Senior School

Welcome Back to Careers in 2022

Welcome back to a new school year! I look forward to another productive year working with the students at St Patrick’s College Strathfield to help them find their passion.

“Set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy and inspires your hopes.”

This year I would like each boy to really think about their goals, both academic and career. Goals will provide a sense of direction and boost motivation. Often it is beneficial coming up with a career goal and then working back from there to determine academic goals. For example, if a boy has an ambition to become an engineer, then they should ensure they develop their mathematical skills. I encourage parents to have this discussion with their sons at the beginning of the academic year and keep reminding them of their long-term goals. A boy may not have a definite career goal at this stage and may have a few options they are considering. This is not anything to be concerned about. I am happy to meet with any boy and/or their parents/carers to discuss their career and course options, particularly if this means that it will assist with putting goals in place.

“Education shows the path to the door of opportunity. It gives confidence and hope to open it.”

The aim of each boy should be to maximise their opportunities, and this can be done through education. The boys that achieved the best HSC results last year had many options to choose from in terms of university courses and career paths. Some of them that applied for early entry did receive early entry, but later managed to obtain an offer into a more superior course demanding a higher ATAR. These courses were not available through early entry and so the boys had to work hard to achieve academic excellence in their HSC examinations, enabling them to obtain entry into those courses. Our College Dux of 2021, Patrick Tandiono accepted an offer into the double degree of Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney. Our Proxime Accessit, Lawrence Young accepted an offer into the double degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Sydney. Therefore, it is important that all students work to their potential to maximise their opportunities.

What is on the Agenda in Careers for 2022?

Throughout the year, I will be attending the Year 10, 11 and 12 Pastoral Care Periods to disseminate important information. Students in these Year groups also have access to the Careers Canvas Course which consists of information on post school options, including course and career information.

For guidance and advice that will take longer than a few minutes, all students can make an online careers appointment through Canvas Careers by clicking on the tile ‘Book an Appointment’. A schedule with my availability will pop up. The student will then select the time that suits them. There are 10-minute, 15-minute or 20-minute time slots. Year 10 should only book appointments during either recess or lunch. Year 11 and 12 need to make appointments during their study periods, recess, or lunch. Students are more than welcome to come into the Careers Office at any time if they have a quick question. As mentioned earlier, often having a career goal will motivate students to develop academic goals. So please encourage your son to see me if he would like to know about his career pathway options. Remember no dream is too big if you are willing to work hard.

Students will be emailed the Careers Newsletter on a regular basis. Parents/carers will also receive a copy via the Especean, and all copies will be available in Canvas Careers for students to access. I encourage all students and parents/carers to browse through the newsletter as you may find something that will be of interest.

As the Careers Advisor at the College, other services that I will provide to the students throughout the year include:

Careers education lessons to Year 10 students
Individual careers appointments on school and post school options available for any student in Year 10, 11 and 12. Students from other Year groups are also welcome to schedule a careers appointment during their recess or lunch
Information and guidance for HSC subject selection to Year 10, and any student in Year 11 and 12 that is thinking of dropping a subject or changing subjects
Work experience opportunities for students who are thinking of leaving school at the end of Year 10
Pathway interviews with Year 12 in Term 2 and Term 3 and pathway interviews with Year 11 will commence at the end of Term 3 and continue into Term 4.

Other events such as the Old Boys Careers Information Evening for Year 11 and 12 and the Careers Expo at Homebush for Year 12 will be held later this year. These events will provide students with an opportunity to source information on post school options.

If any parent/carer has any questions or would like to book a meeting, please contact me on 8705 9255 or email me at joanne.cupac@spc.nsw.edu.au.

In the year ahead, I look forward to getting to know each of the boys so I can mentor and guide them to make future course and/or career choices.

Joanne Cupac

Careers Advisor