I’m delighted to welcome students and families back to the College for the 2026 academic year and to introduce myself as I commence in the role of Head of Pathways and Transition. It is a privilege to support our students as they explore their strengths, build their aspirations, and take confident steps toward their future pathways.

This year promises to be full of opportunity, growth, and discovery. Each week, I’ll be sharing careers and pathways news and information to help students and families stay informed and feel empowered in making decisions about subject selections, training options, further study, and life beyond school.

Please feel free to reach out at any time if you need guidance, have questions, or simply want to start a conversation about your child’s next steps. I look forward to working together throughout the year.

Mrs Kalo Bell – Head of Pathways and Transition; career counselling and pathway planning pathways@johnxxiii.edu.au | 08 9383 0416
Mrs Kelli Beaton – Pathways Assistant; VET and workplace learning coordination pathways@johnxxiii.edu.au | 08 9383 0417

Kalo Bell

Head of Pathways and Transition

Pathways Picks

This week’s recommended reading

Lifelong learning: What it is and why it’s important – Study Work Grow

What are vocational pathways? – Study Work Grow

2026 Years 11/12 College Curriculum Handbook

The John XXIII College Curriculum Handbook for Years 11 and 12 students can be found in the ‘School Documents’ section on SEQTA.

2026 WACE Manual

The 2026 WACE Manual for Years 11 and 12 students can be found HERE.

New ECU Perth Campus Opens

The dynamic new ECU campus opens in Semester One 2026.

It is the most exciting building in Perth. Everything is state of the art, from the electronic art displays on the façade and in the entrance, to the building’s foundations sprung to withstand jolts from trains passing underneath.

On the north side, facing Northbridge theatres and galleries, they have focused on creative industries. On the side facing the city there is business, law and information technology.

Ten thousand students will be based at the City Campus studying:

The WA Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)
Arts and Humanities
Business and Law, and
Information Technology

The building will be open to the public from the middle of the year. The ECU City Campus Open Day won’t be until August.

Perth Film Studios Open

This is the time to kick start your creative career in WA. The new Film Studios in Malaga has opened.

The facility aims to provide ideal facilities for film producers, actors, camera operators, scriptwriters, costume and set designers, makeup artists, and directors.

Go to Open Days 2026

All Year 10+ students who want to go to university in WA should go to at least two Open Days:

To the one closest to where you live.
The one with the courses and campus life that will make your life better.

These myfuture tips will help you make the most of open days:

University Open Day Calendar 2026

Edith Cowan University

15 March Joondalup

Get details HERE.

The University of Western Australia

22 March

10am – 3pm

Get details HERE.

Murdoch University

28 March

South Street

10am – 3pm Saturday

Get details HERE

Curtin University

29 March

10am – 3pm

Get details HERE.

Edith Cowan University

3 May

ECU South West, Bunbury

Get details HERE.

Edith Cowan University

9 August

ECU City

Get details HERE.

The University of Notre Dame

TBA

2026 Medicine - University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) Dates

If you want to apply for medicine for 2027, you will need to undertake a UCAT assessment.

These are the important dates for UCAT in 2026:

Deadline times are 11:59pm AEST - Australian Eastern Standard Time

Concession Scheme opens Access Arrangements open	16 February 2026
BOOKING OPENS	3 March 2026
Concession application deadline	11 May 2026
Access Arrangements application deadline	15 May 2026
BOOKING DEADLINE	15 May 2026
Late booking deadlineLate Access Arrangements application deadline	29 May 2026
FINAL late booking deadline	5 June 2026
Cancellation deadline	12 June 2026
Testing begins	1 July 2026
Last testing date	5 August 2026
Results delivered to universities	early September 2026

Sign up for notices on the UCAT ANZ website.

2026 Undergraduate Course Guides (WA Universities)

Curtin Undergraduate Course Guide 2026

Notre Dame National Undergraduate Guide 2026

ECU Undergraduate Guide to Careers & Courses

Murdoch Undergraduate Course Guide 2025/26

UWA 2026 Undergraduate Course Guide

Offsite Study Options for Year 11 and 12 Students

For students who decide to pursue a senior secondary pathway other than studying 5 or 6 ATAR courses, John XXIII College partners with South and North Metropolitan TAFE Colleges as well as other private Registered Training Organisations (RTOs,) in order to offer Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS.) Our commonly used partners could include:

Co-Payment

Please note that a co-payment will be required for offsite Certificate courses with annual fees exceeding $2000 per annum.

Students and families for whom following a pathway other than studying 5 or 6 ATAR courses is of interest are strongly encouraged to make an appointment with the Pathways and Transition team.

Jobs and Skills Centre for Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Parents, employers and students can get free, government-funded information and guidance about apprenticeships and traineeships from one of the Jobs and Skills Centres.

If you think a trade or traineeship could be a good pathway for you, go to a Jobs and Skills Centre.

Save money – Choose an apprenticeship on the priority list

Commonwealth Government Funding

The Australian Apprenticeships Priority List identifies courses eligible for fee-free courses and incentives to employers. There are 26 pages of Priority Occupations where there are skills shortages.

You usually have to pay for the tools and equipment needed for the course, but there are no course fees.

State government FREE VET pathways

The West Australian government subsidises VET courses for occupations where we have specific skills shortages. See the Fee-free and low-fee course finder.

WA Police Recruitment Sessions

Are you interested in learning more about a career with WA Police Force?

Recruitment information sessions are held at the WA Police Force Academy in Joondalup, where you can learn more about the application process and life as a police officer.

Their Recruiting Team will provide an overview of the selection process and training requirements.

Register for the next session by going HERE.

Police Cadets

Australian or New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Australian Resident aged between 17 and 19.

Please note, applicants can apply at 16; however, they must be 17 years old upon selection to a Cadet school. Find details HERE.

BHP Neurodiverse Internship Program

If you are neurodiverse and interested in computing, consider the BHP Internship as a future opportunity. It is run through a partnership between Curtin and BHP. Read about it HERE.

Curtin University has invested in creating a positive learning environment for students with autism. Check out their AccessAbility services HERE.

The Morrisby Profile

All John XXIII College students in Years 10, 11 and 12 have completed their Morrisby Profile (in Years 9 or 10), providing a valuable resource for career exploration and pathway planning. Students are encouraged to log back into their Morrisby Profiles regularly to view new career matches and information. Morrisby can also be a useful tool for facilitating career discussions between young people and their parents.

Troubleshooting with logins, etc, can be directed to Mrs Bell, Head of Pathways and Transition.

MyFuture – your one-stop shop for career information

Do quizzes, watch career videos, check out courses, and what happens when you get into the job. MyFuture takes you on a career exploration pathway.

MyFuture is thorough and delivers loads of free information.
It is supported by ALL Australian governments.
The information is not biased by someone trying to sell you something.
They have a strong privacy policy and DO NOT share your data.

You can register HERE.

Your Career

Search industries and occupations to find a career that’s right for you and what you can do to get there. Take a career quiz. Explore fee-free TAFE. Take an interactive quiz to see what literacy and numeracy skills you’ll use in your chosen industry.

Click HERE to explore.

Kalo Bell

Head of Pathways and Transition

Drama

Coming in 2026