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Australia’s National 
Science Agency

Virtual Work Experience 
Program Pilot 

As part of the National Career Education Strategy, CSIRO and the Commonwealth Department of Employment, 
Skills, Small and Family Business collaborated to pilot the delivery of innovative work experience 
opportunities for high school students using online collaboration tools. The program brought students 
from across Australia together virtually to work in small groups to take on STEM-based work experience 
projects with industry experts. Students gained valuable experience in STEM and new ways of working, 
while developing crucial life skills, such as teamwork, communication, negotiation and resilience. 

Replicating the way CSIRO staff work every day, 57 Virtual Work Experience Program (VWEP) students were 
placed in groups of up to six and worked with their industry supervisor and student team members using 
collaboration platforms and video conferencing. The program tested two different contact working models 
and offered students STEM-based work experience in one project from 15 STEM disciplines of interest.

Students

26% 
of students identified 
as gifted and talented

14 years (21%)

15 years (56%) 

16 years (16%) 

17 years (7%)

Students co-located with other students

32%

68%

Not co-located with other students 
i.e. online collaboration only

Student locations:

26% from major capital cities 

60% from regional areas

14% from remote areas



As Australia’s national science 
agency and innovation catalyst, 
CSIRO is solving the greatest 
challenges through innovative 
science and technology.

CSIRO. Unlocking a better future 
for everyone.

Contact us

1300 136 376
+61 2 9490 5588

education@csiro.au
csiro.au

For further information

CSIRO Education 
and Outreach

vwep@csiro.au
csiro.au/education

Program outcomes

A rigorous evaluation process was completed as part 
of the program pilot. These findings demonstrated 
the value of Virtual Work Experience in providing 
STEM-based opportunities for students, particularly 
in regional and remote areas of Australia.

Mean 

student satisfaction score

of 4.4 out of 5

Without VWEP 

42% would have done 
STEM related work 
experience elsewhere 

29% would have done 
work experience in 
a non-STEM field 

29% would have 
undertaken 
no work experience 
at all. 

Without VWEP, 63% of regional 
and remote students 

would not have been able to do 
STEM-related work experience.

 Students 
ncreased 

life skills across teamwork, communication, 
negotiation and resilience.

STEM projects

15 

different projects 
across different 
STEM disciplines

including meteorology, astronomy, 
oceanography, agriculture, manufacturing, 
health, energy and computer science.

Two models of working 

29%

each day over a 
one-week block (70%) 

42%

29%

or one-day-per-week 
for five weeks (30%)

17

63%

highly qualified STEM 
professionals supervised 
student groups.
(2 BoM and 15 CSIRO)

12 with PhDs 

An average of 

3.35 
students 

per supervisor