This National Student Volunteer Week (7-13th August) we reflect on Multicap’s rich history of working with students and explore the benefits of completing a student placement with Multicap.
Around 10% of Support Workers at Multicap began their career journey as a volunteer on a student placement.
Multicap Direct Support Worker Natasha, started with Multicap in early 2023 on a student placement and was then successful in landing a paid role.
Natasha fell in love with being able to help people while completing her student placement.
“It was a huge benefit for me to see how wonderful I made customers feel to get out and about in the community. I had planned to complete half my hours in aged care, but I loved working in disability so much that I changed course and completed all my hours at Multicap working in disability,” said Natasha.
“I’m fortunate that my manager and the group I was working with were so helpful and taught me so much. They gave me so much support, made sure I was doing everything correctly, and answered all my questions.”
“If I could give one piece of advice to others wanting to do a student placement, it would be to complete their hours in a full-time environment if possible. I did four full days per week, and I felt that this gave me the full understanding of everything that happens throughout the week in the lives of the customers. I was able to see more of a change each day, more growth, and customers were able get to know me quickly which helped us build a rapport.”
What does a student placement involve?
For many areas of study, a set amount of volunteer hours, usually 120 hours, is a mandatory part of completing the qualification, known as a volunteer student placement.
Students can arrange with Multicap how many hours per week they’d like to do, and for a duration of time that suits.
When on a student placement, students work alongside Service Delivery Managers and experienced Support Workers. Some types of work may include:
- Makeables – helping customers alongside their supported employment role doing assembly, packaging and finishing.
- Cooking
- Community access such as travelling by bus
- Fun activities such as sailing, beach and park trips
- Avegates school holiday programs for those wanting to focus on working with children.
What are the benefits for the student?
- Achieve qualifications – time spent as a volunteer student contributes towards gaining a qualification.
- Decide on a career – a student placement is a good way to experience what it would be like to have a career as a disability support worker and see whether it’s a good fit.
- Mentoring and support – Multicap have highly experienced teams who help guide and mentor students.
- A sense of belonging – meet new people, learning how to work collaboratively with colleagues, and make new friends.
- Gain real-life experience – gain work experience to add to a resume and become a more desirable applicant for the next job vacancy.
- A path to paid employment – impress employers by demonstrating strengths. Although it’s not guaranteed to lead to a permanent role, for some students it helps put them in good stead when roles do become available.
- Flexibility – Multicap prides itself on being flexible for students.
How to do a student placement with Multicap?
For more information about becoming a student volunteer with Multicap and changing the lives of those with disability, visit our Work Based Training | Multicap or to apply for a placement visit the careers page as this is where up-to-date student placements are advertised.