Principal's Message

At St  Luke’s, being a true pre‑school to post‑school community means ensuring every learner’s journey is connected, purposeful, and future‑focused. One of the biggest questions we’ve asked ourselves is, “If pre-school is part of who we are, what does post-school look like?”

Over the past six years, our answer has taken shape through programs that give students early access to real-world experiences, career pathways, and the confidence to step into life beyond school with purpose. We design opportunities that allow students to understand themselves deeply — who they are, what they can do, and what problems they want to solve — so that when they leave St Luke’s, they do so with direction, confidence, and capability.

From Stage 3, students engage in career exploration through Become Education, a research-informed program introducing them to the infinite possibilities of careers.

By Year 9, students can choose Preliminary HSC VET courses such as Hospitality or Entertainment, helping them develop skills and qualifications linked to their future goals.

In Year 10, students study both Design and Technology and Work Studies Preliminary HSC, ensuring they are confident problem-solvers and prepared for what’s next. This structure enables students to complete up to five Preliminary HSC and two HSC units before officially beginning Year 11. The result? More flexibility and time to explore subjects deeply in their senior years and greater opportunity to engage in early university programs, TAFE courses, or additional certifications.

St Luke’s partners with Macquarie University, Australian Catholic University (ACU), and Western Sydney University, enabling many students to engage in university courses as early as Year 10. These experiences often lead to early guaranteed entry or direct pathways that bypass ATAR requirements for selected university degrees.

This approach has opened doors for students to pursue alternative pathways, including diplomas, traineeships, and qualifications in industries such as engineering, business, beauty, childcare, retail, animal care, health, and design.

Every student graduates with a personalised post-school pathway plan, built through our Post School Pathways Advisors and Life Design program. Through these, students explore purpose, strengths, and future impact — supported by early HSC commencement, industry partnerships, and real-world problem solving.

We believe in the power of “you can be what you can see.” By connecting students with professionals and authentic workplace experiences, we help bridge the gap between school and life beyond it.

Embedding career exploration and pathway planning into our curriculum ensures St Luke’s students engage meaningfully with their futures well before graduation.

Check this link to see some examples of students from 2025 and their pathways:

https://sites.google.com/parra.catholic.edu.au/post-school-pathways/home

Kelly Bauer

Principal Leader