Victorian Chamber Internship Program launched

TODAY Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mark Birrell launched the Victorian Chamber Internship Program, which will provide students with the opportunity to attain meaningful 'real world' work experience.

“Business needs work-ready graduates who have had exposure to, and involvement in, a professionally relevant work environment. Research shows that it is difficult for young people to get a job without this experience,” said Mr Birrell.

“This internship initiative by the Victorian Chamber will provide students with vital work experience. It will support the development of a skilled, adaptive and productive future workforce that is aligned to the needs of Victorian business.”

University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Professor Glyn Davis AC addressed the audience on the value of giving students the opportunity to acquire work experience to complement their university education.

The Program will see the Chamber invest over $1 million to help place more than 300 interns during a three year period. Participating businesses will meet all workplace employment requirements for the interns they take-on, including payment for work undertaken. These businesses will be encouraged to offer extended employment where possible.

A distinguishing feature of this Program is that the Victorian Chamber will provide the employer with a placement contribution of up to $3,000 to support the cost of each internship. Students employed as part of the Internship Program will be paid award wages and the Victorian Chamber contribution will cover, in addition to wages, other on-costs including superannuation, payroll tax and WorkCover premiums.

The Victorian Chamber’s university and business members strongly support the Program and will annually provide 100 higher education students with paid internships in some of Victoria’s most prominent and well-respected small, medium and large businesses.

Victorian Chamber member businesses will host up to 95 students and the Chamber will itself take five interns annually.

Interns will be engaged as employees and undertake a specific project with a focus on providing a meaningful learning experience, while delivering a tangible benefit to the host business. Placements will generally be for 120 hours, worked over a one month period.

Students will benefit from valuable work experience, networking opportunities and the chance of ongoing employment. Higher education providers will benefit from strengthened relationships with industry and the opportunity for their students to increase their practical skills and improve their employment prospects.

“This initiative will further strengthen the excellent working relationships we have with our business and university members and more importantly provide young Victorians with valuable work-ready skills,” said Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Mark Stone.

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is building on its strong record of training and apprenticeship success and business advocacy to promote the value of practical work experience.

The Victorian Chamber’s recent submission to the State Government’s VET Funding Review highlights the crucial need for industry and universities to build closer relationships. This is a significant step in that direction.

“Employers are demanding a greater level of work-readiness from graduates and higher-education providers are seeking to facilitate these experiences,” said Mr Stone.

“We are delighted to be working with business, the higher education sector and students on this significant project to build Victoria’s future workforce.”

The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, established in 1851, is the most influential business organisation in Victoria, informing and servicing more than 15,000 members, customers and clients around the state.

victorianchamber.com.au

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