Careers

Hello from the Careers team!

Everyone welcome!

We encourage all students to visit careers at BSC! 

We have an appointment book just outside each career’s office in the Malgobila and Wurrin Hubs. 

Our office hours are:

Upcoming Career Events:.

• ATAR Results Released: 11th December 2023 (7.00 am)
• VTAC Change of preferences (COP): 13th December 2023 (4.00 pm)

Please contact Jenni Howard Careers Coordinator if you require support with the VTAC COP process. Jennifer.Howard@education.vic.gov.au   

Keep an eye on your emails and Compass newsfeeds for updates on VTAC processes.

Work Experience (WE)/Structured Workplace learning (SWL)/School Based Apprenticeships/Traineeships (SBAT)

Work Experience is available to students that are 15 years old+. Please drop into either careers Hubs for further information.

SWL is available to students doing a VET Course in their VCE/VM Pathway. See the Work Placement Programs advisor.

SBAT’s are available to Year 10 -12 students through our Headstart Program (Aaron Patton) by application and availability only. 

Contact: Jaclyn Powell (Year 9 WE) Jaclyn.Powell@education.vic.gov.au

Angela Wren (Year 10-12 WE/SWL or SBAT’s) Angela.Wren@education.vic.gov.au

Prepare for Work Experience by:

• Dropping into the Careers Hubs for further information.
• Complete an Expression of Interest (EOI)
• Complete Employer Information Form
• Career Action Plan (CAP)
• Safe@Work Certificates
• Obtain White Card* (If required – Building Industry placements)

Parliament Of Victoria: Work Experience Expression Of Interest 2024 (15+)

Expressions of interest to complete a work experience placement at the Parliament of Victoria in terms 1 and 2, 2024 are now open. Students can choose between 2 programs, Sitting and Services. Parliamentary Sitting placements provide the opportunity to see the law-making process up close. Students will go behind the scenes with the staff who directly support Parliament sittings, to get a deeper understanding of our democratic processes. Parliamentary Services placements offer a variety of opportunities that can be matched with a broad range of student interests and career goals, including business management, facilities management and maintenance, community engagement and broadcasting, and hospitality. Placements are open to students who are 15 years or over at the time of the placement. 

If you are interested, please visit https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/teach-and-learn/work-experience/ to lodge an expression of interest, and let the careers team know. Expressions of interest will close at 5:00 pm on Friday 12 January. Interested students will be notified of the outcome of their expression of interest no later than Friday 2nd February.

Please ensure you have considered the travel time and distance to and from your home to Melbourne BEFORE you apply for a placement. 

Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary - Work Experience (2024 Year 9 & 10 students,15+)

Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary offers engaging Work Experience placements for students in Year 9 and Year 10. Their Work Experience Program is designed to foster new skills in young people, create an awareness and appreciation of the conservation and biodiversity management industry and demonstrate the breadth of career opportunities in environmental science, research and education.

Successful applicants may assist in the following areas of the Sanctuary:

• land management
• plant production
• education
• biodiversity
• marketing, promotion & interpretation
• office & administration
• workshops & tours

The Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary cannot offer any opportunities to work with animals. 

Work Experience placements run for one week from Monday to Friday on pre-selected dates throughout the year. Normal working hours are from 9.30 am until 4.00 pm. As part of your placement, you will be required to undertake some structured learning activities.

There are 4 places available for each of the placement weeks. A maximum of two students can come from the same school for the same placement week.

These dates are subject to change based on other Sanctuary activities happening at the time. 

Please ensure you have considered the travel time and distance to and from your home to Bundoora BEFORE you apply for a placement. Please let careers know if you will be applying.  

More info and how to apply here - Secondary school students, Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary, Get involved, La Trobe University

Swinburne University - Work Experience (2024 Year 9 & 10 students, 15+)

Swinburne welcomes students in year 9 and 10 to participate in work experience at the university. These one-week placements give students the opportunity to:

• develop employability skills
• explore possible career options
• understand employer expectations
• build self-understanding, maturity, independence and self-confidence.

