Careers Corner
Careers Update
It was great to see so many families at the Bayside Christian College Secondary Pathways Expo last Thursday and again on Monday for the Pathways/Subject Selection Interviews. I hope families of the 2024 cohort of Year 9-11 students feel more confident about pathways and subject selection. Just a quick reminder that selections need to be submitted by the end of Friday 28th July. Students were emailed the link last week.
Items in this newsletter include: Reflection on Year 10 Work Experience, Year 12 VTAC Applications, 2024 VET Enrolments.
Reflection on Year 10 Work Experience
For the last week of Term 2, the Year 10 cohort embarked on Work Experience. There are a wide range of placements this year with students heading to work with employers in education, childcare, food service, retail, automotive, building and construction, landscaping, engineering, land surveying, heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical, nursing, aged care, design, photography, fitness, farming, animal care, maintenance and administration industries.
At the end of their placement, students were asked to complete a work experience reflection survey. Over 80% of students responded that they learned a lot during their week of work experience. Following is a selection of some of the responses.
What were some activities/tasks you performed during the week?
- Watching surgeries, Taking surgery charts, listening to new information given, giving needles to dogs, cleaning the clinic.
- I collected data using gps technology and looked at clients emails concerning land division
- Helping out with peninsula care, the winter shelter, year 9 service week etc
- Some activities/tasks that I performed during the week were setting up puzzles, helping run activities like cotton-bud painting, helping with setting up drawing activities and getting out highchairs and food for kids.
- I helped with: delivering food to some of the residents, cleaning up the dining room, checking up/visiting the residents with a pastoral carer, organising foods/papers, scanning and filing papers, serving food, washing dishes, putting up notices, taking out the trash, organising and writing on papers, resetting tables/preparing the dining room, and learning how to take blood pressure.
- I helped look over a plan for construction. I helped make marketing brochures for various different plans and for marketing of the consultants. I helped find pieces of land in which my mum can make land and home packages.
- I made boxes, flower bouquets. I moved all the flowers and put them in the fridge for later times in the week.
- I helped and watched the music teacher instruct and teach the class about music. I helped plan lessons and half ran one myself.
- Grocery tidy, Helping in the bakery & cleaning aisles and freezers
- I got to take apart 60 tables and move heaps of stuff into the trucks. I also got to work at Trinity College moving tables to another campus which made me feel so small because the school was massive.
- I would prepare activities for the kinder kids, organise and clean around the ELC and supervise the kids as another pair of eyes.
- Drafting calves, feeding calves, taking care of lamb, moving mobs, watched/assisted lamb births, opened and closed gates for farm vehicles, driving farming vehicles - moving vehicle from SA to VIC, Assisted with vaccinating and marking calves
- I helped out in the Prep class, the year 1/2 class, 3/4 class. I helped out with Music class. I helped with Art. I supervised some kids who had more trouble focusing and went out with an LSO for 5 minutes. I cleaned the art class storage room. I put art posters up with a girl who was also doing work experience. I rearranged all the books that were lying on the floor in the library. I cleaned the wellbeing corner in the library. I helped set up for assembly. I did some yard duty with my mum who works that the school
- letter box jobs,filing
What were highlights from your work experience?
- I really enjoyed looking after the animals and making sure that they are able to live a long and healthy life by having certain medications or being able to perform surgeries.
- I loved helping out with peninsula care and being able to give out food to people who can't afford it.
- Highlights of work experience were watching the children's development and the children interacting with each other without conflict.
- It was nice to get to know the workers and what they normally do during the work, all the different jobs they do throughout one day.
- making bouquets and flowers and taking them home.
- Working at a large printing factory.
- I enjoyed teaching the younger students as they had lots of energy and enthusiasm for the subject.
- I enjoyed working with the other students who were also doing their work experience there and I liked helping out in the bakery
- Just being on the farm. Looking after a baby lamb. Going in tractors
- good change of environment
What did you find difficult or challenging?
- Sometimes I just had to watch because the technology needed precision which I was not practised to do
- What I found difficult or challenging was kids' behaviour, they wouldn't listen or they'd ignore what you asked them to stop doing or start doing.
- I was sometimes confused with who everyone was and I was too quiet for some of the residents, so they couldn't hear me that well so I should have tried to speak a bit louder.
- I found getting all the information and resources very difficult and time consuming
- some tasks I had to ask for clarification
- I found starting work at 6am and finishing at 6pm hard.
- I found it difficult sometimes when working with kids, especially some of the special needs kids.
- I fell into a dam
Here are some photos of students whilst on work experience.
Year 12 VTAC Applications
VTAC applications open on Monday 31st July. I will be meeting with Year 12 VCE Students in the next couple of weeks to discuss their intentions. Communication will be sent to students (and parents) regarding the process and support provided for students with their VTAC applications and ATAR results.
Important dates to note:
- SEAS guarantee document review deadline - 15th September
- VTAC Timely applications close - 28th September.
- SEAS applications close - 6th October
VTAC have shared a link to Information slides for 2023 VCE Students and Parents: https://bit.ly/2023VCEInformationSlides
Many of the University Early Offer programs have already opened and students are encouraged to explore the options available. There are some links below to a selection of universities and the program they offer. Please take note of the closing dates.
ACU (Australian Catholic University)
Applications Open: 24th July, 2023
Applications Close: 18th September, 2023
https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/admission-pathways/acu-guarantee
Federation University
Applications Open: 1st May, 2023
Applications Close: 1st December, 2023
https://federation.edu.au/future-students/study-at-federation/early-offer-program
RMIT
Applications Open: 4th May, 2023
Applications Close: 18th September, 2023
Swinburne University:
Applications Open: now (as at 4th May, 2023)
Applications Close: 9th October, 2023
https://www.swinburne.edu.au/courses/planning-your-future/early-entry-program/
Victoria University
Applications Open: 24th July, 2023
Applications Close: 18th September, 2023
https://www.vu.edu.au/study-at-vu/how-to-apply/special-admission-programs/vu-guaranteed
University Open Days are a great opportunity for students to visit and get a feel for the University Campus and also talk to the faculty and students about the courses they are interested in. Open day dates will be shared as they come to hand on the N-Block Careers Notice Board.
2024 VET Enrolments
Any student interested in a VET Course for 2024 will be contacted later this term once the VET course offerings and confirmed cost has been advised.
Bookings
Appointments can be made in the following ways:
Calendly: Michelle Smith - Careers booking
Email: michelle.smith@baysidecc.vic.edu.au
Please include an indication of the reason for your booking so I can be best prepared to make the most of the time.
Please note my available days are Monday to Thursday from 9.00am - 3.00pm
Ms Michelle Smith
Careers Coordinator