Rebecca Ambrose

Careers Counsellor | Teacher

It has been great to see so many of our Year 12s meet with visitors to SMCC from UQ Residential College, Union College, Engineers, CQU talking about their course and entry pathways and TAFE. Next week, JCU is coming to speak with interested students and some Year 12s will be attending the University Experience at JCU on the last Tuesday of term. Next term is an important one for our seniors with regards to choosing pathways and starting applications to universities, TAFE, other training providers and employers. The upcoming holidays will be a good opportunity for our seniors to take some time to look at their options for 2023 and beyond.

Students can make appointments to see me through the SMCC careers website – www.smcccareers.com.au. Our website is available to all students and has a range of career exploration activities that can be accessed at any time. To access the activities, students just need to log in using their school email account.

Year 10 students will be undertaking Senior Education and Training Plan (SETP) pathway conversations with our team next term, in preparation for Senior Studies and pathways. There will be an information sessions early next term for families and our students will have opportunities to develop their knowledge of the choices available.

A passion for motorsports leads to a rewarding trade

You may often ask yourself, “but how can my hobby/interest lead to a job”? Myfuture has an article about Mitchell Croke who turned his passion for motorsports into a rewarding trade qualification as a sign writer. Click here to read his story including a video showing Mitchell at work. Trades do take you places!

Videos about getting a trade or skill at your fingertips!

Finding it hard to find information about jobs and skills? At Skills1NEtv you will find hundreds of videos about getting skills or a trade. There are: great feature videos, a list of the most popular videos and videos that highlight a particular skill set. Other short videos focus on the skills required in fourteen different industry areas and much more. Click here to see what's on offer. They are full of valuable information and can give you some excellent ideas to work with.

Apprenticeships with the Department of Main Roads and Transport

As a commercial business within the Queensland Transport and Main Roads, RoadTek provides apprenticeships and traineeships, giving you the opportunity to combine employment and structured training while completing a nationally recognised qualification. RoadTek apprentices and trainees can be employed on either a full-time or part-time basis. Opportunities are available to everyone from mature age workers to high school students. Click here to find out more about apprenticeship and traineeship pathways through TMR.

Apprenticeships, Traineeships and industry areas

On the myskills website you can find information about nationally recognised training courses, registered training providers, matching skills with jobs and information on the following industries:

Agriculture and Food processing
Arts and Culture
Business Education and Training
Construction and Mining
Defence industry
Design
Government, Safety and Environment
Health and Community Services
Manufacturing and Engineering
Retail, Hair and Beauty Services
Sports and Recreation
Science and Technology
Tourism and Hospitality
Transport
Utilities

In each section you can find information on Careers in Demand, Growth Areas and more within the specific industry. Case studies and videos of people who have completed their training and gained entry to their preferred jobs are included.

Want to be an apprentice

Australian Apprenticeships are available to anyone of working age and offer you opportunities to learn new skills and be paid in over 500 different jobs. You can use your qualification to work anywhere in Australia and around the world. Australian Apprenticeships:

offer you the opportunity to study and earn an income while undertaking a qualification
can be done full-time, part-time or while you’re at school

Check out Australian Apprenticeships and find information on:

What apprenticeship should I do?
I want to be an Australian Apprentice. What’s next?
What about my rights and wages?
What if I’m still at school?
Where can I find more information?
Financial programs and assistance

Australian Defence Force information sessions

If you are interested in the Australian Defence Force, it's a good idea to attend one of the information sessions and consider a work experience placement. You will get a better idea about the life and jobs in the Defence Force. For details about these events and for Army Reserve Information visit the Defence Jobs Australia Facebook site. You can register to attend the following information sessions:

08/06/2022 Cairns: STEM Careers Info Session

09/06/2022 STEM Careers Virtual Information Session

11/06/2022 Cairns: Army Reserve Open Day

Defence 2023 Gap Year opportunities

A gap year with the Airforce, Army or Navy is a great way to trial a career in the ADF and you get paid to do it! Jobs have different closing dates so visit the website for information about available GAP year jobs, closing dates and:

Defence Force roles
Frequently asked questions
Eligibility and joining
Lifestyle, pay and leave
Life after ADF Gap Year

How do I apply for the Defence Force?

