This week, our ONSITE General students completed their final day in the workplace for 2026, marking the end of a fantastic year of workplace learning.
Across their placements, students have gained valuable real-world experience, developed important employability skills and grown in confidence. The feedback from our host employers has been fantastic, with many praising the enthusiasm, work ethic and professionalism of our students.
A huge thank you to all our host employers who have generously given their time and support to provide such valuable opportunities for our students.
But who better to tell you about the experience than the students themselves? Read on to hear about ONSITE 2026 in their own words.
Piper: I chose ONSITE because I was interested in putting myself in a workplace to expand my learning and knowledge in a real workplace. I chose the business industry because I realised it will get me further in life and give me a stable career, however I took a great interest in doing bookkeeping and admin. Prior to my first day, I was excited and nervous because I was going to be around new people. On my first day, I was so overwhelmed with all the new people, atmosphere and jobs. When I met Dale and Stef, they welcomed me and made me feel included. I completed many different tasks such as spreadsheets, scheduling appointments, drafting and writing emails. Some challenges I faced was trying to remember how to use each software especially if I hadn’t used it for a couple of weeks and trying to find the initiative and the confidence to ask for another task. Over time, my confidence developed along with my communication. Working at carbon group has really helped me determine that this is a career I would consider after school. Working with Stef and Dale was such a privilege and I am so grateful to have been able to be a part of their team. For future kids at Chisholm considering ONSITE, I would have to say, go for it, it is an amazing opportunity, and you will make so many new memories and new experiences along the way.
William: I chose ONSITE to experience what it is like to work in a trade that I would like to pursue in the future. My experience involved working at ‘Evenflow Irrigation’ for my first placement and ‘Gunz & Hoses Carpentry’ for my second one. I was nervous on my first day, but the people I worked with were supportive, approachable and easy to learn from. I learnt about workplace safety, using tools and what it is like to work on a real worksite. ONSITE helped me build my confidence, develop practical skills and gain valuable experience that will give me a better chance of achieving my goals after school.
D’arcy : I chose ONSITE because I wanted to learn more about working in a primary school. I chose Good Shepherd Catholic School because it was my old primary school, and I already knew almost all of the teachers there. Before my first day, I was a really nervous, but everyone was very nice and welcoming, which helped me feel comfortable. During my placement, I helped students with their classwork, reading and activities and helped with classroom tasks. I improved my communication, my confidence and became more independent. One challenge was getting used to a busy classroom, but I learnt to stay calm and ask for help when I needed it. My favourite part was spending time with the students and helping them with their work. The experience has made me more interested in working with children in the future. I would recommend ONSITE because it is a great way to get real work experience and try something you are interested in.
Hayden: My ONSITE experience this year was an exciting and great opportunity to explore the Aviation industry and gain real world experience of a qualified Aircraft Engineer. I chose ONSITE because I saw an opportunity in an industry of my choice, and I chose Aircraft Maintenance which I was excited to try out.I was lucky enough to get a placement at Virgin Australia Regional Airlines where the employees were extremely welcoming and always made sure I had something to occupy myself with. They also always made time to show me their role in the workplace so that I understood what goes on behind the scenes when maintaining the aircraft. My main tasks were to assist the engineers with simple and complex maintenance on the aircrafts. On a few occasions, I had the ability to attend extra days at my workplace upon which I was able to complete more in-depth work. One of the main challenges that I faced was understanding the new aircraft. When I first started, their main fleet included the Airbus A320. As the year went on, Virgin switched their main fleet to the Embraer E190 aircraft which is very different compared to the A320. This proved to be challenging but wasn’t too bad once you worked on it a couple of times. My advice to future ONSITE students is to follow your interests and choose a placement in an industry you genuinely wish to pursue. I really enjoyed my first placement at Virgin, it confirmed that aircraft maintenance is what I want to pursue as my future career.
Ashton: I chose ONSITE because I wanted to get some real experience in the workplace and see if being a motorcycle mechanic was something I wanted to do in the future. Before my first day at Motorcycle Masters, I was a bit nervous because I didn’t know what to expect, but everyone was really welcoming and helped me settle in. Throughout my placement, I got to work around motorcycles, use different tools and learn more about servicing and repairs. I developed my teamwork, communication, problem-solving and practical skills. At first, learning new tasks and using unfamiliar equipment was challenging, but I became more confident by asking questions and listening to the experienced workers. My favourite part was getting hands-on experience and learning how different parts of motorcycles work. ONSITE has helped me become more confident and independent and has made me more certain that I want to become a motorcycle mechanic. I would definitely recommend ONSITE to other students because it gives you a chance to experience what a real workplace is like and learn skills outside of the classroom.
Cahlia: I chose Beaumont Homes because I was interested in interior design and wanted to learn more about what it is like to work in the industry. Before my first day, I felt nervous because I was unsure of what to expect and whether I would know what to do, but I quickly became more comfortable once I met the employees and the interior designer. Everyone was welcoming, friendly and supportive, and they were happy to explain tasks to me and answer any questions I had. During my placement, I helped the interior designer with different tasks and got to see how ideas and designs are developed for real homes. I learnt more about choosing colours, materials, furniture and finishes, as well as how important it is to pay attention to small details. I also developed my communication, organisation and teamwork skills. I discovered that I am creative and enjoy coming up with ideas. I also learnt that I need to be confident in sharing my ideas with others. One challenge I faced was being unfamiliar with some of the processes and terminology, but I managed this by asking questions and paying attention to how the employees completed their work. My favourite part of the experience was being able to see the interior design process in a real workplace and understand how the decisions made by the designer come together to create a finished home. Overall, ONSITE helped improve my confidence, communication, independence and gave me a better understanding of working in interior design. The experience has made me more interested in potentially studying or working in interior design in the future. I would recommend that future ONSITE students ask questions, be willing to try new things and make the most of every opportunity.
Mrs Simone Firns
Workplace Learning Coordinator
