Work experience gives Year 10 students the opportunity to gain practical skills, explore career paths, and consider subject and further education choices.

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Giving Year 10 students the chance to gain practical work skills, explore a variety of career paths, and inform school subject choices and further education opportunities.&nbsp;

Applications for Term 4 work experience are now closed. Successful applicants will be contacted by 30 October 2026.

Our work experience program offers Year 10 students an exciting opportunity to get behind the scenes and hands-on at the Australian National Maritime Museum. At our waterside setting in Darling Harbour, Year 10 work experience students can learn about a variety of career paths by working alongside the teams that bring the museum to life.&nbsp;
Read on to find out how to apply, what work experience looks like at the museum, and what teams students can work with.

This program is available to Year 10 students from New South Wales schools.&nbsp;
It involves a five-day placement at the museum, from 9.30 am–3.30 pm each day.&nbsp;
This program is open to students of all abilities and cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Please let us know how we can accommodate and support the student in the work experience application form.&nbsp;

Key information and eligibility

Program dates in Term 4:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-list-item-id="e44101e851b5123a2bccffab32ec4fbe8">Monday 30 November to Friday 4 December 2026</li>
<li data-list-item-id="e2cba2fc1476089b245e4205f2ec73b30">Monday 7 December to Friday 11 December 2026</li>
</ul>
Application period for Term 4 closes 2 October 2026.
Successful applicants will be contacted by 30 October 2026.

Key dates - Term 4 2026

You can get to the museum by ferry, light rail, bus and train. Take a look at the ‘Getting here’ section on our website.
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How do students get to the Australian National Maritime Museum?

Students should wear casual comfortable clothes. Students must always wear closed toe shoes. It is also suggested to bring a hat and wear sunscreen.&nbsp;
For students placed with our Fleet department, wear clothes that you don’t mind getting messy but that also provide sun coverage, e.g. an old hiking shirt.&nbsp; &nbsp;

What should students wear during their work experience placement?

A water bottle, food for morning tea and lunch, and their sense of curiosity!

What should students bring?

Education: Looks after primary and high school tours, workshops and events at the museum.
Family Programs: Designs and organises events and activities for families and young children.&nbsp;
Front of House: Sell tickets, provide information, and help create a great visitor experience.&nbsp;
Fleet: Care for vessels by performing maintenance and repairs and work on boat building projects.&nbsp;
Exhibition Design: Bring exhibition ideas to life by creating detailed plans and visual designs.&nbsp; &nbsp;

What departments can students work with?

Throughout their placement, students spend time with multiple departments.&nbsp;
Tasks will depend on which departments students are placed with.&nbsp;
For example, while with Education, students can shadow Museum Educators facilitating programs, assist with setting up and packing down workshops, assist with small administrative tasks, and work on a mini-research project.&nbsp; &nbsp;

What will students do during their work experience placement?

The primary supervisor is the Education Co-ordinator.&nbsp;
For day-to-day tasks, students are supervised by staff from the department they are spending time with.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Who will be supervising the students?

Students can purchase food onsite at HarbourWatch. Learn more <a href="/visit/harbourwatch-cafe" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="1fc6a5bc-13ea-46ea-a2ae-b1b148de40af" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="HarbourWatch cafe">here</a>.
Students are not allowed to go off-site to purchase food during their day at the museum.&nbsp;

Can students purchase food onsite?

Please download our Work Experience Information Pack to find out more about our program.
<a class="button button--alternate" href="/media/5387/download?inline" data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="2eab1e00-f87e-433b-a80d-8d941b8ed8f8" data-entity-substitution="media" title="work-experience-information-pack_a4_term-4-2026upload.pdf">Information pack</a>

Where can I learn more?

Please direct all enquiries about year 10 work experience to <a href="mailto:education@sea.museum">education@sea.museum</a>&nbsp;

Work experienceWork experience

Giving Year 10 students the chance to gain practical work skills, explore a variety of career paths, and inform school subject choices and further education opportunities.

Key information and eligibility

Key dates - Term 4 2026

Frequently asked questions

Work experience