The ADF recruitment process is designed to ensure you have the qualities needed, while helping you identify the ideal role in the Navy, Army or Air Force. Visit the Defence Recruitment website to find out if you are eligible to join and to access the six steps in the recruitment process. Each step has a video that explains what happens during the step. The six steps are:

Apply online with your personal details, academic achievements and job preferences (if you have them)
Attend virtual YOU (Your Opportunities Unlimited) Session
Attend Assessment Session - medical assessment, psychological interview, ADF interview
Attend Officer Selection (if you are wanting this pathway)
Take a Fitness Test
Attend Enlistment and Appointment day

On the site you will also find information videos that will answer many of your questions along with information on:

Quick eligibility check - use this tool to see if you can join
Health and fitness - learn how fit you must be
ADF entry methods - choose the way you want to join
Help centre - have your questions and queries answered

Career quiz

The USQ Career Explorer will help you discover the study areas where your talents and interests can flourish and thrive. Take 5 minutes to simply answer a few short questions to find career options based on your interests, talents and preferences. This is one way you can start exploring your career options from a university pathway perspective (click on I am new to USQ).

Be up to date with your career and job info

Sign up to myfuture (its free) and get career information sent straight to your inbox (scroll down). By having a myfuture account and checking the box to receive up-to-date career information about occupations, courses, career pathways, subject selections, open days you will receive current information that will assist you in your career research and decision making.

Career road test

It's hard to sort through your ideas and options for study and jobs in your future. JobJumpstart suggest that when buying a car, most people will shop around, look at different models and do a few test drives before making a decision. You can take the same approach when it comes to making decisions about your career. The Australian Government has developed a workbook that will help you investigate your chosen industry or occupation and then to think about how your research impacts on your career plans. Click here to access the booklet and start planning.

Finding jobs that use your skills

Job Outlook has a section that looks at why skills are the language of the workplace. You may not realise that the skills you've built doing work experience, part time job or community involvement can be used in many jobs and industries. You will move between a number of different jobs in your lifetime so it’s important to understand how your skills can transfer from one job to another. Skills Match can assist you to identify the skills you already have and show you jobs that use similar skills. Some of these might surprise you! Check out the information and give Skills Match a go!

Will a career test tell me what I should do?

It would certainly make career decision making easier, wouldn’t it but it’s not that simple! However, there are many tests that can help identify your career interests, work values, skills, aptitudes, personality, etc. at the point in time when you do the tests. While there isn’t just one ideal job for you, assessment quizzes can increase your self-awareness and usually provides you with a list of possible jobs based on how you responded to the quiz questions. This information can be used to begin your career exploration. The following quizzes are examples of assessment tools you can use to come up with job ideas. You can talk to your school Guidance Counsellor/Officer and ask them about quizzes they recommend to help you begin your career exploration.

myfuture – My career profile (Sign up when first entering this site - its free).
Job Outlook – Career quiz - only available until mid 2022
Skills Road - Career quiz
Jung Personality Test – This is a personality test.
Career Interest Explorer – The focus is jobs that require VET qualifications.

Top five ATAR questions answered

If you are finishing school this year, there’s no doubt that your ATAR result is on your mind. You're thinking, “what do I do if I didn’t get the score I expected”? To give you some perspective The Good Universities Guide has answered some of the most common questions school leavers have at this time of the year including:

What can I do if my ATAR is too low?
What if I can't get into Uni?
What are pathways?
Should I change my preferences?
Am I eligible for special entry schemes?

Good Careers Guide could be your answer

The Good Careers Guide (GCG) features more than 500 job descriptions. Explore occupations based on your interests and traits and learn about job’s skill and training requirements, employment outcomes and related jobs. Each career also links to relevant courses and education providers. Find career related Blog posts and career Ladders that provide the level of training required for a range of jobs and occupations. It is one way to start your career research and is available in print guide, e-book and website.

Occupations V Industries

'Occupation’ is a word that refers to the type of work a person does, for example, a doctor, teacher or cabinet maker. 'Industry’ refers to the main goods and services that are produced by a person’s employer. Most occupations can be found in a number of industries. For example, while many cooks work in the Accommodation and Food Services industry, cooks are also employed in the Healthcare and Social Assistance industry in hospitals, childcare centres, Defence Force and aged care facilities. By understanding how flexible an occupation can be, you can broaden your options and increases your chances of finding the right career pathway. For information on different occupations, visit myfuture and for information on apprenticeships and traineeships, visit AAPathways.

VET Pathways aren't limited to the Trades only!

Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications include certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas offered across a large number of industries and study areas. They offer many advantages from pathway options to skill development. If you fit into one of the categories below, find out more about VET courses that could be an excellent next step:

You’re looking for practical, hands-on training
You’re looking to qualify for a specific job or trade
You’re looking to ‘try out’ a study area before you commit to extensive study
You’re looking for a pathway to university study
You’re looking to add to your current skill set

The article from the Good Universities Guide explains:

Creative, communication and design careers

Visit QUT's 'No Walls' for an insight into creative, communication and design careers. If you are not sure what jobs are available, QUT’s no walls site includes profiles of graduates and their career path, as well as staff and student stories and events.

