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Real Stories, Real Choices, Real Learning

For many Year 11 and 12 students, Workplace Safety feels like a series of posters and checklists, and Disability Inclusion is an “unknown world”. James Wood (known to many as “Woody”) changes that narrative by sharing the life-changing reality of a single choice he made as a young diesel mechanic.

James provides an authentic voice that students actually listen to, moving beyond the jargon safety and disability to tell it exactly how it is.

Getting hurt sucks.

As Victorian schools navigate the VCE Vocational Major (VM), finding resources that resonate with students’ lived experiences is vital. That is why James Wood’s school presentations, his book, It Hurts- 12 Reasons NOT to Get Hurt at Work and the VALA ‘It Hurts!’ resource for students have become essential tools for applied learning.

The ‘It Hurts!’ Program

Project Based Learning Resource

Developed in partnership with VALA (Vocational and Applied Learning Association) and CNB Safe.

This is a comprehensive, ready-to-go resource designed specifically for the VCE Vocational Major (VM) to help teachers deliver integrated, project-based work.

  • How it works: Using the book It Hurts! 12 Reasons Not to Get Hurt at Work as a core text, students design and implement their own project
  • Educational Outcomes: This program explicitly addresses VCE VM outcomes in Personal Development Skills, Work Related Skills, and Literacy & Numeracy
  • Best for: Teachers looking for a full semester’s worth of applied learning resources

Woody’s two videos at the top of this page provide an understanding into the resources available for Year 11 and Year 12 students through this program and insights into Disability Inclusion and Workplace Health & Safety for the students to take with them for their rest of their lives.

To access the It Hurts Program to use at your school contact VALA 
The It Hurts! Expo is only available to VALA members.

VISIT VALA WEBSITE

Stand-Alone School Presentations

James Wood Talk

A powerful presentation from speaker James Wood designed to spark a conversation and clear the room of distractions with raw honesty.

James is an internationally recognised award winning safety speaker, disability advocate and author.

His passion for sharing his journey, disseminating safety messages and having a voice for the disability community has seen him present all over the world to businesses, at conferences and at schools.

  • The James Woody Story: What happened to Woody
  • The Power of Choices: How one “quick” shortcut can change everything
  • Workplace Safety: Understanding that safety rules are a way of life, not a burden
  • Disability Inclusion: A raw look at the frustrations and triumphs of living with a disability and the things people are often too afraid to ask
  • The “Ripple Effect”: Focuses on the life students want to lead outside of work and how to protect it

Request a James Wood Presentation here.

Request James to Speak

Our goal is to support your VCE VM delivery with maximum flexibility.

Whether you choose the VALA-supported curriculum, a powerful guest speaker session with James Wood, or an integrated approach using both, we ensure your students walk away with a life-changing perspective on safety and inclusion.

The Core Text – It Hurts! 12 reasons NOT to get hurt at work

James’ book serves as the foundation for both the presentations and the VCE VM program.

A powerful no nonsense account of how a workplace incident changed James’ life. ’12 Reasons NOT to get hurt at work’ is written in a way that most people will relate to and without any spin or jargon.

Based on the most common questions and discussion points from over 30 years of sharing his story at workplaces and schools, this short book is a must read for all workers, employers, teachers and students.

“I wrote this short book to answer some of the questions I get asked when I share my story at workplaces and schools.

Some answers may come across as a little crude and I do swear, so I apologise in advance if you are offended. Getting hurt at work sucks and I’m not going to sugar coat it!

When I was in my early twenties, I stuffed up!

I made some wrong CHOICES and I’ve been in a wheelchair ever since.”

James ‘Woody’ Wood

Note: Woody has released two versions of his short book. One without swearing (Clean) to keep some people happy and the other is written in the way that he and many others talk (Full).

You can choose which version will suit your students and environment best.

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