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Chapter 18. Observational Work Experience
Department wording for Chapter 18, Observational Work Experience, from Part B: Workforce Australia Services version 1.24.
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Workforce Australia Services reference · Part B: Workforce Australia Services v1.24
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Source material: © Commonwealth of Australia. Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Guidelines, Part B: Workforce Australia Services, version 1.24, published 3 June 2026. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence, subject to the exclusions in the DEWR copyright notice.
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Source: Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Workforce Australia Guidelines, Part B: Workforce Australia Services, version 1.24, published 3 June 2026. © Commonwealth of Australia. Used under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), subject to the DEWR copyright exclusions. Official publication record: https://www.dewr.gov.au/workforce-australia/resources/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-workforce-australia-services. Recorded Word file: https://www.dewr.gov.au/download/13950/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-workforce-australia-services/43263/workforce-australia-guidelines-part-b-workforce-australia-services/DOCX. ServiceCite reformatted the Word document for web navigation and search; this is not an official DEWR publication. These Guidelines are not stand-alone: providers must use their executed Deed, Work Orders and variations. Provider Portal material is excluded. Three Part B source diagrams are not reproduced; use the linked official PDF where a ServiceCite coverage note appears.
Supporting Documents for this Chapter:
18.1. Chapter Overview
Description: Enables a Participant to undertake voluntary, short-term, unpaid, observational work experience placements to build soft skills and gain a better understanding of the workplace or potential career opportunities. | Activity Code: UWEP Job Plan Code: N/A | |
|---|---|---|
Eligibility: Aged 15 and older, and registered in Workforce Australia Services | Duration: Up to 4 weeks | Specified Activity: Yes |
PBAS: Yes – | Activation eligible: Yes – | Progress Payment: Yes – |
Participant Payment: No | Host Payment: No | Provider Payment: No |
This Chapter outlines the requirements for the Provider when arranging and managing Observational Work Experience (OWE) Placements.
OWE is an Activity which the Provider may use for eligible Participants who are not yet job-ready and have limited or no experience in the workplace.
18.2. Benefits of OWE
Some of the potential benefits of OWE include it being:
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an opportunity for the Participant to gain valuable exposure to workplaces and learn what Employers expect of their workers
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an opportunity to enhance Participants’ awareness of different careers
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an effective tool to assist Participants to build employability skills, such as attendance and communication.
OWE Participants can gain points under the PBAS. The TCF will not apply for non-attendance in OWE, however, it will apply if Participants fail to meet their Points Requirement. Refer to the Job Plan and Mutual Obligations Requirements Chapter for more information.
18.3. Role of Providers
When arranging an OWE Placement, the Provider must:
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ensure the Participant is eligible and suitable for OWE
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ensure the Host Organisation is eligible to host an OWE Placement
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ensure the OWE Placement meets the requirements set out in these guidelines
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ensure an Activity Risk Assessment and Participant Risk Assessment have been completed by a Competent Person
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negotiate and enter into an OWE Host Organisation Agreement with the Participant and the Host Organisation
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monitor the OWE Placement for its duration and respond to any issues that arise.
18.4. Eligibility
18.4.1. Eligible Participants
To be eligible to participate in OWE, a Participant must be:
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aged 15 years or over
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participating in Workforce Australia Services.
Participants are not required to be receiving an Income Support Payment.
18.4.2. Eligible Host Organisations
OWE Placements can occur in:
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for-profit organisations
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not-for-profit organisations
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the Provider’s Own Organisation, Related Entities or Subcontractor.
The Host Organisation requirements and prohibitions outlined in the Eligible Host Organisations section of the Activity Management Chapter also apply to OWE Placements.
18.5. Arranging Placements
In addition to the Activity requirements and prohibitions outlined in the Identifying Suitable Activities for Participants section of the Activity Management Chapter,
The Provider must ensure OWE Placements:
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only involve observation (allowing for participation in meetings and discussions where relevant), with no tasks to be undertaken by the Participant
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are no more than 4 weeks in duration
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do not involve more than 50 hours of attendance per fortnight, and generally not more than 25 hours per week
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do not involve more than 8 hours of attendance per day (excluding breaks)
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include at least one 30-minute break every 5 hours
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do not include participation on a public holiday
Participants may participate in OWE placements outside of core business hours. However, the Participant needs to agree to this before being referred.
OWE Placements do not need to have a reasonable prospect of future Employment with the Host Organisation. It is at the discretion of the Provider as to the number of OWE Placements a Participant undertakes (either with the same Host Organisation, or another).
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System step — For each OWE Placement, an Activity record with an activity description outlining the observational tasks to be undertaken by the Participant must be created in the Department’s IT Systems in accordance with the Department's training resources (sign-in required). An Activity ID will then be created automatically by the Department’s IT Systems.
