Schools
Connect Learning to the Real World
At Northern Mallee LLEN (NMLLEN), we believe that career education thrives when schools and industry work together. That’s why we’re inviting educators to partner with us in creating meaningful, real-world learning experiences that inspire students and support their career journeys.
By collaborating with NMLLEN, your school can embed career education across Years 7–12, aligning with curriculum and the VCAA Career Education Framework. Our programs connect classroom learning to local industries through work experience, Structured Workplace Learning (SWL), and School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs). These hands-on opportunities build student confidence, capability, and career clarity.
We offer tailored professional learning for educators—delivered during staff meetings or with selected teams—to strengthen career education strategies and support curriculum
integration. From immersion days and industry tours to co-designed experiences like “Come and Try” labs, we help educators bring industry into the classroom and make learning relevant.
With over 170 host employers and a dedicated School to Work Portal, NMLLEN makes it easy to access placements, prepare students for the workforce, and build lasting
partnerships with local businesses. Our team also provides job readiness workshops, portal training, and ongoing support to ensure every placement is a success.
Let’s work together to empower students with the skills, insights, and experiences they need to thrive beyond school. Partner with NMLLEN and help connect learning to life.
Connect with us today
NMLLEN proudly supports vibrant school incursions that bring the world of work straight into the classroom.
Through the Industry Comes to You initiative, students connect directly with guest speakers from a wide range of sectors—trades, healthcare, technology, and more—without leaving school grounds.
These sessions offer students a window into real career pathways, workplace expectations, and the skills that matter most. Whether it’s a local expert or an industry innovator, each speaker sparks curiosity, broadens horizons, and helps students see how their learning today shapes their future tomorrow.
It’s a practical, inspiring way to link education with opportunity—and bring careers to life.
NMLLEN’s Industry Tours give students the chance to step out of the classroom and into real workplaces—bringing career exploration to life. By visiting local businesses and industry sites, students gain firsthand exposure to job roles, workplace culture, and the skills employers value most.
These experiences spark curiosity, build confidence, and help young people make informed decisions about their future pathways. It’s a powerful way to connect learning with the world of work—and inspire students to see what’s possible.
(Years 7-10)
The NMLLEN’s “Come and Try” events are hands-on, beginner-friendly experiences designed to introduce students to exciting career pathways across industries like trades, sports, horticulture, and even motorsport. These free sessions give young people the chance to explore new interests, build confidence, and connect with professionals in a supportive, real-world setting. It’s all about sparking curiosity and opening doors to future opportunities.
NMLLEN works closely with HeadStart coordinators and career educators to support students in gaining part-time employment as apprentices or trainees while completing
their secondary schooling. These opportunities allow students to earn, learn, and build real-world skills in their chosen industry—setting them up for success beyond the classroom.
Interested in helping a student take the next step?
Contact NMLLEN to explore how we can support their journey into the workforce.
NMLLEN’s Industry Panels bring the world of work into the classroom through engaging conversations with professionals from a wide range of sectors. Representing their companies and industries, guest speakers share real-life experiences, career journeys, and workplace insights that help students connect learning with life beyond school.
These dynamic sessions encourage questions, spark curiosity, and offer students an authentic glimpse into the skills, expectations, and opportunities that shape today’s workforce. It’s a powerful way to inspire informed decision-making and broaden career horizons.
(Years 9 & 10)
Through its Broader Horizons initiative, NMLLEN offers small-group industry immersions that go beyond a single visit—providing students with multiple half-day experiences directly linked to study and career pathways.
These immersive sessions allow students to explore real workplaces, interact with professionals, and develop practical skills in a focused, supportive environment. It’s a powerful way to broaden horizons, build confidence, and inspire informed career choices for young people preparing for their futures.
NMLLEN supports individual students in gaining meaningful, real-world experience through tailored work placements across a wide range of industries. These opportunities allow students to explore career interests, develop practical skills, and build confidence in professional settings.
To make this process even easier, NMLLEN maintains the
School To Work Portal—a dedicated resource that provides students with work experience opportunities in the industry of their choice.