Not sure about a VET career path

Vocational Education and Training (VET) offers nationally recognised training and qualifications across a range of industries. My Skills will show you there are thousands of qualifications to choose ranging from Certificate I to Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate. VET lets you undertake partial qualifications, short courses, skill sets and units of competency, allowing you to gain the specific skills you need. Click here to find out more about:

Benefits of VET
Career stories
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
Skills for your career
Local providers
Financial assistance
Resources

Potential career pathways in Biomedical Science

Thinking of studying Biomedical Science because you find it interesting but don't know where it will lead you? ACU have put together a list of some jobs that the qualification can lead you to including:

Medical Doctor (or other health professions such as Physiotherapy in + 2 years (at ACU)
Clinical Scientist
Pharmaceutical Scientist
Biotechnologist
Research Associate
Lab Technician
Science Writer
Forensics Scientist
Hospital Scientist
Senior Researcher
Lecturer
Medical Science Liaison
Scientific Technical Officer
Business Development Manager (Biotechnology)
Life Sciences Consultant
Entrepreneur
Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
QA/QC Scientist
Product Specialist

This degree can lead to many interesting and rewarding jobs that are worth researching if you like Science at school.

Preparing for the future of work

It is important that young people prepare themselves for a smooth and successful transition to work and beyond. Betsy Jewell reports that nine out of ten employers say they are unable to fill positions because of a skills gap and 29% agree that the skills gap has increased compared to a year ago. The article goes on to say that high school students could benefit if they could identify their own aptitudes, what skills they will need in future careers and how to obtain them. Click here to read the article including information on:

Cultivating career readiness
Instilling a lifelong learning mentality
Steps to Help you to prepare for the future of work:
- self-discovery
- skills development
- mindset shift
- career processionals, teenagers and the future

What Your Webinar Hub has

Career Events.com has put together a seminar hub providing you information on careers in Information and Technology, Creative Arts, Science, Defence, Tourism and Travel, Universities, Health, Skills- based, Teaching, Student Accommodation, Application Process and Private Colleges. There are videos and articles that tell you more about each of the topics. Click here to find out more. Be informed to be confident!

Where can a science qualification take you

Science explained COSMOS provides articles and science news and insights from Australia and around the world. Click here to watch Cosmos' top ten science videos for 2021 and if you are wanting to find out where a career in science can take you, visit their website to find information about:

News; Features articles; Cosmos briefing; Space; Nature; Earth; History; People; Health; Core Sciences; Technology

Why character strengths matter

VIA Institute on Character say that character strengths are the positive parts of your personality making you feel authentic and engaged. You possess all 24 character strengths in different degrees, giving you a unique character strengths profile. Understanding and applying your strengths can help:

Boost Confidence
Increase Happiness
Strengthen Relationships
Manage Problems
Reduce Stress
Accomplish Goals
Build Meaning and Purpose
Improve Work Performance

Discover your strengths to build your best life and to help you investigate your career options for the future. Click here to take a free VIA Institute on Character strengths test. Always remember that and ‘test/quiz’ is a point in time result. It is wise to undertake these tests/quizzes periodically comparing your results as you grow and learn more about yourself.

Advice and Support for Job Seekers

If you are looking for a job now or in the future, the Australian Government's National Skills Commission (information previously found on Labour Market Information Portal) has lots of great information. On the site you can find information relating to:

Featured reports
Insights
News
Australian Skills Classification
Nowcast of Employment by Region and Occupation
State of Australia's Skills
Reports

Check out the website as information around skills and predicted employment trends is valuable information to have when considering your career direction.

Have you heard of an Arborist?

Arborists maintain and care for trees and shrubs by lopping limbs and shaping branches, treating trees with fertilisers and insecticides, removing dead or decaying trees and advising on general tree care. You need extensive experience, or a Certificate III or IV in arboriculture to work as an Arborist. It is an outdoor job with an average weekly pay of $1,078. There is strong growth in the area and they work, on average 44 hours/week. Check it out here.

Looking for an 'outdoor hands on' career?

Myfuture's is hosting a free Industry Insights webinar where you will find out more about the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing industry and careers in agriculture, food and fibre, with a focus on livestock, horticulture and cotton. You can see details and register here.

