and characteristics of a healthy, collaborative and harmonious workplace. Students examine the concept of culture and consider the characteristics of work/life balance. They analyse the interconnection between employee and employer expectations and understand the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Students apply their understanding of workplace wellbeing to simulated workplace scenarios and real-life case studies.

Area of Study 2: Workplace responsibilities and rights

This area of study gives an overview of workplace relations, including the National Employment Standards and methods of determining pay and conditions. Students consider the characteristics and legal consequences of workplace bullying, workplace discrimination and workplace harassment, and gain an overview of the common legal issues experienced in the workplace. Students examine processes to address and resolve workplace disputes.

Area of Study 3: Communication and collaboration

In this area of study, students learn to apply effective and efficient workplace communication strategies. Students consider their role and the role of teams in the workplace. Students also investigate techniques for developing and fostering professional, formal and informal networks and the role of digital and electronic collaboration and communication.

UNIT 4

Portfolio Preparation and Presentation

Portfolios are a practical and tangible way for a person to communicate relevant skills, experiences and capabilities to education providers and future employers. In this unit, students will develop and apply their knowledge and skills relating to portfolios, including the features and characteristics of a high-quality physical and/or digital portfolio. The unit culminates in the formal presentation of a completed portfolio in a panel style interview and an evaluation of the end product.

Area of Study 1: Portfolio development

This area of study outlines the purpose of a portfolio and considers the intended audiences and uses of portfolios in different contexts. Students will discuss and compare the features and uses of physical and digital portfolios and examine the characteristics of a high-quality portfolio. Students will prepare a portfolio proposal and plan the development of their portfolio.

Area of Study 2: 

Portfolio presentation This area of study provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge of portfolios by engaging in the process of developing and formally presenting their completed portfolio in a panel style interview. Students will use a range of verbal, written and practical strategies to communicate their skills, knowledge and attributes, including visual appeal, varied and appropriate content. Students will evaluate their portfolio using a range of mechanisms including self-assessment, feedback and comparison with criteria.