Partnerships and Pathways
Pathways Report
It’s only Week 2 of Term 3, but there’s been so much happening in the Partnerships & Pathways space in the last few weeks!
A trio of programs and initiatives have launched with Australian Catholic University that have been incredibly powerful for our students' career aspirations. We’re very proud of our Year 10s, who graduated from a cutting-edge STEM Robotics and Coding Program run by ACU Blacktown and MECA during the school holidays. Students explored real-world STEM in a university setting while developing vital skills in digital literacy, critical thinking and teamwork. The program concluded with a special graduation attended by community leaders and featured Year 10 student Aliyah on ABC News! In the same exciting week, a group of Year 11s began their journey into university-level learning through the fantastic Uni Step Up program at ACU. Studying first-year subjects in Nursing & Midwifery, Criminology, and Exercise & Sports Science, students gained valuable insights into university life. This program offers an incredible opportunity to build academic skills, explore future degree pathways, and potentially secure an early offer into a related ACU course. A passionate team of Year 10s has also stepped up to take part in the VOYSE (Voice of Young Social Entrepreneurs) Challenge. Over the next 8 weeks, they’ll collaborate to design a social enterprise that creates meaningful change in our school community. Supported by ACU mentors and industry experts, they’ll pitch their final idea at a showcase in Blacktown this September. A big thank you to Lucy Sattler, CEO of Study Work Grow, for inspiring our team with her insights during a special mentoring session this week! We’re proud of our students for embracing all these opportunities and taking bold steps toward their future careers ~ and heartfelt thanks to our partners for making this possible!
Congratulations to Year 10 students Emma and Tania on completing the two-day Nepean Health Inspirations Program, offered by the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD). The program gave them valuable hands-on experience across a range of departments including Emergency, Cardiology, Allied Health and Paramedicine. Both students said the experience deepened their understanding of healthcare and strengthened their passion for the field. A big thank you to NBMLHD and Kia-Lee Sutton for providing such an inspiring and informative opportunity!
A very busy Lunch & Learn calendar is up and running again this term with guest speakers, including our Alumnae, from a diverse range of career paths. We loved welcoming Emily Pacoe back to share her inspiring journey from baking with her mum to launching her own business. With over 12 years of industry experience, Emily offered expert baking tips and encouraged students to pursue their creative passions in the kitchen. We were thrilled to welcome Asha Frost from Western Sydney International Airport (WSIA) for a comprehensive presentation on the wide range of career opportunities soon to be available just 20 minutes from our school. From aviation and retail to environmental science, biosecurity, and national security, WSIA offers an exciting future for students ready to take their careers to new heights. We also wrapped up our Discover the Universe series with Notre Dame’s Fairose dropping by. Coming soon: Alumnae Bella’s career in law and community service, Women In Engineering with UNSW, careers in maths and apprenticeships, and Alumnae Azahlia’s career in aviation.
And to wrap up a busy fortnight, the PATHE (Pasifika Achievement To Higher Education) program from Western Sydney University returned to CCC - an important partnership that is all about supporting students from Pacific communities to explore their goals and consider pathways into further education and training. The culturally inclusive and engaging workshops for students with Pasifika heritage are specifically designed to help students reach their personal best, explore their interests, career options, and what university study could look like — all through a Pacific lens. Using the meaningful and powerful symbolism of a Samoan Fale (house) - each year group explored different yet interconnected themes. Years 7 and 8 focused on laying 'strong foundations' for their futures around personal strengths and qualities. Years 9 and 10 looked at understanding their 'pillars of support' and Years 11 and 12 reflected on 'raising the roof' and crowning their school journeys with pride and excellence. Thank you to WSU for this wonderful event.
For any pathways enquiries, or to book a coaching conversation, students can pop into the library or email us: amacnamara1@parra.catholic.edu.au
and koliver4@parra.catholic.edu.au
Mr Adam Macnamara
Partnerships and Pathways Coach