Queensland Police

If you are interested in exploring the career opportunities within the Queensland Police Service, you can visit their website for recruitment information. On the site you can find links to entry pathways including:

There is also information on:

Resume 101

‘Resume’ is a word you’ll hear a lot during the job-hunting process. A resume, sometimes called a CV or curriculum vitae, is a document that lists your work experience, education, skills and achievements. You’ll need a resume for almost any job application. It’s considered essential information to give to an employer so they can weigh up whether you’re suitable for a role and if they want to invite you to a job interview. Seek have put together some pointers about what should be included in your resume as a guide:

Personal details
Career objective or summary
Education
Skills, strengths or interests
Work experience
References
How long should my resume be?
What should it look like?
What to leave out

Thoroughbred breeders Australia Fast Track traineeship program

Thoroughbred breeders Australia has launched the Fast Track program to create a pathway for talented horse people to enter the industry. If you are passionate about horses this is an opportunity where you will be employed and mentored on a respected stud farm, gain a formal qualification plus have the opportunity to learn from leaders in the global horse industry. The 12 month program provides an accelerated introduction and learning experience that will help Fast Track graduates' progress quickly in careers in the breeding industry. You will gain introduction in all aspects of the thoroughbred industry, allowing you to kick-start your career.

This opportunity is aimed at anybody who has a passion for horses, no matter your equine background. If you enjoy an active lifestyle, working outdoors in a social and fast-paced environment, Fast Track could be the start of an exciting new career. Click here for more information and to apply.

Aged care: A career with diverse roles and opportunity for growth

The need to care for Australia’s ageing population presents a vast variety of stable, diverse and growing career opportunities in the aged care industry. According to research from CEDA, it’s estimated that Australia will need an additional 105,000 residential care beds and 110,000 extra workers in the next 10 years. Working with older Australians offers incredible diversity in roles that can keep your career dynamic and interesting. There’s also the potential for upskilling, training and career progression, enabling you to keep growing with your role. Access to these career options are only set to grow over the next decade and beyond as Australia’s population ages. Click here to read this Seek article in full including more information on:

Choose from varied and diverse roles
Continue to develop and grow your career
Futureproof your career thanks to long-term demand
Discover a diverse, dynamic and in-demand career in aged care

Tips for career development networking

It's never too early to understand networking! Networking is about building and developing professional relationships that can help you achieve your employment goals. Networking can take many forms. You can:

join professional associations
attend formal networking or business events
build relationships online or through your existing business or social channels.

Having a network of professional contacts can be useful for:

getting a better understanding of your dream career or industry
finding future employment opportunities and
landing a job

Click here to read JobJumpstart's article that talks about:

Figure out what information you want
Develop a ‘pitch’
Personal presentation
Listen carefully

Top 100 graduate employers in 2022

GradAustralia has developed a new methodology to determine the Top 100 Graduate Employers in 2022, which gives equal weighting to both popularity and program quality. Click here to view the results by popularity rating as well as by sector. When you click on an employer you can find information about:

About …
Recruitment Process
Renumeration and Career Growth
Graduate Reviews
Jobs and Opportunities
Graduate Success Stories
Day in the Life Of
Videos

Understanding the jobs market

The Labour Market Information Portal has a section that looks at how best to understand the jobs market. Explore employment data for more than 80 regions and across 19 industries. Find:

Interactive maps, industry and occupation data at the Labour Market Information Portal Mapping channel
Employment trends at the Industry Informational channel
Job vacancy data at the Vacancy Report
Information about workforce shortages in skilled occupations
View future job projections for the next 5 years at Employment projections
Go to Employers' recruitment insights to know what employers are looking for when they recruit and how they find workers

What are 'helping jobs'

If you are looking for a career where you can help people, have you thought about jobs in the service industry? The Job I Love website focuses on 14 different industries and ‘helping jobs’ within each service industry including:

The information provided for each industry includes the careers, tasks, job profiles, career opportunities, training, qualifications and job roles in the sector.

Where Maths can take you

Have you ever thought of launching a startup company, reaching millions of users with a new app or saving lives with a miracle discovery in medicine? You can make it happen by choosing Maths. Mathematics is an essential in the 21st century workforce and it’s a doorway to nearly every industry. More than crunching numbers, Maths is the language that allows you to solve the problems of tomorrow, innovate new technology and lead scientific discoveries. Some of the biggest challenges for future generations are still to come and the solution can be Maths! Check out AMSI's What's your dream article including information about Maths jobs in:

Science and environment
Business and marketing
Technology
Sport and recreation
Health and society
Transport and logistics
Biostatistics and bioinformatics
Engineering and resources
Education
Finance and money
Security and defence

Will you be working in the metaverse?

