Careers & Pathways News 

Zoos Victoria – 2026 Secondary School Work Experience Applications Now Open

Zoos Victoria has opened applications for its 2026 Secondary School Work Experience Program. If you have a passion for wildlife and animal conservation, this is a unique and valuable opportunity to gain insight into the work of a world-leading zoo-based conservation organisation.

Each year, a limited number of secondary students are selected to undertake a week-long placement at one of Zoos Victoria’s four properties:

• Healesville Sanctuary
• Kyabram Fauna Park
• Melbourne Zoo
• Werribee Open Range Zoo

Throughout the program, students develop a deeper appreciation for wildlife and the environment, while gaining an understanding of how different roles within the organisation contribute to conservation efforts.

Key Information for Applicants:

• The program runs for five full days and operates in all weather conditions.
• Placement dates for successful applicants will be offered across the school terms.
• Students may take part in a variety of activities, including physical tasks. These will require initial observation and assessment to ensure the safety of all participants.
• Applications are accepted one year in advance.

Application Timeline:

• Opens: Monday 4 August 2025
• Closes: Sunday 14 September 2025 at 5.00pmOnly applications submitted within this timeframe will be considered. All applications will be reviewed after the closing date.

To apply, students must:

1. Choose one zoo property (Healesville Sanctuary, Kyabram Fauna Park, Melbourne Zoo, or Werribee Open Range Zoo) for their preferred placement.
2. Submit a cover letter that responds to the questions outlined in this https://zoosvic.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/ZoosVictoriaFightingExtinctionSchools/EX-dfk2efO9FpN4YLHwftZkB2WAIq9-VQpd4tV-A04J8UA?e=vbeDHE.
3. Read this guide on the https://zoosvic.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/ZoosVictoriaFightingExtinctionSchools/EbwGj2EMvFdNnuvxjayJ3bsBGot4WZm8w1U37J8NT5M-1Q?e=yaAXM5.
4. Complete and sign the https://zoosvic.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/ZoosVictoriaFightingExtinctionSchools/EXG1t2UceelLsFrm40vbuv0B6_u7g7wIqdCY7-4wALluVw?e=SqmCCr, and submit it to your school’s Work Experience Coordinator.
5. Submit the full application, including your cover letter and the completed form, via the Zoos Victoria application portal.

For more information and to access the application portal, please visit the Secondary School Work Experience page on the Zoos Victoria website.

Secondary school work experience

Monash and UoM Pathways Schemes for 2026 Entry

Dates to Diarise in Term 3

• University / TAFE Open Days 2025 – late July and throughout August
• ATARs, CoP, Offers Assembly – Tuesday 2 September  
• Year 12 VTAC timely applications – throughout August and September
• VTAC SEAS and Scholarship applications – throughout August and September

Bachelor of Space Science at RMIT

Do you want to be part of Space 2.0? Have you thought about human spaceflight, space tourism and even missions to Mars? There is substantial government and industry investment in space science technology, highlighting the growing gap in skills, both in Australia and internationally.

The Bachelor of Space Science at RMIT University – not quite like any other degree in Australia – allows students to prepare for an exciting career in the growing space industry.  They develop critical skills in space science and technology, connecting the upstream (build/launch) and downstream (application of space-related products and services) industries.  The degree offers a unique mix of physics, engineering, geospatial science, mathematics, statistics and specialised space studies.

This degree encompasses multiple partnerships with national and international space companies and space agencies including USA (NASA), Japan, (JAXA), Europe (ESA) and Germany (DLR).

During their studies, students will have the opportunity to undertake a 12-week industry placement so they can immerse themselves in the world of space.  Some of these placements are run through Saber Astronautics, the Bureau of Meteorology, and CSIRO.

Find out more at Bachelor of Space Science at RMIT University.

Principal's Recommendation Scheme at CQU

At CQUniversity we believe senior schooling results are important, but we also believe that other factors such as motivation, talent, and passion can lead to student success at university. So, we have introduced a pilot program, the Principal’s Recommendation Scheme, that allows Year 12 students to apply to a CQUniversity course based on the recommendation of their high school Principal rather than ATAR. 

So, CQUniversity’s Principal’s Recommendation Scheme provides an alternate entry pathway to CQUniversity courses that is based on the recommendation of a students’ high school Principal and not reliant on whether they have received an ATAR. 

Applications for 2026 are open and close on 1 December 2025.  

Find out more at Principal's Recommendation Scheme at CQU.

News from Swinburne University

New Courses on offer in 2026

Commencing next year, the following courses will be on offer and students should browse the links to learn more.

• Bachelor of Construction Management (Honours)
• Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence in Business
• Bachelor of Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience
• Bachelor of Forensic Psychological Science   

Associate Degree of Applied Technologies

The Associate Degree of Applied Technologies is an engineering and digital technologies course designed to prepare students for the profession as a para-professional engineer or technologist in the context of Industry 4.0, as well as provide a pathway for graduates to articulate into a degree course.   