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System step — Study Placements should not be recorded as an OWE Placement in the Department’s IT Systems as they are not considered to be OWEs.
18.6. Work Health and Safety
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Work health and safety — For the purposes of Work Health and Safety, the Provider must also refer to, and comply with, the requirements specified in Managing Work Health and Safety for Activities section in the Activity Management Chapter.
Work health and safety — (Deed Reference(s): Clauses 121, 129.2)
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Documentary evidence — The Provider must retain Records of any action taken with regard to any Incidents that occur during an OWE Placement in accordance with the WHS Incidents and Insurance Readers Guides.
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Documentary evidence — Providers have the discretion to determine how they document Activity Risk Assessments and Participant Risk Assessments for OWE Placements but must retain Records of each Risk Assessment undertaken.
18.7. Managing OWE Placements
18.7.1. Referring a Participant to OWE
Prior to referring a Participant to an OWE Placement, the Provider must:
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determine the Participant’s eligibility for OWE
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ensure the Participant has undertaken any background checks required for the OWE Placement
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ensure the Risk Assessment process has been completed by a Competent Person
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ensure the nature of the observation activities are appropriate and suitable for a Participant (see the Activity Management Chapter for further information).
In addition, The Provider should identify any assistance or items the Participant will require for the OWE Placement. This may include specific clothing and transport. The Provider may be able to seek reimbursement for goods and services related to OWE. Providers should refer to, and comply with, the requirements specified in the Employment Fund Chapter.
- System step — The Provider must refer the Participant against the relevant Activity record in accordance with the Department's training resources (sign-in required).
18.7.2. Host Organisation Agreement
For the purposes of completing Host Organisation Agreements for OWE Placements, Providers must also refer to and comply with the requirements specified in the Engaging with Host Organisations Section in the Activity Management Chapter.
- Documentary evidence — For OWE Placements, the Provider must use the Host Organisation Agreement template (sign-in required). This template can be found on the Provider Portal.
The OWE Host Organisation Agreement must be agreed and signed by the Participant, Provider and Host Organisation prior to the Participant commencing in the OWE Placement.
As part of this process, the Provider must:
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explain the terms and conditions to the Participant and Host Organisation to ensure they understand their obligations under the OWE Host Organisation Agreement
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ensure all fields in the OWE Host Organisation Agreement are completed with accurate details
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provide the Participant with the OWE Participant Contact Card (sign-in required) and OWE Participant Fact Sheet (sign-in required), which are available on the Provider Portal.
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Documentary evidence — The Provider must retain either a hard copy or soft copy of the signed OWE Host Organisation Agreement and provide it to the Department upon request.
Documentary evidence — Prior to the OWE Placement commencing, the Provider should discuss the preferred contact method, frequency and timing of contact with the Participant and Host Organisation to avoid disruption during the activity. The frequency of contact should also be appropriate to the length of the OWE Placement.
18.7.3. Commencing the Placement
The Provider must confirm with the Host Organisation that the Participant commenced in the OWE Placement on the start date recorded in the OWE Host Organisation Agreement, and then confirm the Participant’s commencement in the Department’s IT Systems.
- System step — The Provider must confirm the OWE Placement start date in the Department’s IT Systems within 5 Business Days following the scheduled start date.
18.7.4. Monitoring the Placement
The Provider is expected to proactively monitor the OWE Placement for its duration. The Provider should remain in contact with the Host Organisation and Participant to:
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identify any changes in circumstances affecting the OWE Placement
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ensure the Host Organisation is operating in accordance with the OWE Host Organisation Agreement
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ensure any issues that may arise are quickly resolved.
18.7.5. Transfer Arrangements
If a Participant is required to be transferred between Providers and the OWE Placement can continue, the transfer should be delayed until the OWE Placement concludes. The relinquishing and gaining Providers should work together to ensure the completion of the OWE Placement.
Refer to the Commencements, Transfers, Suspensions and Exits Chapter for more information in relation to transfers.
- System step — Where it is agreed an OWE Placement should not continue to completion, the relinquishing Provider must end the OWE Placement in the Department’s IT Systems using the appropriate end reason.
(Deed Reference(s): Clause 103)
18.7.6. Participant Completion of Placement
In addition to the requirements outlined in Completion of Activities, Providers must exit the Participant from the OWE Placement and provide an exit reason. The Provider must also close the activity in the Department's IT Systems.
18.8. Progress Payments
Progress Payments are available to claim when the Participant’s circumstances have been changed during participation in Workforce Australia Services such that they are more prepared to gain and maintain Employment. Completion of an OWE Placement may contribute towards a Progress Payment. For Progress Payments, the Provider must refer to and comply with the requirements specified in the Provider Payments and Vacancies Chapter.