Year 10 work experience is often the first time you see a job from the inside. A week in a real workplace can confirm an interest, rule something out or spark an idea you’d never considered. The best placements usually come from starting with what you enjoy, then asking early.
This guide has work experience ideas grouped by interest, along with tips on how to find and ask for a placement and how to make the most of your week. Parents will find notes along the way on how to help.
Every school runs work experience a little differently. Check your school’s dates and paperwork before you contact any employers.
Quick answer
The best way to find Year 10 work experience is to start with what you enjoy, make a list of five to ten workplaces that match and ask early with a short, polite email or phone call. Check your school’s dates and paperwork first, because every school runs work experience a little differently.
- Match your interest to a workplace, such as a vet clinic, a builder, an IT business, a salon or a law firm
- If you’re not sure yet, a busy shop, café or office lets you try lots of different tasks in one week
- Popular placements, such as hospitals, vet clinics and Defence programs, can fill months ahead
- Include your name, school, year level, dates and why you’re interested, and mention that your school will provide the paperwork
- Work experience organised through your school is usually unpaid, because it’s a learning placement
Year 10 work experience ideas by interest
Start with what you enjoy at school, in your spare time or in a part-time job. Then look for workplaces where that interest is part of the day.
If you like helping people
- A pharmacy or medical centre
- A physiotherapy or allied health clinic
- An aged care home, often with the activities or administration team
- A local charity or community organisation
Hospital work experience is popular in Year 10. Many public health services run structured programs for school students, but places are limited, so check your state health service’s website early. If you’re interested in childcare, WorkinEarlyLearning shows the kinds of roles available in early learning centres.
If you like animals
- A vet clinic
- An animal shelter or rescue group
- A farm or stables
- A pet grooming or boarding business
Vet work experience is one of the most requested placements, so ask several clinics rather than one. Zoos and wildlife parks sometimes run programs too, though they tend to be competitive.
If you like building and making things
- A builder, electrician or plumber
- A cabinet maker or joinery workshop
- An engineering or manufacturing business
- Your local council’s works or maintenance team
Some construction sites limit what students can do for safety reasons, so you might spend more time watching than working. That’s still a great way to see what a trade involves.
If you like technology
- An IT support business
- A web design or digital agency
- An electronics or computer store
- The IT team at your local council or a larger employer
For IT work experience in Year 10, smaller local businesses are often more open to taking a student than large tech companies.
If you like being creative
- A graphic design or photography studio
- A local newspaper or radio station
- A hair or beauty salon
- A theatre or arts centre
Larger media organisations often take only university students, so regional and community outlets are a good place to start.
If you like being active or outdoors
- A gym or fitness centre
- A sports club or leisure centre
- A landscaping or garden business
- Your council’s parks team
If you’re interested in law, police or defence
- A local law firm
- A court that runs a school work experience program
- Your state police service, if it offers a student program
The Defence Work Experience Program offers placements with the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Public Service for students aged 15 and over. Placements are advertised on its jobs list and usually fill quickly, so treat the application like a job application.
If you’re not sure yet
That’s completely normal. A busy workplace like a shop, café or office lets you try lots of different tasks in one week. Even if it isn’t your dream job, you’ll learn how a workplace runs and what you do and don’t enjoy.
How to find a placement
- Start early. Popular placements, such as hospitals, vet clinics and Defence programs, can fill months ahead
- Make a list of five to ten places. Include a mix of larger organisations and small local businesses
- Use the people you know. Family, friends, coaches and neighbours might work somewhere that could host you, or know someone who does
- Talk to your careers adviser. Many schools keep a list of employers who’ve taken students before
- Look for structured programs. Hospitals, councils, courts and Defence often have formal programs with their own application process
For parents: helping your child build their list and practise a phone call is often more useful than making the call for them. Employers like hearing directly from the student.
How to ask for work experience
A short, polite email or phone call works best. Find out who to contact, such as the practice manager, owner or HR team, and include:
- Your name, school and year level
- The dates your school has set for work experience
- Why you’re interested in that workplace
- That your school will provide the paperwork
Here’s an example email you can adapt:
Subject: Year 10 work experience request
Hi [name],
My name is Mia and I’m a Year 10 student at [school]. I’m interested in becoming a vet nurse, and I’d love to do my work experience at your clinic from [dates].
I’m happy to help with any tasks and to learn how the clinic runs. My school will provide all the paperwork and insurance details.
Thank you for considering my request. I’m happy to call or come in to talk about it.
Kind regards,
Mia [surname]
[phone number]
If you don’t hear back within a week, follow up with a quick phone call. A polite second contact often gets a reply.
Making the most of your work experience week
Before you start
- Confirm your start time, where to go and who to ask for
- Check what to wear, including any safety requirements like closed-toe shoes
- Plan your transport and lunch
- Look up the business so you know what it does
During the week
- Arrive a few minutes early each day
- Put your phone away unless you’re asked to use it
- Say yes to tasks, even simple ones, and ask for more when you finish
- Keep a short diary of what you did and learned each day
Asking good questions shows you’re interested. Try these:
- What does a normal day look like for you?
- How did you get into this job?
- What do you enjoy most about it, and what’s hardest?
- What subjects or courses would help me get into this field?
- Is there anything I could do now to build my skills?
After the week
Send a thank-you email to your supervisor. If it went well, ask whether they’d be happy to be a referee for future jobs, and add the placement to your resume. If you’d like to keep building experience, our guide to casual vs part-time vs full-time work explains how first jobs usually work.
For parents: a chat at the end of the week helps your child work out what they enjoyed and what they didn’t. Both answers are useful.
Staying safe at work experience
You should get a safety induction on your first day, and you shouldn’t be asked to do anything dangerous or that you haven’t been trained for. If something doesn’t feel right, speak to your supervisor, your teacher or a parent straight away.
Frequently asked questions
When do Year 10 students do work experience?
Your school sets the dates, and it’s often a week during term. Some schools offer flexible placements across the year, so check with your careers adviser.
Do you get paid for Year 10 work experience?
Work experience organised through your school is usually unpaid, because it’s a learning placement arranged under school agreements. Your school can explain how it works.
What if I can’t find a placement?
Widen your list to include businesses outside your main interest, and ask your careers adviser for employers who’ve hosted students before. A general workplace still teaches you useful skills.
Can I do work experience at my parent’s workplace?
Often, yes, as long as your school approves it. Try to work in a different team from your parent so you get a more independent experience.
How long is Year 10 work experience?
Most placements last one week, but it depends on your school and state. Some programs, such as Defence placements, run for just a few days.
Sources
- Defence Work Experience Program, Department of Defence
