My university graduation was looming over my head when I sought and secured an internship last year at a boutique book publisher in Melbourne.

At one point, I was stationed next to a Year 10 student on work experience. She was in casual clothes – a fun part of missing classes for work experience – and was unsure how to pronounce “Bronte” sisters.

In Victoria, Year 10 students receive a small payment for every day of their placement that often just covers the cost of their transport (although teenagers in NSW are not so lucky). So my young neighbour was paid to learn about the myriad jobs in publishing and bookselling.

Students who need experience to get a job are vulnerable to exploitation. Credit:Nic Walker

But I wasn’t. I had spent two years studying professional writing and literature, and yet I proofread, marketed and assisted at events for nothing.