Ever wondered what it’s like to have work experience at a mental health organisation?
This week, YPAS welcomed Sam, a year 10 student for a week of work experience.
Sam spent his week shadowing different departments, gaining valuable insights into how YPAS functions and the various roles that contribute to its success.
We asked Sam to share his experience at YPAS.
Why did you choose to do work experience at YPAS?
I’ve never really known what career path I wanted to follow and so I’ve always wanted to keep my doors open, so I chose YPAS because I believed that it would help me eliminate some of the options that I had available to me in the future. I believed it would be a good experience for me and it would open my options to jobs around IT and data work.
What career would you like to go into?
Most likely a position that works with IT or the sciences.
What did you do the first few days of your work experience?
On the first day, I was given a tour of the building I was working in, I was introduced to some of the people I was going to be working with, and I helped with basic organization and preparation for events later in the week.
On the second day, I helped with the formulation of some promotional material for YPAS while I also helped with admin-focused tasks throughout the Central Hub of YPAS, such as updating noticeboards, ensuring stock is replenished, and sorting out leaflets for future distribution.
I worked with the Mar/Comms team on posters to share on social media encouraging young people to vote in the upcoming election (4th July 2024). I also performed stock checks and health and safety checks throughout the week. While some of these tasks were monotonous and could be argued as boring to a school student, they helped me understand the necessity of all positions available at YPAS.
What are 3 things you have learned this past week?
This week I have learned the basic processes that YPAS follows to run properly, I learned the structure of YPAS and I learned to use some of the tools that YPAS uses to advertise and communicate effectively.
What surprised you about YPAS this week?
For me, the mood of my work felt far more relaxed than I initially expected which was a nice change from the more demanding elements of schoolwork.
What skills did you develop during your work experience?
At YPAS I developed my communication skills as I was constantly talking to people, I developed my creativity through working on marketing and more promotional materials and tasks.
What do you hope to do in the future?
In the future, I hope to advance my education through university and eventually work in an environment where I like doing a job that I enjoy.
What do you do to look after your mental health?
If I am working for an extended period I usually take frequent breaks from my station and move away and avoid thinking about it and if there is a time when I feel stressed or anxious I remove myself from the space and relax with deep breaths and a quiet environment.
Thanks to Sam for his hard work and positive attitude! He proved to be a valuable team player during his week at YPAS.