This project seeks to bridge the gap between students and industries, aiming to empower and prepare young individuals for the dynamic workforce of the future.
VIC VICE, a visionary virtual reality platform, emerged as a solution to the challenge of connecting students with various industries that might have previously seemed out of reach.
The initiative offers access to 10 interactive workplaces, each featuring three touchpoints, providing an immersive experience that allows students to engage with tasks typical to showcased roles.
Prompted by pandemic-induced restrictions, the initiative expanded traditional work experience programs by introducing students to a multitude of workplaces via a single portal.
The pilot phase, named the Goulburn Murray Virtual Industry Careers Experience, has received widespread acclaim since its launch in 2022.
Students across the Goulburn Murray region were enthralled as they virtually stepped into local workplaces, exploring 24 professions facing skill shortages across critical industries.
The project secured backing from the Victorian Government for its statewide expansion, evolving into VIC VICE.
This extended version aims to introduce students statewide to various workplaces within priority sectors such as food and fibre, transport and logistics, and health and community services.
The experiential journey within VIC VICE encompasses 360-degree videos and immersive 3D simulations, offering students a multi-sensory exploration of workplaces.
Initial evaluations of VIC VICE have yielded promising results, with 98 per cent of young participants saying they enjoyed the experience and 31 per cent engaged in the platform due to their interest in the showcased industry.
The initiative aimed to break gender stereotypes and succeeded in doing so, as the evaluation found no gender associations in either the use of the VR platform or in the consideration of industries for work experience.
