Rationale

Students preparing to transition to the workforce and to further education are best placed for success when they have confidence, self-awareness and the skills to interpret relevant information and make informed decisions about their future goals.

In VM Work Related Skills, students will develop the knowledge, skills and experiences to be active and engaged citizens and future members of the workforce, with the ability to communicate effectively, advocate for themselves and be adaptable to change. The study of WRS leads to opportunities across all industries and areas of work as well as in further education, and provides young people with the tools they need to succeed in the future.

Aims

This study enables students to:

·        understand and apply concepts and terminology related to the workplace

·        understand the complex and rapidly changing world of work and workplace environments and the impact on the individual

·        understand the relationship between skills, knowledge, capabilities and the achievement of pathway goals

·        develop effective communication skills to enable self-reflection and self-promotion

·        apply skills and knowledge in a practical setting.

Structure

This study is made up of four units.

Unit 1: Careers and learning for the future

Unit 2: Workplace skills and capabilities

Unit 3: Industrial relations, workplace environment and practice

Unit 4: Portfolio preparation and presentation

Unit 1: Careers and learning for the future

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, and 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, capabilities and education and/or employment goals. They will develop and apply strategies to communicate their findings.

• Area of Study 1: Future careers

• Area of Study 2: Presentation of career and education goals

Unit 2: Workplace skills and capabilities

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

• Area of Study 1: Skills and capabilities for employment and further education

• Area of Study 2: Transferable skills and capabilities

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:

·        wellbeing, culture and the employee-employer relationship

·        workplace relations, and

·        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. They will investigate key areas relating to workplace 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

• Area of Study 2: Workplace responsibilities and rights

• Area of Study 3: Communication and collaboration

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

• Area of Study 2: Portfolio presentation

Entry

There are no prerequisites for entry into Units 1 and 2.  Units 3 and 4 will be undertaken sequentially. Students will be introduced to the outcomes for both units at the beginning of the year so they can effectively plan for the latter part of the year and take appropriate actions to be ready for those outcomes.

Satisfactory completion

The award of satisfactory completion for a unit is based on the teacher’s decision that the student has demonstrated achievement of the set of outcomes specified for the unit. Demonstration of achievement of outcomes and satisfactory completion of a unit are determined by evidence gained through the use of assessment tools. Teachers must develop courses that provide appropriate opportunities for students to demonstrate satisfactory achievement of outcomes.

The decision about satisfactory completion of a unit is distinct from the assessment of levels of achievement. Schools will report a student’s result for each unit to the VCAA as S (Satisfactory) or N (Not Satisfactory).