In summary

  • The Swinburne Employability team are partnering with students through the Student Network and Peer Career Assistant programs
  • The programs give students an opportunity to continue their studies whilst gaining valuable paid work experience
  • There are many skills that students have refined through being involved, awarding them key points to add into their resumes

Swinburne students are getting real world experience through work opportunities in our Employability team. Students get the chance to work on live projects, partnering with Swinburne on developing student support assistance and programs, events and promotional campaigns.

The Student Network Leaders are a group of active students that partner with the Employability team on a range of topics, such as improving graduate employment outcomes and promoting student engagement with Work Integrated Learning.  

Peer Career Assistants primarily focus on directing students towards resources and services that Swinburne has to offer regarding career help.

These programs reinforce Swinburne’s core value of providing every Swinburne learner with a real-world work experience and building an authentic student-as-partners approach.

Working alongside fellow students

Students involved reflect on the positive impact their role has made, and how the experience has improved their critical work skills and leadership development.

Conor O’Farrell is studying a Bachelor of Media and Communication, and he highlights what he enjoys most about being a part of the Student Network.

“You get to work on exciting, fun and valuable projects with like-minded people of a similar age to you,” Conor says.

“Once we switch out of work mode, it’s basically a big friendship group.”

There are also many skills that students have refined through being involved, awarding them key points to add into their resumes.

Zuzanna Kacynska, an international student from Poland, studying a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Ethics & Technology and co-majoring in Computer Science, is also a Student Network Leader. She recognises how being in the role has complemented her university experience.

“It has taught me a ton of practical skills within project management, teamwork, and problem-solving, which will all be useful in my future career,” Zuzanna says.

After working on a project for a few weeks, the group report back to the team on their findings and suggestions to a range of topics. This has proven invaluable to the team, as the Student Network can give the student perspective and provide effective feedback. 

Bridging the gap

The Peer Career Assistants program primarily focuses on directing students towards resources and services that Swinburne has to offer regarding career help.

Students are all from different times in their study journey, an undergraduate, postgraduate and a master’s student are a part of the program.

“The Peer Career Assistants role is a stepping stone toward future roles and helps bridge the gap between student life and the professional world,” says Rachel Ooi Wei Yee, an international student studying a Master of Marketing.

“It’s sharpened my soft skills like communication, teamwork, relationship-building and critical thinking – all crucial for thriving in any future workplace.”

Arlo Fehring is studying a Bachelor of Engineering (honours) and a Bachelor of Computer Science and shares the benefits of being a Peer Career Assistant.

“Being able to practice my skills in an environment with plenty of knowledge and support from the team has been great,” says Arlo.

The programs continue to enhance the student experience for not only those that work within the Student Network or Peer Career Assistant teams, but also to those students they make efforts to support. 

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