Advancing Careers
University isn’t for everyone. Many young people thrive through hands-on learning, so we encourage apprenticeships as a pathway to a career. Apprenticeships combine paid, on-the-job experience with formal training at TAFE or another provider, apprentices earn while they learn, and employers develop future talent while helping address skills shortages.
What are we doing about Apprenticeships?
VET in schools is changing lives, re-engaging young people at risk or already disengaged. For youth who don’t fit traditional academics, hands-on learning replaces isolation with confidence and purpose. It provides recognised skills and a clear pathway to meaningful, rewarding careers.
Shape the pipeline: Align school-based VET training with your industry needs.
Apprenticeships and placements create a steady skills pipeline.
Lower recruitment risk and try before you buy.
Supervising apprentices builds your team’s capability.
“Grow your own” workforce and tackle shortages.
VET pathways deliver strong employment results.
Real Stories. Real Impact.
Hear from industry leaders across NSW on how work placement is shaping the next generation.
Meet Neil from FutureFlip, a successful construction business owner who’s passionate about giving back. Neil's journey started at just 14 years old through a school work placement program. By 18, he was a fully qualified carpenter, and by 19, he’d launched his own business.
Now in his 30s, Neil reflects on how VET in Schools helped him discover his strengths, especially when school wasn't the right fit. “I wasn’t great at school, but once I got on site, I realised I was good at something,” he says. Today, he runs a thriving business and wants more young people to know just how rewarding (and lucrative!) a career in construction can be.
Over the past decade, FutureFlip has hosted more than 400 students, around two every week. Neil says it's a privilege to meet students, parents and teachers, and see firsthand the impact of hands-on learning. “VET in schools has come such a long way. It’s so important for young people to start preparing early, even from 13 or 14, because it can seriously change their life path.”
Watch the video to hear Neil’s inspiring story and see why he’s such a strong believer in workplace learning.
Step inside the Botanical Restaurant and hear from Paul at Highfield-Feros Group, a passionate hospitality leader committed to building the future of the industry, one young chef at a time.
Paul’s own career began in a family-run restaurant while he was still at school. Now, he’s giving back by offering meaningful opportunities to the next generation through work placements. Filmed inside the restaurant’s open kitchen, we see students gaining hands-on experience in a real-world setting, skills that often lead to jobs, with several students going on to be hired by the team.
Paul says work placement strengthens the hospitality industry by developing local talent and helping to close the skills gap. “We see it as an extension of what we already do, giving back and creating pathways for young people in our community,” he explains.
He also loves how easy it is to partner with work placement providers. “No paperwork headaches, just simple, rewarding collaboration.”
Watch the video to see how Highfield-Feros Group is leading the way, using local talent to shape the future of hospitality.
Meet Matt from Alderton Enterprise/BX, a dynamic networking and events company offering real-world training opportunities for students in hospitality, business services, and events.
Filmed in his BX office, Matt shares how partnering with the work placement program over the past 18 months has brought incredible young talent into his business. From admin and business services to event management and hospitality, students have stepped in, rolled up their sleeves, and made a real impact.
Matt says the program has been a win-win: “It’s cost-effective for us, and for the students, it’s a great chance to gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced industry.” He values the enthusiasm students bring and is proud to help shape their early career journeys.
Watch the video to hear how BX is building future-ready skills by opening doors for young people across multiple industries.