Turn One Week Into Your Best Recruitment Decision This Year.
Host a HSC VET student for their mandatory 35-hour work placement — and get a genuine, zero-cost look at your next potential hire before they hit the open market.
Register as a Host Employer
What Is Work Placement?
Youth Express coordinates work placements for approximately 2000 students from 28 high schools in the Hunter Valley each year.
Work placement is a mandatory component of industry-based Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses that students choose as part of their studies for the NSW Higher School Certificate.
These aren't curious school kids. They're young people who have already chosen a career pathway. By undertaking mandatory work placement, they have the opportunity to gain valuable skills and hands-on experience in the workplace.
This structured workplace learning gives students a taste of what it’s like to work in a range of industry areas, including:
- Automotive
- Business Services
- Construction
- Electrotechnology
- Entertainment Industries
- Financial Services
- Hospitality
- Human Services
- Information & Digital Technology
- Primary Industry
- Retail Services
- Tourism, Travel & Events
Work placement is their first real step into the workforce. For you, it's an opportunity most employers don't realise they have.
Why Host a Student?
A 35-hour job interview — at zero cost
Traditional recruitment is expensive, time-consuming, and unreliable. Work placement inverts the model. You assess a candidate's work ethic, punctuality, attitude, and cultural fit in real working conditions — before making any commitment.
First access to local talent
Host employers meet students before they enter the open market. If the fit is right, you're already ahead of every business that waits until end-of-year to compete for school leavers.
No recruitment fees. No obligation.
There's no cost to register or host. If the student is a strong fit and you want to offer an apprenticeship or traineeship, that's entirely your decision. There's no obligation either way.
Keep good people in the Hunter
Skills shortages across trades and technical industries in this region are well-documented. Hosting students — and showing them that strong, sustainable careers exist here — is one of the most direct ways businesses can influence where the next generation chooses to build their future.
Zero administrative burden
We know you are busy. As the contracted Work Placement Service Provider, we handle the school coordination, Student Placement Records, and compliance documentation. You focus on your business while we manage the red tape.
Develop your current team
Hosting a student is an excellent, low-risk way for your existing apprentices or junior staff to step up. Supervising a work placement gives your team the chance to build valuable leadership, training, and mentoring skills.
How It Works
We've made the process as simple as possible. Here's what to expect:
- Register your business as a host employer using the form below.
- We match you with a student whose industry stream aligns with your business.
- The student contacts you directly to arrange a brief introductory meeting.
- Together, you complete the Student Placement Record and confirm expectations before the placement begins.
- The student completes their 35-hour placement with your team.
- We manage all school coordination, compliance documentation, and support throughout.
We handle the administration. Your role is to provide a safe, professional workplace and give a motivated young person a genuine industry experience.
Register as a Host Employer
Click the button below to complete our quick expression of interest form. We will be in touch within 2 business days to confirm your match.
The form will open securely in a new tab.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special insurance or licences to host a student?
Most businesses with standard public liability insurance are covered. We'll confirm the requirements relevant to your industry when you register.
What industries can host students?
We place students across a wide range of VET streams including Automotive, Business Services, Construction, Electrotechnology, Entertainment, Financial Services, Hospitality, Human Services, Information & Digital Technology, Primary Industry, Retail, and Tourism & Events. If you're unsure whether your business is a fit, contact us and we'll let you know.
How much of my time does it take?
Less than most employers expect. The admin sits with us. You'll spend a short time on an introductory meeting before the placement and normal day-to-day supervision during the week. Most employers tell us the process was far simpler than they anticipated.
Can I hire the student after placement?
Absolutely — and many host employers do. If you'd like to offer an apprenticeship, traineeship, or casual role after placement, that's entirely between you and the student. There's no obligation, and we don't take a placement fee.
What if the student isn't the right fit?
Contact us. We're here to support both students and employers throughout the process and can help resolve any concerns that arise.
Ready to find your next team member?
Take the guesswork out of your next hire. Let us connect you with emerging local talent.
Register NowPrefer to speak with someone first? Call us on 02 4931 2777.