A partnership between Hume Employment Service and James Fallon High School is providing a career opportunity for young students with a disability and for indigenous students at the school.

The partnership provides a year 10 or 11 student with up to one year work experience placement learning reception, data entry and general administration duties; leading to a 12 month Business Administration Traineeship for the successful student.

The work experience placement is rotated annually between a student with a disability and an indigenous student, who will work between the Hume Employment Service's Wodonga and Albury offices.

Sue Paini, Chief Executive Officer at Hume Employment Service commented that the "program was proving to be very effective in supporting students who might otherwise not get an opportunity to commence an office administration career to do so. Lucy, previously a year 11 student at James Fallon, undertook a work experience placement with us in 2010. Lucy's commitment, capability and work ethic led to her being offered a 12 month Traineeship in February this year".

Simultaneously Khadejha, a year 10 indigenous student at the school, commenced a work experience placement at Hume Employment Service in March 2011.

"We believe that by providing the complementary work experience and traineeship opportunities for students who traditionally experience greater difficulty in gaining a career foothold, we can help to break this cycle", said Mrs Paini.

Anne-Marie Gill, Principal, James Fallon High School, stated that "the partnership with Hume Employment Service has been a very positive one for our school and especially our students. David Turner, our Careers Adviser, has worked closely with Hume Employment to ensure that the appropriate students were targeted, that they had the support they required and that this program is on going and successful. The program ensures that the students feel confident and develop real work skills".

17th March 2011