A work experience placement at Live Wire Park introduced Year 10 student Ivy Gordon to outdoor education, helping her build confidence, teamwork and communication skills.
Set among the treetops of the Otways near Lorne, Live Wire Park offers elevated outdoor experiences including zip lines, rope courses and suspended canopy walks. Designed as a low-impact, off-grid attraction, the park hosts school groups alongside general visitors, creating opportunities for students to engage with outdoor learning in a practical setting.
For Ivy Gordon, a student at Lorne P-12 College, that setting became the starting point for her first experience of work in the outdoor sector. Through a school-based advanced program, she completed a short placement at the park, attending weekly sessions over several weeks. During that time, students were introduced to the fundamentals of working in an outdoor environment, including fitting harnesses and delivering safety briefings to younger students visiting the course.
The experience provided an early insight into how structured outdoor programs operate, particularly in supporting primary-aged students to participate safely in physically and mentally challenging activities. It also exposed Ivy to the pace and expectations of working in a live visitor environment, where staff balance safety, instruction and encouragement.
“I loved how you get to work out in the outdoors, and you’re always up and about being active,” Ivy says.
Beyond the activities themselves, the workplace culture left a strong impression. Working alongside staff in a team-focused environment shaped her decision to pursue a role at the park after completing the placement.
“The thing that made me want to apply for a job at Live Wire Park was the great team atmosphere and always working outdoors and enjoying people having fun,” she says.
Since joining the team, Ivy’s role has involved supporting participants as they move through the courses, reinforcing safety procedures and helping visitors build confidence as they navigate challenges. Through this, she has developed communication skills and an increased ability to engage with a wide range of people.
Through regular interaction with visitors, she said her confidence has grown both in and out of the workplace, particularly when speaking to new people and working collaboratively with colleagues.
“I definitely feel a lot more confident speaking in public and starting a conversation with people that I have never met,” Ivy says.
The role also involves encouraging participants who may feel unsure or hesitant on the course. Supporting those moments has become a key part of the experience, as visitors work through obstacles and complete the activities.
“When somebody overcomes a challenge at the park it makes me feel happy that they trust in my briefing talk and the staff around them, and most importantly they are having fun,” Ivy says.
For Ivy, the outdoor setting itself is a defining aspect of the role. Compared with a traditional classroom environment, she describes the park as offering a more active and less pressured space to learn and work, where interaction with peers and staff happens in a natural environment. The opportunity also reflects the park’s connection to the local community, particularly in employing and training young people. Ivy points to the trust placed in younger staff members and the pathways created through school partnerships as key aspects of that relationship.
“Luke and the team certainly have trust in the younger local community to work at the park, it is a great young team to work alongside,” she says.
Looking ahead, Ivy says the experience has clarified her future direction, reinforcing her interest in pursuing work that is active, social and based outdoors.
“Since working at Live Wire it has shown me that I really want to work outdoors and amongst a fun team and not be sitting at a desk all day!”
Want more information?
To enquire about booking a school excursion or for further information on work experience placement, visit
www.livewirepark.com.au.
