Challenging occupational health and safety education in schools

Abstract

Occupational health and safety is a serious concern for Australian young people. Several research studies confirm that young people are at greater risk of work-related injuries and illnesses than older workers. In Australia, young people aged 15 to 19 years are the leading age cohort with the highest rate of workers injured. In response to this complex issue, in 2003 the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) developed a health and safety program, safe@work, for secondary school students undertaking work experience. All work experience students (usually during year 10) must satisfactorily complete DEECD's safe@work program before going out on work experienc..