Their work experience programs run in the following areas: Applied Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, or Biotechnology and Biochemistry.

Applications for their next intake of work experience programs will open in January 2024. They encourage early applications as there are limited places, and places are usually filled by March.  

For more info go to Work Experience | Swinburne 

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) - Work Experience 2024 (15+)

MSO Work Experience offers students an opportunity for meaningful, well-rounded engagement with MSO as a major performing arts company, as well as the arts sector more broadly.

Placements are run in a group format, with a strong focus on arts administration. During their time with the MSO, students will have the opportunity to meet with musicians and staff, mix with MSO’s industry-leading artistic planning team, observe orchestral rehearsals and explore Melbourne’s arts precinct.

Most of all, students will come away from their placement with a broad understanding of the role played by the MSO – as a cornerstone of Melbourne’s rich cultural heritage – in the Victorian and Australian performing arts industries.

How to apply: MSO welcome applications by all students attending Secondary School in Victoria aged 15 years+ as of the placement date. The MSO can accept up to 30 students per placement and will hold two placements which run for three days:

• Tuesday 25 June to Thursday 27 June 2024, 10.00 am-4.00 pm or
• Tuesday 27 August to Thursday 29 August 2024, 10.00 am-4.00 pm

Applications open Monday 29 January 2024. For more info go to Work experience | Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (mso.com.au)

Please ensure you have considered the travel time and distance to and from your home to Melbourne BEFORE you apply for a placement. Please let careers know if you will be applying.  

Victorian Opera - Work Experience (2024 year 10 students, 15+)

Applications for Victorian Opera’s 2024 Work Experience Program will open Monday 12 February (Week 3, Term 1), and close Friday 19 April 2024, 5.00pm, unless places are filled prior to this date. Their Work Experience Program gives Year 10 students the chance to work with other like-minded students whilst being mentored by leading professionals in the performing arts industry. At the conclusion of the week, students present their own production plan to the Company Executive, covering design, direction, company management and budget.

The 2024 Work Experience Program will run from Monday 22 July to Friday 26 July (Week 2, Term 3), coinciding with the last week of studio rehearsals of our Grand Lyric Opera, La Rondine by Puccini.

For more information and how to apply, go to https://www.victorianopera.com.au/learning-pathways/education/secondary-schools/work-experience/

University of Melbourne (Faculty of Science) - Work Experience (2024 year 10 students, 15+)

Program Structure

The University of Melbourne year 10 Work Experience Program provides students with a sample of activities that are part of a career in STEM including conducting experiments, attending seminars, collaborating with others on research projects, and presenting their own findings. Participants discover what it is like to be a scientist, meet like-minded friends and scientific role models, and also get a taste of university life.

The program is divided into a number of science discipline streams. Students must nominate their top three preferences as part of the application process. During the week, students will be hosted by academics working in their chosen discipline, and also spend some time interacting with students from other groups.

Dates and program streams to be confirmed. Applications open early January. For more info go to Year 10 Work Experience (unimelb.edu.au)

FOCUS ON TAFE COURSES 

Did you know that by November 2026, an estimated 91.7% of job opportunities will require post-school qualifications?

These qualifications include vocational training that you can pursue at institutions like TAFE and polytechnic institutes, which are widely accessible across Australia. 

These institutes offer a range of programs, including vocational courses and, in some cases, higher education options. Some of them are even affiliated with universities.

In Australia, there are six 'dual-sector' institutes, meaning they provide both TAFE and university courses. In Victoria, the following institutes fall into this category:

• RMIT University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• Victoria University/Victoria Polytechnic
• Federation University

These institutions can offer you a diverse range of educational pathways to prepare for the changing demands of the job market.

Why should you consider studying at TAFE?

