In today’s competitive job market, sometimes getting a qualification isn’t always enough. This is why, when it’s time to dive into your career, having real-world experience can set you apart from the competition.
While most courses include some form of practical learning, several study programs – especially vocational education and training courses – focus on work placements, industry projects and providing a hands-on learning environment to give students the knowledge, confidence and skills they need when entering the workforce.
Let’s explore the benefits of real-world training so you can develop the skills required to kickstart your career.
Work experience in health and fitness
If you’re looking to work in healthcare or fitness, pursuing roles in anything from nursing to aged care and sport, your course will require work experience opportunities. This lets you practise what you’re learning, engage with real patients and gain real-world exposure before starting your career.
To study nursing, you will need to take part in an industry placement and develop your skills in simulated environments. Look for education providers in Australia, like the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), that have their own simulated clinics and laboratories, and explore what clinical placements they offer. For example, nursing students at CIT can pursue placement in Acute Care, Aged Care, Mental Health Rehabilitation, Community Nursing and Palliative Care, allowing you to find a specialisation that suits you best.
Former CIT student, James, now works at the University of Canberra Hospital assisting Physiotherapists.
“The Allied Health Assistance course really helped me adjust from school into work. The course was flexible, very hands-on and practical, which made the transition to a job easier. The course also helped me learn great communication skills, which are a vital part of the job when it comes to building relationships with patients,” he shares.
Real-life placement in the education and community sectors
Professional placements are essential if you’re pursuing a career in education, community services or early childhood education and care.
You might work in a childcare centre or school, or a local service provider working in aged or disabled care. These experiences let you put what you’re learning into practice, building your confidence, skills and understanding of local workplaces. They’re also often a required part of your course.
Training for hospitality jobs
Ever dreamed of becoming a chef or opening your own restaurant? In sectors such as hospitality and the culinary arts, study programs often place a strong emphasis on practical learning. Students who study hospitality and culinary courses at CIT, for example, train in the on-campus kitchens and commercial restaurant and cafe. There’s even an on-campus restaurant at CIT Woden, providing students with a simulated work environment serving real customers to develop industry skills. Seeking an institution in Australia that offers facilities like this demonstrates a dedication to providing next-level workplace skills for students.
“The main thing about CIT is the knowledge and practical skills you gain, which helps get you ready for working in the industry,” says former CIT student Ken.
Hands-on learning in IT and cybersecurity
Australia’s tech sector is growing fast. In fact, the $167 billion industry has grown 80 per cent in just 5 years! With increasing demand for IT specialists, you’ll want to find a study program that gets you into the workplace fast. So, you’ll want as much hands-on learning as possible. Look for education providers and programs with specialised facilities so you can ensure you’re learning from the most modern equipment – you don’t want to be behind the times when it comes to working in IT!
CIT Woden, for example, is home to the Cyber Training Security Operations Centre, and state-of-the-art ICT networking and hardware laboratories to learn in.
