SIX Boort District School students have become the first in Loddon Campaspe region to be part of a unique work experience program.
The Youth Take Over program saw them paired with staff at Boort District Health as part of their  Vocational Major Literacy studies.
Showcasing their health sector heroes, the students last Wednesday launched stories of experiences gained with BDH staff.
The North Cenrtral LLEN initiative had  students working like investigators, interviewing the staff and learning how to tell their stories in an engaging way and from a personal lens. 
They told how the hospital had a diverse range of staff that made it a unique and exciting place to work - from cleaners and gardeners to administration  and the people who run the cafe - every staff member matters. 
After touring the hospital and getting to know the workforce, their task had been to choose one employee to connect with and interview to tell their story and showcase the valuable work they are doing. 
Each student produced a write-up about the life of their chosen staff member and snapped a photo of them, which was showcased at the launch.
Allowing the young people to showcase their work is an important part of the Take Over program, as it helps the young people work on presentation skills, and gives them a chance to feel proud of their achievements. 
Boort District School assistant principal Tom Bleicher said the Take Over program was exactly what he had been looking for to use their Vocational Major Literacy as a way to get into the workplace and out of the classroom.
“My mind has been constantly ticking over in terms of how we can make this an ongoing part of the curriculum ... to leave the classroom and engage with a range of industries,” he said. 
The final work produced by the young people will be used by the hospital to showcase their health sector heroes, and in turn, help BDH attract their future workforce by putting the life stories of their people first. 
While the project has opened the participants’ eyes to the range of careers available in their hometown, it has also given the staff at the hospital a new outlook.
Boort District Health CEO Donna Doyle said that one of the benefits for the organisation was to see the Hospital from a youth perspective, which could help better engage with young people.  
“The biggest win for us is going to be being able to showcase all the different types of career pathways that people have an opportunity to explore at BDH.
“The materials the students have created show young people that the hospital offers a rewarding career that challenges them, that they get to do relevant and interesting and important things in their day-to-day work, but also then how that transpires into their work-life balance,” Donna said. 
YTO Project Director Ryan Hale, said what made Take Over special was that young people entered the workforce as a group, which could bring down the barriers some young people feel about starting their careers or entering a new work environment on their own. 
“While one focus of this Take Over was for students to achieve curriculum outcomes in VCL, they have also improved their ability to work in a team, communicate effectively across an age gap, and work to a client brief, which are all transferable work skills,” he said.
“So while they are achieving their curriculum outcomes, they are also developing community and industry networks, honing their teamwork, communications and project management skills and getting out of the classroom and into a hands-on learning environment, giving them a real insight into the world of work.”
Take Over projects are now being rolled out across the region.