The course provides students with the core concepts in a range of engineering disciplines and equips them with the practical skills and in-depth knowledge to become a technical expert in sectors such as manufacturing, IT, engineering and more.Students of this course can select from three newly developed specialisation streams, similar to majors, which will determine the specific components of their course.  These are – 

• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering and Robotics

Career opportunities include – 

• Engineering associate
• Technical officer
• Engineering Technician
• Mechanical foreman
• Building services engineer
• Digital construction technician

This two-year course provides an excellent pathway into the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with up to 8 credits (equivalent to up to one year of full-time study) for units completed.

Studying Nutrition and Dietetics at Swinburne

Swinburne’s nutrition courses help students explore the relationship between health and nutrition and gain a deeper understanding of how they are intertwined.  Students choosing to study nutrition studies gain an in-depth understanding of food sources, proteins, vitamins and minerals, and get to explore the complex relationships between anatomy, physiology and nutrition.  Students also get to work with a range of evolving food and health management strategies and examine the biological, psychological, and cultural impacts of our food choices.

Besides the Bachelor of Nutrition, is offered as a major in the Bachelor of Health Science, and for students who wish to go on to become a Dietitian, there is also the Master of Dietetics on offer after completion of the undergraduate degree.   

To find out more, browse Studying Nutrition and Dietetics at Swinburne. 

Education and Teaching at Deakin

From Trimester 1 2026, every student in Deakin University’s initial teacher education programs will graduate with practical, trauma-informed strategies to support student wellbeing and engagement.  

Deakin is the only university in Australia to embed the Berry Street Education Model across all initial teaching degrees.  This unique model helps future educators build safe, inclusive and productive classrooms from their very first year in schools. Deakin graduates will be equipped with tools to manage complex behaviour, foster positive relationships, and respond effectively to trauma.  These are the capabilities today’s schools are actively seeking and essential for creating environments where all children and young people can thrive.

Every Deakin teaching student will graduate with:

• Berry Street Education Model training.
• A toolkit of practical, trauma-informed strategies to support every learner.
• A Berry Street Education Model certificate of completion, recognised by schools across    Australia.
• A competitive edge that will make Deakin graduates stand out to employers.

Find out more at How trauma-informed practice sets Deakin teaching students apart.

Cetacean Sisters - Inspiring Future Female Scientists through Cetacean Science

Upcoming activities:

13 September – A Dive into Dolphin Science1

1 October – Cetacean Sisters Workshop

Scan the QR code below to stay updated!

Nursing and/or Midwifery Degrees in Victoria in 2025

For a comprehensive list of all nursing courses - diplomas and degrees - including double degrees with business, paramedicine, psychology, public health, etc. visit VTAC.

Nursing – Division 2 (Enrolled) Diploma Courses In 2025 

Division 2 or Enrolled nurses are trained with the full spectrum of nursing qualifications, and these skills include communicating with patients, working in a team, medication, and clinical nursing duties.  These nurses are able to implement and monitor patient care, administer medicines, comply with infection control and work, health and safety policies, perform clinical assessments and contribute to planning patient care.  To become an Enrolled nurse, one must complete a Diploma of Nursing.  The VCE entry requirement for the diploma is a Year 12 pass.  On completion of the course students will be eligible to apply for registration as an Enrolled Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or go on and do further study to become a Registered Nurse.  Note: The Diploma of Nursing is currently listed as a Free TAFE course in Victoria.  Below are courses listed on VTAC.  

Students are advised to browse VTAC for a comprehensive list of all nursing courses.

Snapshot of Flinders University in 2025

• Situated in South Australia, Flinders is a fairly young university, celebrating 55 years since opening in 1966.
• Over 25,000 students are enrolled in courses at Flinders University.
• Flinders main campus is located at Bedford Park, 12km south of the centre of Adelaide, with additional Adelaide locations including the City Campus and Tonsley.
• The university has six colleges – 

1. College of Business, Government, and Law
2. College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work
3. College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
4. College of Medicine and Public Health
5. College of Nursing and Health Sciences
6. College of Science and Engineering   

• Flinders offers over 500 undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees, including flexible pathways to medicine - medicine at Flinders
• Flinders introduced a range of new courses in 2025, in the areas of health, IT, science and law, plus others.
• Flinders welcomes inbound exchange students from more than 70 universities worldwide, and also offers outbound exchange programs for current students to study at one of its partner institutions across the globe -  study abroad. 
• Scholarships, worth $2,4m in total, are on offer to students.
• Flinders offers a broad range of facilities and services to students. 
• There is also a wide range of support services which include health & well-being and study support.
• Flinders Living offers both on-campus and off-campus accommodation options, either in the former of a catered collegiate form, or self-contained units. 

Open Days 2025

 Mr Jack Crameri - Careers and Pathways Coordinator 

Ms Andy Farrow - Careers Adviser & VET/SWL Coordinator

Ms Stephanie Martin - Careers & Pathways Coordinator

Ms Jody McCarthy - Senior School & Careers Support