Work experience placement needed!

As part of the supporting women transitioning to an ICT Career, we are inviting employers to participate in the FSFJ Program.

28 September 2022

Highlights

  • The SWT Program is a 12-month pre-traineeship program focusing on the needs of women considering an ICT career 
  • The objective of this program is to get participants confidence, work ready and enrolled in an ICT traineeship
  • Click here to complete the Work experience placement form for the FSFJ program, SWI participants

The Program

Australian Computer Society (ACS) Canberra is delighted to present the opportunity for employers to participate in our new program Supporting Women Transitioning to an ICT Career (the SWT Program).

The SWT Program is a 12-month pre-traineeship program focusing on the needs of women considering an ICT career.  The objective of this program is to get participants confidence, work ready and enrolled in an ICT traineeship.

The program consists of three pillars:

  • confidence:  participants will develop self-awareness, learn to articulate their value, increase visibility to influence and how to effectively build networks;
  • skills:  participants will build the introductory knowledge required for a range of entry level technology roles, and be well placed to enter formal VET qualifications; and
  • support:  participants will be exposed to ICT career opportunities through their participation in the SWT Program, which will include networking with professionals in the sector.  This includes being connected with a female mentor currently working in an ICT role.

Work experience placement needed!

Rather than being a structured program (e.g. with deadlines, required achievements etc.), a goal of the Program is to give participants an opportunity to get a first-hand, insiders look at business within the ICT sector, and for employers within the sector to potentially ‘pay it forward’ for the benefit of the future female participants of the sector.

Participants will come from a variety of backgrounds, have varying previous levels of exposure to the ICT and will be:

  • first time entrants to the workforce;
  • returning to work after a career break; and / or
  • reskilling from another industry sector.

Opportunity and Commitment

We are inviting employers to participate in the FSFJ Program though being a part of the supporting women transitioning to an ICT Career.

Length of commitment: ACS anticipates the SWT Program will run over a 12-month period.  However, the length of an employer’s commitment is a matter for them to decide.  ACS does hope, however, that participants in the SWT Program will gain an understanding of possible entry level roles in the ICT sector, and for them to get to know an employer’s company, what it does, and to identify roles within the ICT sector that a participant could strive for.  Ideally, a participant will find the experience valuable enough to include it on their CV.

Type of work – Paid or unpaid: ACS understands that participants may not yet have the skills to undertake work that creates or brings value to an employer’s organisation.  For this reason, payment to a participant is not a requirement of the Program, and the Program is not part of a formal education or training course.

However, each employer will need to consider their own situations and requirements of a participant, and the ACS is unable to offer advice to an employer about unpaid work, other than to confirm that:

  • some unpaid work arrangements are lawful and some are not;
  • depending upon the nature of the engagement, a person doing work may be an employee, and therefore entitled to by paid the minimum rate of pay for the type of work that they are doing, along with other minimum entitlements;
  • whether an unpaid work arrangements is lawful under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the FW Act) depends on:
    • whether an employment relationship exists; or
    • whether the arrangement involves a vocational placement;
  • an employment relationship is unlikely to be found if:
    • the role is primarily observational and,
    • the expectation or requirement to perform productive work activities is incidental to the learning experience, and not primarily for the operational benefit of the business or organisation.

Further information about unpaid work can be found in the attached guide issued by the Fair Work Ombudsman (the FWO) or by accessing the FWO’s website (www.fairwork.gov.au) or by calling the FWO on 13 13 94.

Of course, an employer can choose to offer a participant paid work experience at the appropriate rate of pay.  This may involve paying the participant as a casual employee for all hours worked by them, making superannuation contributions, providing the required Casual Employment Information Statement (copy attached) etc. 

Other laws: Even if an unpaid work arrangement is lawful under the FW Act, it is important for employers to be aware that other laws may still apply in relation to a participant including in relation to work health and safety, bullying and/or discrimination.  ACS recommends that employers obtain their own advice from an employment lawyer about these matters.

Insurances: ACS also recommends that employers consider insurances that may need to be reviewed to cover the acts and omissions of a participation provided under the SWT Program.  This would include the need for potential coverage with respect to insurance policies covering (this list is not exhaustive):

  • workers compensation;
  • professional indemnity;
  • public liability; and/or
  • cyber cover.

Next steps

If you would like to offer a work experience opportunity for the program participants, please click here to complete the EOI form.  You will be invited to attend a networking session with the participants in December.

Find out more about what ACS can do for you, membership benefits and upcoming events.

 

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