NMLLEN is committed to amplifying student voice by actively involving young people in the design, delivery, and evaluation of career-focused events. Through our Career Forums, students take the lead—shaping event themes, guiding discussions, and reflecting on outcomes in collaboration with industry professionals.
We’re inviting careers practitioners to nominate students from Years 9–12 to become NMLLEN Champions—young leaders who will represent their peers, contribute fresh ideas, and help ensure student perspectives are at the heart of every experience. This hands-on involvement builds confidence, strengthens communication skills, and empowers students to take ownership of their future pathways.
Let’s work together to inspire leadership and create meaningful connections between education and industry.
NMLLEN partners with VET coordinators to support students undertaking Structured Workplace Learning (SWL), ensuring each placement aligns with the student’s VET certificate and chosen industry. These on-the-job experiences allow students to develop specific skills and competencies in real workplace settings—building confidence, capability, and career readiness.
To support this process, NMLLEN maintains the School To Work Portal—a dedicated resource that connects students with SWL opportunities in the industry of their choice. It’s a practical pathway that links study with hands-on experience and helps students take meaningful steps toward their future careers.
NMLLEN’s The Big Pitch is a high-energy event that empowers student teams to tackle real-world challenges presented by local industry leaders. Working collaboratively, students develop innovative solutions to pressing business or community problems, then pitch their ideas to a panel of experts and industry partners.
This dynamic experience builds professional skills, fosters creativity, and connects students directly with potential mentors and future employers. Importantly, The Big Pitch can be linked to any curriculum area—making it a flexible and meaningful extension of classroom learning across subjects like business, STEM, humanities, and more.
Teachers are encouraged to identify and support students who are ready to step up, lead, and make their mark. It’s a chance for young people to transform bold ideas into real-world impact—and show industry leaders the power and potential of the next generation.
VIC VICE is transforming career education across Victoria by bringing immersive, real-world experiences directly into the classroom.
Using 360° video and interactive simulations, students step inside workplaces across industries like agriculture, health, logistics, early childhood education, and more—guided by real professionals who share their roles, skills, and career journeys.
VIC VICE is designed to complement traditional work experience and link seamlessly to any curriculum area.
Whether you’re teaching STEM, humanities, health, or the arts, VIC VICE offers a flexible, engaging way to connect subject learning with future career pathways.
Schools can use VIC VICE to:
- Enhance career education programs
- Support work readiness and aspiration building
- Offer inclusive, accessible career exploration for all students
Strengthen your school’s approach to career education and work readiness through targeted professional learning with NMLLEN. We collaborate with schools to deliver tailored sessions—whether during staff meetings or with selected teams—that equip educators with practical strategies to support students on their career pathways.
Our offerings include:
- VET in VCE information sessions to clarify vocational options.
- Staff development opportunities, such as industry visits, that provide firsthand insights into the world of work.
- Professional learning that strengthens teacher capability and confidence in delivering work readiness education, enabling them to guide students toward informed and meaningful career choices.
These initiatives help educators connect curriculum to careers, understand employer expectations, and foster student readiness for life beyond school.
Partner with NMLLEN to explore professional learning and collaboration opportunities designed to meet your school’s unique needs.
Explore Careers Up Close at Local Expo Events NMLLEN proudly supports student engagement in local career expos—vibrant, hands-on events that connect classroom learning with real-world opportunities. Whether attending as a small group or full class, students can interact directly with industry representatives, discover diverse career pathways, and gather resources to support their future planning.
Want to inspire your students? Encourage participation in a career expo and help them take the next step toward a meaningful future. Contact NMLLEN to learn more.
NMLLEN will partner with curriculum leaders to create meaningful connections between classroom learning and career exploration. Through carefully designed industry visits, teachers gain support in aligning curriculum with real-world applications. These visits bring subjects to life by allowing students to engage directly with professionals, see how their studies apply beyond school, and explore career pathways in a hands-on, inspiring way.
Complementing this, industry tours offer students the chance to step into actual workplaces and experience careers in action. These tours provide valuable insights into job roles, workplace culture, and the skills employers value most. They help students build confidence, spark curiosity, and make informed decisions about their future.
Together, these programs empower teachers to enrich their lessons with authentic experiences, deepen student understanding, and foster stronger connections between education and employment.