1. Workplace Learning Procedures 2016

2. What is the focus?
There is a strong focus on the safety and well being of young people whilst undertaking workplace learning
There is an emphasis on using workplace learning to support the young person’s career development

3. Key Changes
Name change from Guidelines to Procedures reflects the need to distinguish between mandated practice and recommended practice
In line with Nyland Royal Child Protection Systems Commission Report August 2016:
Section 2.5 indicates employers must use DCSI clearance unit for employees
Section 4.1
Risk Assessment section updated & form changed
Child Safe & Friendly Environment section updated

4. Risk Management and Duty of Care - keeping students safe
Every school has a duty of care to all enrolled students.
That duty is to take reasonable care to protect the student from foreseeable risk of injury.
Student wellbeing is the prime driver when conducting a risk assessment for work placement.
Work through the following process. Consider the:
student involved eg age , maturity, experience, competence, cultural sensitivity, language
barriers, special needs,
school’s knowledge of the workplace eg, has it been used before, does the site need to be
reviewed prior to placement?
workplace activity (eg ,industry area, business activity)
type of work placement provider ( eg large company, small business, child safe environment)
frequency of placement (eg block, week at a time, one day a week)
supervision of the workplace learning (eg, will the student be working in groups or in isolation?)
management of the work placement (eg, workplace provider’s experience, qualifications
Risk management is about the student and their wellbeing and their safety in the workplace.
Happens in a number of ways
Workplace provider’s legislative responsibility
Schools risk minimization – consider the individual student and their capability
Teachers make the judgement on their basis of knowing the student
Student must be able to recognise and identify a risk, or unsafe situation and know how to respond appropriately to manage that situation

5. Program of Workplace Preparation
Now 5 hours minimum
Students need to be prepared to:
Recognise reasonable and foreseeable potential risks to themselves/others at the worksite
Identify and safely respond to the potential risk
Be able to have a plan / strategy by which they can keep themselves free from injury/harm as a result of the risk
Was 3-4 hours.
When linked to curriculum 5 hours will be exceeded.
Premised on need to ensure students will be safe AND know what to do if they feel unsafe.
Child protection curriculum is an excellent resource to access.

6. Forms Updated Workplace Learning Agreement Form
Maritime Workplace Learning Agreement Form (Principal to sign)
New
Accommodation Away From Home Form
(Principal to sign)
Addendum to the Workplace Learning Agreement Form (Principal to sign)
The Forms
Two Forms (which have gone updates)
Introduction on 2 new forms
The wording in these forms must not be altered – the only thing that can be added is a school logo
Consider establishing published timelines (to all parties) for the distribution and receipt of completed forms
Teachers should spend some of the preparation time explaining the structure and content of the forms and the order in which they should be completed.
NB School signs last because it has the final say on approval (or not!)
NB - Principal MUST sign (due to increased level of risk)
WLA – Student will only be 14 at time of placement
Placement is a Maritime Placement
Placement requires overnight accommodation away from home
Addendum to the placement

7. Other Forms Student Risk Management Summary
Workplace Preparation Statement of Completion
SA Unions

8. Information booklets Directed at the recipients
Language intends to communicate purpose and risk of work placement
Parent / caregiver booklet updated
Workplace providers booklet is updated
Student brochure is new
Parent/caregiver and workplace provider information booklets are now directed to the participants rather than a ‘copy and paste’ from the Procedures
Parent booklet points out ‘new worker’ status and suggests ways they can support their student.
For the first time there is a student booklet styled along similar lines to parent/provider booklet in language directed at the student
WPL agreement form updated to reflect changes
Maritime form more straightforward – risk assessment a crucial part of placement around water .
Parent brochure aims to inform about the value of workplace learning,
discuss the issues around WH&S and in particular young workers, raises CSE
and makes suggestions about how students can be supported.
The workplace provider brochure is similar to the parent/guardian brochure and is forthright is the discussion about CSE and harassment.

9. Work Health and Safety Act 2012
A workplace is defined as:
A place where work is carried out for a business or undertaking and includes any place a worker goes, or is likely to be, while at work’.
New WH&S requirements - students on work experience recognised in Act new terminology PCBU workers – new expectations for responsibility
SafeWork SA has a resource that includes:
Topics that progress from basic through to more complex concepts and it is recommended that the course be provided sequentially. The topics covered are:
Health and safety is important at work
Employer (Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU)) responsibilities to protect workers
Worker rights and responsibilities
Identifying, understanding and controlling workplace hazards
Recognising and protecting yourself from a range of hazards
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Emergency procedures
Work-related injury and illness
Workplace hazardous substances.

10. Work Health and Safety Act 201210
Work Health and Safety Act 2012
A worker is defined as:
A person is a worker if the person carries out work in any capacity for a person conducting a business or undertaking, including work as:
An employee; or
A contractor or subcontractor; or
An employee of a contractor or subcontractor; or
An employee of a labour hire company who has been assigned to work in the person’s business or undertaking; or
An outworker; or
An apprentice or trainee; or
A student gaining work experience; or
A volunteer; or
A person of a prescribed class.
A safe working environment is a workplace that is free of hazards and risks to the people working there.
The employer is responsible for providing and maintaining a clean, tidy and safe working environment.
This includes:
Clean and tidy work areas with rubbish and debris removed
Clean and level floors with no tripping hazards or open pits
Storage of tools, equipment and chemicals
Similarly, you the worker are also responsible for checking that your work area is clean and tidy and that your actions and behaviour do not create an unsafe working environment.

11. Work Health and Safety Act 201211
Work Health and Safety Act 2012
Things an employer (PCBU) must provide
A safe work environment
Safe systems of work
Information, instruction and training
Supervision
Personal protective equipment when required
Plant, equipment and substances in a safe condition
Freedom from:
Discrimination / harassment / bullying
violence
SafeWork SA Online activities - website links
Passport to Safety
Hunt for Hazards
Safety Check
Virtual Hotel
Virtual Office
Virtual Supermarket

13. Children’s Protection Act 1993 - A child safe environment
The focus of a child safe organisation is not simply to create an environment that minimises risk or danger.
Rather it is about building an environment which is both child-safe and child-friendly, where children feel respected, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.
From Child Safe Environments
Principles of Good Practice
The Safety and Wellbeing of Students in Workplaces
Whilst there is currently no legal obligation for personnel within workplaces to undergo screening assessments, it is important that schools organising the placements take responsibility for the thorough preparation of the student and the assessment of the placement and its safety and suitability for the student.
Whilst the completion of an assessment may be a useful tool in determining risk, it is not a substitute for the thorough preparation of the student and assessment of work placement, its suitability for the student and the active support of the student during the placement.
Students entering organisations that provide child care or baby-sitting service, residential or overnight care of children, or perform work in the area of juvenile justice, child protection or children’s disability services, will need to have a screening assessment of the type the organisation requires.

14. Equal Opportunity Act 1984
The Equal Opportunity Commission provides three main services in South Australia:
Information
Education
Assessing and resolving complaints

15. Timelines VERY important
Work experience is Week 8 Term 1, 2017 (20 to 24th March)
Forms need to be to us two weeks BEFORE placement begins - Monday Week 6 Term 1
WHY? –
enter data base
risk assessment
letter to employer BEFORE placement begins

16. Key messages Workplace learning is student centred
Workplace learning is linked to curriculum
3 guiding Acts
Best practice is evidenced based
The content of the Workplace Learning Procedures is not negotiable