Are you a Year 11 and 12 students in the ACT or surrounding regions? Gain work experience by becoming a Student Explainer at Questacon!
In addition to valuable experience in communicating science concepts and making public presentations, you can also earn an "R" unit for your ACT Year 12 certificate.
What's Available
Each year, we accept approximately 40 applications from Year 11 and 12 students. Training sessions are held each Thursday evening from March through June. Over the course of the three months, we'll teach you the background of the various exhibits at Questacon, give pointers on public speaking and presenting, and show you how to deliver customer service.
You and other volunteers will then be scheduled throughout the Centre during the June/July school holidays to practice what you've learned. After accumulating 40 hours of volunteer time with us, a final review of your performance will be conducted.
Commonly, placements occur in the following positions around the Centre:
- Science Play Explainer
- Gallery Explaining
- Discovery Trolley Explaining
- Harmonograph Attendants
Note these are volunteer positions. You will not be paid for your time. While some past volunteers have successfully applied after the program to join our paid staff, there is no guarantee that will happen.
You may also consider applying as a regular Volunteer Explainer, although an "R" unit would not be available.
How to Apply
To be considered for this program, your school needs to submit an application on your behalf.
You can't nominate yourself!
Your school's Principal, Science Coordinator and the Careers Advisor will get information sheets from us in the first week of school.
Have one of them send us your name and a contact phone number. Along with that, include 50 or so words about yourself. Be sure and tell us why you're interested in Questacon and science and technology!
Nominations close on 2nd March 2012. Contact your Science Coordinator for more information if you are interested in attending the program.
More Information
For more information about the program, or if you're a Science Coordinator looking to nominate one of your students, please contact us.
E-mail: volunteers@questacon.edu.au
Phone: 02 6270 2813