Suzanne holding a glass slide in a laboratory.

Work experience

CSIRO offers work experience placements to students from Australian high schools in Years 10, 11 and 12 who are interested in science. Applications for work experience in 2011 have now closed. Please visit our website again in 2012 for further details of our 2012 Work Experience Program.

• 29 July 2011 | Updated 1 December 2011

• Opportunities for Indigenous students

Applications for work experience in 2011 have now closed. Please visit our website again in 2012 for further details of our 2012 Work Experience Program.

For Parkes (Central-West NSW) and Narrabri (North-West NSW) work experience placements, please visit the Australia Telescope National Facility Work Experience Programs [external link].

Work experience aims to give students the opportunity to:

• experience the real world of work by seeing how things get done and how things work
• ask questions about the type of work being undertaken
• find out what jobs are available in that industry
• gain relevant work experience and/or skills that may be helpful in gaining future employment
• explore what interests them
• align school studies with career aspirations
• gain an understanding of how creativity and innovation help business growth.

CSIRO Science Education Centres offer hands-on science programs for students and teachers.

School groups can visit our facilities or book our travelling programs to visit your school.

For further information please visit our Education centres page.

Opportunities for Indigenous students

CSIRO encourages applications from Indigenous students and if you wish we can introduce you to one or more of our Indigenous staff members.

We have Indigenous staff in metropolitan and regional sites in NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, SA, WA, QLD and NT.

They work in various areas of research and administration including:

• Ecosystem Sciences
• Energy Technology
• Information & Communications Technology
• Land & Water
• Marine & Atmospheric Research
• Livestock Industries
• Property Services.

The positions they hold include Research Scientists and Engineers, Research Projects, Technical and Administrative Officers.

Please contact Mr Jim Walker (jim.walker@csiro.au) or Ms Dympna Austin (dympna.austin@csiro.au) to register as an Indigenous Work Experience student.

Read more about Indigenous careers with CSIRO.