• Can give you the opportunity to trial an industry or career area before you commit to university study.
• Can give you a qualification you can use to gain part time work whilst undertaking university study.
• Employers love candidates with job ready skills!
• Obtain a qualification in a relatively short time frame.
• You won’t need an ATAR or prerequisite school subjects for most courses, so the courses are accessible for most school leavers. 
• Higher level courses (e.g., Diploma) can provide a direct pathway into university courses with credit.

Source: https://labourmarketinsights.gov.au/ 

Examples:

Luke would love to work with animals in the future but he isn’t sure what to study. He explores TAFE courses such as:

• Veterinary nursing
• Captive animals
• Animal studies
• Companion animal services
• Pet grooming
• Racing (stable hand, trackwork rider)
• Horse breeding
• Equine studies. 

Luke can’t decide between veterinary nursing or zoo keeping as a pathway, so decides on the following plan:

Start with a general qualification

2024: Complete the Certificate II in Animal Studies and combine this with part time employment at a local boarding kennel or volunteer with a local wildlife rescue organisation. 

Zoo Keeping pathway

Apply for the Taronga Zoo Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care (at the Melbourne campus).

Veterinary Nursing pathway

Complete the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing via a traineeship or partnership between a vet clinic and a registered training organisation such as the Australian College of Veterinary Nursing. 

Rohan is a ‘people person’. He loves interacting with people, is the socialite of the group, loves organising events, and is an excellent communicator. He explores courses such as:

• Hospitality management
• Hotel management
• Resort management
• Event management
• Travel and tourism 
• Aviation (Cabin Crew)

Jane knows she loves working with people, has excellent written and verbal communication skills, is creative, loves thinking outside the box, is highly organised and enjoys solving problems. She explores the following TAFE courses:

• Public Relations
• Marketing
• Advertising
• Professional Writing and Editing
• Broadcast Journalism
• Liberal Arts
• Library and Information Services

Sheridan loves sciences and health and is considering working in rehabilitation, medical sciences or allied health in the future. She explores the following courses:

• Dental Technology
• Nursing
• Massage and Myotherapy
• Allied Health Assistance
• Laboratory Technology
• Pathology Collection

Paul knows he loves helping people and that he would like to work in counselling, case management, or human services in the future. He explores the following courses:

• Community Services
• Youth Work
• Disability Services
• Mental Health
• Alcohol and other Drugs 
• Aged Care

To search for TAFE courses, use the following websites: Victorian Skills Gateway website - www.skills.vic.gov.au/s/ 

Examples of occupations with predicted employment growth by November 2026 include:

• aged and disabled carers
• general clerks
• chefs
• ICT support technicians
• electricians
• education aides
• child carers
• plumbers

Applications are open for most TAFE and polytechnic institutes and private providers. The following is important to know:

Competitive courses may have early closing dates.

You may need to complete additional tasks as part of your application such as portfolios, literacy and numeracy tests, information sessions, applying for a Working With Children Check, etc. 

Contact the TAFE for information.

APPRENTICESHIPS and TRAINEESHIPS

Now is a great time to be searching for your dream apprenticeship/traineeship!

There are many positions available for enthusiastic young people who are keen to work hard, earn while you learn, and obtain a portable qualification. 

Get specialised support

Register with local Group Training Organisations (GTOs) and Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) providers. Staff from these organisations are highly skilled and can assist you through all stages of finding, securing, and undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship. Search for organisations via www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au

Compass Newsfeeds

Student communication about careers and opportunities are updated weekly via the Compass newsfeed pages.

Career events, excursions, apprenticeship/traineeship opportunities, guest speakers, are shared with students via these alerts, so please keep an eye out for the latest opportunities.

Careers website

Bairnsdale Secondary College (bairnsdalesccareers.com)

Students and families have access to a variety of career resources and information via our designated careers website. Students can use career targets in the Students to help them identify career interests.

We look forward to seeing you in Careers soon!