Careers Update

Health Camp

In May, six Lowanna College students attended the Inspiring Careers in Health Camp, a two-day program designed to expose students to the diverse range of career opportunities available within the health sector, including medicine, allied health, sports science, nursing and midwifery.

Hosted by Federation University and TAFE Gippsland, the camp featured hands-on activities, presentations from current students and staff and information about education and career pathways in health. Students also attended the Inspiring Health Careers Dinner, where they had the opportunity to network with professionals from across the industry. A highlight of the program was hearing from a variety of guest speakers working in different health professions, including well-known paramedics who provided an engaging and detailed insight into the realities of working on the frontline. These presentations gave students a valuable understanding of the many pathways available within the health sector and inspired them to consider future careers in the field.

The camp was a rewarding experience that encouraged students to explore their interests and future career options in the health industry. We thank the Baw Baw LLEN for coordinating and providing this fantastic opportunity. 

Tertiary Information Session (TIS)

Our Year 12 VCE students attended the Gippsland TIS Day (Tertiary Information Session) at Federation University recently. Students attended a presentation explaining the benefits and 'how to' steps to apply for University, TAFE and other independent colleges. At the conclusion of the presentation students went on to enjoy a mini careers expo, speaking with representatives from all major universities and TAFE institutions. 

Tafe Gippsland VET Taster Days - Try it, Like it, TAFE it

This term some of our Year 10 students took part in TAFE Gippsland’s Taster Days, an exciting opportunity designed to help secondary students explore potential career pathways. Students experienced two different industries of interest and got a first-hand look at what a vocational course involves as part of a senior school program. Lowanna College students took part in a wide range of hands-on activities including electrotechnology, plumbing, health services, civil construction, community services, building and construction, hospitality, early childhood, automotive, engineering and conservation/forestry. Well done to all the students who embraced the day and made the most of this valuable experience!

Year 12 Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre

Year 12 students will begin the VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) application process in Term 3. The Careers Team will provide guidance and support throughout the application process, assisting students with key application requirements.

The fee for a VTAC application is listed in the below chart:

Below is a list of the University and RTO’s open days for 2026. Students can use this link to plan out and register for the open days.

Upcoming Open Days 

https://vtac.edu.au/opendays.html?highlight=WyJvcGVuIiwiZGF5cyJd

VCE VM – Structured Work Placement

As students commence Semester 2, all Year 11 and 12 Vocational Major (VM) students will need to secure a work placement for the semester. Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) provides valuable opportunities for students to combine real-world workplace experience with their secondary VET studies.

Securing a placement as part of the Vocational Major program enables students to:

• enhance skill development.
• provides practical application of industry knowledge.
• assesses units of competency.
• achieves some learning outcomes.
• enhances employment opportunities.

Year 10 Work Experience Program

A reminder to all Year 10 families that students are expected to participate in the Work Experience Program.

Work Experience Week: Monday 27 July – Friday 31 July (Term 3)

This valuable program provides students with the opportunity to explore career pathways, develop workplace and employability skills and gain insight into employer expectations and different industries. All paperwork and documentation should have been submitted yesterday. 

Where can Physical Education take you?

Physical education builds more than fitness. It develops a genuine understanding of how the body works, how movement affects health and how people perform and improve over time. Those ideas connect to a wider range of study and career pathways than most people expect.

The skills you build studying physical education

One of the strengths of PE as a subject is that the skills it develops are grounded in both practice and understanding.

Health and body literacy

PE gives you a working knowledge of how the human body functions during physical activity. You learn how exercise affects different systems, how to assess fitness and how lifestyle choices influence long-term health outcomes. This kind of applied health knowledge is directly relevant in a range of careers and further study areas.

Performance analysis and planning

PE involves designing, implementing and evaluating training programs and movement strategies. You develop the ability to observe performance, identify areas for improvement and plan responses based on evidence. These analytical skills carry well beyond sport into any role that involves assessment and planning.

Communication and leadership

Working with others in physical contexts builds practical communication and leadership skills. Whether it’s organising a team, giving feedback on technique or motivating others through challenges, PE develops the kind of interpersonal confidence that’s valued across many workplaces.

Wellbeing awareness

PE connects physical activity to mental and emotional health in a concrete way. Understanding that relationship and being able to apply it in practice is increasingly relevant across health, community and education-related careers.

Physical education in a changing world

The relationship between physical activity and health is becoming better understood and that’s shifting how communities, governments and organisations approach wellbeing. There’s growing recognition that physical activity plays a meaningful role in mental health, chronic disease prevention and healthy ageing, which is expanding the range of settings where PE-related knowledge and skills are put to use.

At a community level, there’s increasing investment in programs that use sport and physical activity as tools for social connection, youth development and public health. People who understand both the physical and human dimensions of movement are well placed to contribute to these kinds of initiatives.

Careers directly related to physical education

Sport, performance, coaching and teaching

The most direct pathways from PE lead into sport and physical activity in a professional capacity. Strength and Conditioning coaches work with athletes and teams to develop physical performance, designing and overseeing training programs tailored to specific sports and individuals. Sports Scientists support performance through data collection, movement analysis and research into how the body responds to training.

Physical Education Teachers bring the subject back into schools, helping young people develop fitness, movement skills and an understanding of health. This pathway requires a teaching qualification at university level, typically combining education with a health and physical education specialisation. Coaches work across community clubs, elite sporting organisations and national programs, guiding athletes at every level of participation.

Health and fitness

Exercise Physiologists assess and design exercise programs for people managing chronic conditions, recovering from injury or working toward specific health goals. This role requires further university study but builds directly on the foundations that PE establishes. Personal Trainers and Fitness Instructors work with individuals and groups in gyms, community centres and private settings, with vocational qualifications providing a more direct entry pathway into the field.

Community fitness and recreation roles also sit within this space, including positions in aquatic centres, sporting facilities and local government recreation programs.

Careers where physical education gives you an edge

Sport business, media and management

Sport is a significant industry and it relies on people who understand it from the inside. Sport Administrators and Event Managers coordinate competitions, manage facilities and oversee the operational side of sporting organisations. These roles draw on organisational and communication skills that PE helps develop, combined with further study in business, sport management or event management.

Sports journalists and broadcasters benefit from genuine knowledge of sport and physical performance. Understanding how athletes train, how competition works and what makes performance meaningful gives you a credibility in those roles that’s difficult to develop from the outside.

Community health and wellbeing

Health Promotion Officers work within government agencies, non-profits and community organisations to design and deliver programs that improve population health. Physical activity is a central focus of many of these programs, making PE knowledge a real asset. Youth workers and community development roles similarly benefit from an understanding of how physical activity supports social and emotional wellbeing, particularly when working with young people.

Public health is a growing field and people who can connect an understanding of movement and fitness to broader health outcomes are increasingly sought after in planning and program delivery roles.

Where could it take you?

Physical education develops a combination of health knowledge, analytical thinking and interpersonal skills that translate into a surprisingly broad range of careers. Whether you’re drawn to working with athletes, supporting community health, managing sport organisations or teaching the next generation, the foundations built in PE are genuinely useful across all of them. If you’re motivated by physical activity, interested in how the body works and enjoy working with people, PE could be a strong and flexible starting point for your future.

Careers

Don’t forget to check out our career’s website with mountains of information and resources to supports students and families.

https://www.lowannacareers.com/

Careers Support

We are available as a support for students and parents with any questions or queries they may have. Please feel free to contact the Careers Team:

Kirsty Mitchell ph: 5127 9225 or kirsty.mitchell@education.vic.gov.au 

Alisha Disisto ph: 5127 9264 or alisha.disisto@education.vic.gov.au