Pathways and Transition
Perhaps this is a sign that things are returning to normal: TRY-A-TRADE is once again open to Year 10 students. North Metropolitan TAFE have offered another opportunity to send a small group of Year 10 students, who are considering a Training Direct Pathway, to attend a three day Try-A-Trade experience, 10-12 June, 8:30am to 3:00pm.
Did you know that CQ University has a campus in Perth? It offers a range of courses from Certificates and Diplomas to Postgraduate studies.
What is university all about? Every student, from Year 10 up should watch this video. It describes so much about how a university works.
VCE and Beyond Virtual Careers Expo
Did you know that CQ University has a campus in Perth? It offers a range of courses from Certificates and Diplomas to Postgraduate studies
Join us online in the comfort of your living room and connect with CQUni's expert teaching staff, discover our huge range of TAFE and university courses, and learn more about our outstanding range of online and on-campus support services.
Our expert team will be available to chat directly with you to provide career advice and scout out the best study options for you.
1 August 9am – 12 noon 15 August 9am – 12 noon
A message from TISC
TISC Opens its Applications for 2021 The Tertiary Institutions Services Centre (TISC) coordinates school leaver applications to most universities in Western Australia. Because unis are competing for students for 2021 it looked like there would be a mess of applications to sort through in January. TISC, therefore, opened university applications for 2021 on 18 May. Wayne Betts, Executive Officer at TISC said:
“We’ll still be handling applications this year, as usual. In fact, they’ve just opened, to facilitate Curtin’s early offer program, which they’re running through us. Curtin is offering to refund students the TISC application fee if they apply by 30 September, put Curtin as 1 st preference, and accept a Curtin offer. A lot of the students who get an early offer from UWA or Murdoch will still want to compete for some of the more prestigious courses, which will run through the usual process. Also, students can get an early offer, but put in a TISC application to apply for something else at the end of the year, using their early offer as a backup if needed. The early offers won’t affect our offering process or ATAR calculation.”
Open Day News
As with all things Covid-19, there is some uncertainty about what is happening with the university open days.
More are going online.
- ECU has decided to take its Open Day online with a Virtual Open Day
- UWA has moved its Open Day online. Find Information HERE.
- Curtin says More Information Coming Soon.
- Murdoch is still advertising its Open Day for 26 July.
- CQU is running Virtual Open Days on 1st and 15th August
- Notre Dame hasn’t made an announcement for 2020. It previously planned to have its Open Day on 8 August.
Curtin Announces Scholarships
Scholarships provide support to high performing students who wish to enhance their portfolio of achievements, but also encourage students experiencing financial hardship to maximise their ability to study.
On 25 May Curtin published six academic excellence scholarships which don’t close until 18 December.
- Business and Law Top Excellence
- Charles Watson Top Excellence (Health Sciences)
- Curtin Excellence
- Humanities Excellence
- John de Laeter Top Excellence (Science and Engineering)
- Women in Engineering
For details HERE.
For more information go HERE.
For details on what students need to include in their application visit the scholarships webpage.
UWA Scholarships
UWA delivers $6m worth of scholarships each year.
The University of Western Australia offers a range of scholarships for Commencing Year 12 Students. There are scholarships to assist in areas of financial need, remoteness from the University, disability, and educational disadvantage. Applying for a scholarship is a step closer to becoming part of the UWA community and quality tertiary education.
Applications open for Future Students 2021 on Monday 6 July and close Sunday 1 November 2020.
UWA Scholarships have been categorised below.
Elite Scholarships
| Fulbright Scholarship | Open now for application | Closes July 2020 | |
| Sir John Monash Scholarship | Open in May 2020 | Closes July 2020 | |
| Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship | Open June 2020 | Closes September 2020 | |
| Rhodes Scholarship | Open July 2020 | Closes September 2020 |
Notre Dame Medicine Information Session available online
On 22 April Notre Dame held its Medicine Information Session online and it is still available HERE.
The Notre Dame Doctor of Medicine program is a four-year postgraduate course.
These are some key issues that I took from the sessions:
For 2020 there were 2500 applications for 100 places.
Grade Point Average
A Grade Point Average (GPA) is the average grade you achieve over your course. Notre Dame takes your scores over the last three years of your studies to find your GPA. Each year is weighted with the first year having a lower value than the final year.
Some students were doing post-graduate studies to improve their GPA. The cut-off deadline for these scores to be considered seemed tricky. Potential applicants need to contact the School of Medicine to make sure they have the precise information they need about cut off dates.
Notre Dame advertises that its minimum GPA score for applicants is 5.2 but the lowest score of a successful applicant for 2020 was 6.5. A score of 6 = a distinction. A score of 7 = a high distinction.
GAMSAT
Notre Dame advertises that applicants for the course need to score at least 50 in the Graduate Medical School Admission Test. The lowest successful applicant for 2020 scored 62.
Multiple Mini Interviews
Those with a successful GPA and GAMSAT get to do Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs).
Two hundred people were interviewed for the 100 places for this year.
There are usually 7 x 6-minute interviews with a 2- minute changeover and reading time. There are one or two rest stations of 6 minutes each.