Kate Neilson from HRM from the Australian HMR Institute has written an article on the latest research and findings around the metaverse. By 2026, researcher predicts a quarter of people could spend at least an hour per day in the metaverse. How will that change our experience of work? Gartner says the metaverse is an immersive “collective virtual shared space” which brings together “visually enhanced physical and digital reality”. Importantly, this technology is “evolutionary, not revolutionary” as it represents the continuing evolution of the internet. As an emerging technology, it’s not yet clear exactly what work in the metaverse could look like. In a sense, the possibilities are endless. Click here to read the full article including:

Elements of a Metaverse
What even is the metaverse?
What would it actually look like?
The potential benefits
The potential downsides

What is the Jobs Hub?

Jobs Hub is an Australian Government central portal for job seekers looking to link with employers who are currently hiring. The hub is broken into these sections:

Where to look for jobs

There are many places to look for a job. New services are always being set up to compete with established players. You can search online, in newspapers, through specialist agencies, at job seeker centres or through networks. Don't limit your search to one source. Myfuture has compiled 11 places you can search for a job including:

Job websites
Company and organisation websites
LinkedIn
Labour hire and employment agencies
Networking
Professional and trade associations
Events
Centrelink
Group Training Organisations
Newspapers
Noticeboards

Yes, you really do need digital skills!

The Australian Industry and Skills Committee's (AISC) National Skills Overview shows the current explosion in new technologies is reinventing the way businesses are run. This has significant implications for the workforce, which needs to evolve and be agile to keep up with technological expansion. Digital skills are becoming a priority for many industries including coding and programming, exploring the world of cloud computing and the Internet of Things, Blockchain and developing and using robotic and automation technologies. Find out more at National Skills Overview.

Managing your money on a student budget - it can be done!

Moneysmart has some useful information on how you can manage your money when studying. Don't fall into the trap of waiting till you leave school to start managing your money because good money management is all about planning and getting into good money management habits. Moneysmart suggests that there's plenty to think about when studying, like living on a student budget and paying off student loans. Click here to find out their suggestions on how to make the most of your money including.

How to get by on a student budget
HECS and HELP for student costs
Paying off your EHLP debt
Study while you work
Get help if you need it

Helpful websites for researching overseas study options

With Australia's international boarders now open, you may be thinking about studying in another country and if so, it is a good idea to start your research now. The following are some organisations that will provide you with great information. It is a good idea to include your parents/guardians in your research.

Study and play USA - Provide the knowledge, experience and expertise student-athletes need to travel to the USA to live, play, learn, compete, study, grow in a purpose fit university.

Education USA – This site offers a five-step approach to researching study in the USA.

International Student – Provides access to resources for study in USA, Canada and UK.

OS Top Universities – Provides information on the highest ranked universities in the world.

Study Link – This site has a search tool that gives you access to thousands of courses from institutions around the world.

Study Portals – Allows you to search globally for institutions and courses.

Times Higher Education World University Rankings – A website set up by the company behind the world’s most influential university ranking on every continent across the world.

OS-HELP on the Study Assist website - OS‑HELP is a loan available to eligible Australian students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place who want to undertake some of their study overseas.

Smartraveller – This Australian Government website provides information for Australian travellers.

Study in Canada – You can use this site to explore institutions and courses in Canada.

Study in New Zealand – A course search and information about qualifications and scholarships available.

British Council: Study UK – Everything you need to know about studying in the United Kingdom.

Ministry of Education, Singapore – Provides general information about studying in Singapore.

Ideas to assist you with managing panic and reducing anxiety

Idea 1: When you are starting to panic remember this is an exaggerated physical reaction to stress. The feelings are unpleasant, but you can cope with them … breath!

Idea 2: Concentrate on your breathing – Breathe three deep breaths in and out slowly closing your eyes (when possible) as you do it … repeat until your heart rate is settled.

Idea 3: Watch your thinking. Say in your head statements like: “It’s OK”, “I can cope”, “breath”, “I can manage this” …

Idea 4: Use distracting techniques – count backwards from 100 or describe a painting to yourself or remember a happy time

Idea 5: Tell yourself that this is just one point in time and it will pass …

It is important to think in positive words to yourself. Everyone gets stressed and can panic but learning how to manage it will make the panic become less frequent. Always remember to back yourself. If you are finding managing your stress and/or panic difficult, speak with your school guidance officer, school counsellor or make an appointment to see your family doctor. They will all have great ideas to assist you to move forward positively and confidently.

Clubs & Activities

Cairns Show Competition

MFS Sugar