THE FORMAT FOR 2021 HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED. Keep an eye on the Notre Dame website for information as decisions are made.
Portfolio
Notre Dame also requires applicants to submit a portfolio about themselves, their leadership skills and achievements. A couple of years ago I heard a student saying how he had talked about his job as a manager at McDonald's in his portfolio application. People laughed, but it showed how there is no set formula for your portfolio presentation.
More information can be found HERE.
Pre-Medicine Certificate
Notre Dame now offers a Pre-Medicine Certificate which is studied WHILE you are doing your undergraduate degree.
If you do well with your Grade Point Average and with your GAMSAT results you are guaranteed an interview.
The Pre-Medicine Certificate does NOT guarantee you a place in medicine.
Getting into Medicine at Curtin
USE YOUR PERSONAL EMAIL ADDRESS (not your school one)
Curtin will take in 100 students in 2021. Curtin is trying to attract students from rural and remote areas and from low SES areas so that Australia has a broad spectrum of backgrounds across the medical professions.
The selection process for Curtin is:
- The ATAR cut off point for Curtin is 98. Rural and remote and low SES students get a bonus 5 points which may bring their scores up to 98.
- Chemistry is a prerequisite for Curtin.
- Students with a 98 ATAR and competitive UCAT get an interview.
- Interviews start in December so a predicted ATAR will be required.
- Check the 2020 Admissions Guide for detailed information
Direct Entry to UWA Medicine and Dentistry
Students who want to apply for the direct entry pathway to medicine, podiatric medicine or dentistry at UWA need to:
- Apply through TISC (you can apply through TISC now)
- A predicted ATAR form will be sent to the school. This is usually sent in October but may be different in 2020.
- You need to do the UCAT (see details below)
- If you are competitive with your ATAR and your UCAT you will be invited for an interview which will be held in late November or early December
- Offers are made on the ACTUAL ATAR result, your UCAT result and the interview.
To get into medicine at UWA you need maths applications, sound English and chemistry. You can get into the Direct Entry Pathway and catch up on these during your first year of uni.
UWA has a new Integrated Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice pathway available to those who are on the Direct Pathway to the Doctor of Medicine.
UCAT Registration Extended!
Pearson VUE has extended the registration for UCAT ANZ 2020 until 1st of June 2020 11.59 pm AEST.
This will be the final opportunity to book the test this year and no further bookings will be accepted after 1st of June under any circumstances.
Registrations are via the ucat.edu.au website
Year 11 News
14 June Applications Close for 2021 National Youth Science Forum.
If you like hands-on science workshops, meeting new people and hearing from world-class scientists, apply for the 2021 National Youth Science Forum by 14 June 2021. For more information head over to the NYSF website.
There are Equity Scholarships that cover about $1000 of the costs.
See a video gallery of previous camps HERE.
ADFA Education Awards
The Australian Defence Force Academy Education Award is presented annually to Year 12 students in recognition of leadership potential, and academic and sporting achievements exhibited during Year 11.
This is a prestigious award awarded to the 120 most suitable applicants who have applied for entry to the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).
To find out more go HERE.
Defence Force Work Experience
Check out the range of Defence Work Experience options HERE.
Cybersecurity and Robotics for Year 11, 12 and talented Year 10s
Most are in WA but there are 11-day programs in cybersecurity and robotics in Canberra. Defence is THE BEST at cybersecurity and robotics so this would be a great opportunity for those who are interested. Check out details of the four programs run throughout the year HERE.
A Day in the Life of a Soldier
ARMY
Karrakatta, WA
03 September or 5 November
13 Brigade is a Reserve Brigade-Level formation of the Australian Army. They provide the Australian Army with a Reserve Response Force and a High Readiness Reserve Combat Team which are capable of deployment at short notice with Regular Army Units, or in support of civilian agencies.
This placement offers participants the opportunity to have exposure to a range of Army roles and is ideal for the student who is considering a career with Army, either in a Regular or Reserve capacity. Check details HERE.
Fleet Support Unit - West (Trade Positions) Familiarisation
NAVY
HMAS Stirling WA
August to November 2020 - Negotiable
The Fleet Support Unit provides high levels of maintenance support to fleet units and establishments. From metal fabrication to corrosion control, electronics repair to equipment overhaul or change-out, personnel can carry out almost any type of work or provide support "where and when needed".
REVISION - REVISION - REVISION
The support and advice, regarding subject specific information and revision, from College staff, cannot be underestimated. However if you are seeking further study options a few organisations that offer revision seminars and course are listed below.
Revise Online
ReviseOnline specialises in providing online education. It provides teaching resources and support as well as practice tests and exams.
Mastermind
Master Mind Australia intensive revision of the syllabus and assessment preparation, including the effective modelling of answers to ATAR-style exam questions.
Academic Task Force
Academic Task Force specialist teachers work with students showing them how to apply what they have learnt at school, how to prepare for their exams and how to maximize their exam performance.
ATARGET
ATARget ATAR Revision, ATAR Exam Preparation and Study Skills programs focus on strengthening students’ understanding of subjects, boosting classroom confidence and improving examination performance.
June Calendar
Lyn Alexander
Head of Pathways and Transition
9383 0416
