Careers & Pathways News
Ms Geraldine Borgonha and Ms Jane Jamieson
Westall Secondary College
Here's what's happening in
BGKLLEN Awards Night
On Tuesday 14th October the BGKLLEN Awards night was held at St Leonard's College at Brighton East. Over 200 parents, staff and students attended the Award night from schools in the Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston region.
Speakers included David Gallagher from School of Education - Deakin University, Kyra Snell, Commercial Manager, Bendigo Community Bank Highett and Ben Vasliliou, the CEO of The Man Cave. They were inspiring speakers, encouraging students in their future endeavours to be authentic to themselves and be kind to others.
Westall Secondary College was represented by having ten students nominated in the following categories:
Excellence in Applied Learning - Leon Pham
Achievement in Applied Learning - Lois Papatua
Future Vocational Pathways - Ryan Li and Hussain Prioz
Future Education Pathways - Alanah Pullin and Tairan Kare
VCE VM Student of the Year - Erena Mani
VPC Student of the Year - Susannika Prum
VET Student of the Year - Ryhanna Mautairi
Work- based Learning Student of the Year - Romalyn Arcilla
Leon Pham was a winner for the 'Excellence in Applied Learning' for Westall SC for his category and Lois Papatua was a winner for 'Achievement in Applied Learning' for Westall SC in her category. Ryhanna was the overall winner for her category of 'VET Student of the Year'.
Ryhanna had done over 20 days Structured Work-based learning at Liberty Shower Screens and Wardrobes and her Manager; Jackie was very impressed with her work. She has also completed a year in the Westall SC woodwork room and started a second year at Skillinvest Dandenong. Ryhanna is working towards a Cert II in Building and Construction Carpentry and has satisfactorily completed a Cert II in Horticulture.
Ryhanna was the overall winner of VET Student of the Year as she has demonstrated:
ongoing perseverance throughout her VET studies
commitment and determination
enthusiasm and a willingness to learn through hands-on experience
attendance and involvement in her VET studies that has been outstanding
thriving within an Applied learning environment, and
VET teacher providing exceptional feedback.
Well done to all students who were nominated. It is great to see the outstanding effort students in the vocational pathways program are putting into their work at school and in the vocational learning environment.
Year 11 Mock Interviews
On Tuesday October 28, twenty-one VM/ VPC students participated in mock interviews with panels of interviewers from industry groups, Headstart and the wellbeing staff of Westall SC. The interviewers included:
- Natalie Tenardi, Career Development Officer, Advanced Personnel Management - APM, Frankston
- Gavan Turner, Career Development Officer, APM, Frankston
- Sharissa Evans, Career Development Officer, APM, Frankston
- Senad Saric, Social Media Manager
- Isabelle Lette, Admin Manager Little Swim School
- Liz De Nittis, Business Engagement, BGKLLEN - Bayside Glen Eira Kingston Learning Network.
- Ashley Oehler, Student and Wellbeing Coordinator, WSC
- Nadia Papagiannopoulos, Student and Wellbeing Engagement Officer, WSC
- Jane Jamieson, Headstart Coordinator, Bayside Peninsula
A big thank you to everyone involved in the interview panels.
The students did a great job in presenting themselves and providing their resumes for the interviewers. Some students were a little nervous about the experience but overall did an outstanding job at advocating for themselves at the mock interviews. These interviews provide students with the confidence they require in the “real world”. Well done to all students involved.
Also well done and thank you to Geraldine and Gary who organized everything for the mock interviews to take place, and Charlie who assisted with everything running smoothly on the day.
Student comment from Adele Boldaz
"They did go well, everyone was really nice and gave good feedback."
Skillinvest Graduates
Westall Secondary College Vocational Major students in Years 11 and 12 wish to thank Sam Zaphiris, Trainer from Skillinvest for VET Carpentry who worked with our students while they completed VET Building and Construction - Carpentry Units 1 and 2.
In 2026, these students will complete Units 3 & 4 thereby preparing them for a full time apprenticeship should they choose it after Year 12. Good luck students and thank you once again Sam for your compassionate support tailoring your practice to individual student needs.
GRE8 Taster
November 5th 2025
Our Victorian Major and Pathways Certificate students in Years 11 and 12 were invited to attend GRE8 Warehouse in Dandenong South where they were given a tour of the facilities and the work they will be undertaking whilst completing their SBAT in Supply Chain Operations in 2026.
The train and the bus journey helped the students to familiarise themselves on how to get to this workplace. We were so happy to meet Year 12 students Alanah, Anita and Erin who were hard at work and continuing their SBAT to perfection in 2025.
We later moved on to the GRE8 Make and Bake Site where the students were given an tour of the Commercial kitchen that they will be working in whilst undertaking their SBAT in Baking. The benefit of this SBAT is that students receive 4 units of credit for their Vocational Pathway Thanks to Brent Freeman at GRE8 and his staff, Mr. Gropel and Ms Geraldine.
Ms Geraldine - Career Advisor
Ms Linda - Careers Assistant
Jane Jamieson - Headstart Coordinator
Year 12, VCE Vocational Major Showcase
Year 12, VCE Vocational Major Students, recently displayed and presented a showcase of their work. This included but was not limited to: a campaign on vaping, reflections on advocacy, mathematics in the workplace and a career portfolio.
Gary Bottomley
VM Teacher
The Little Swim School
- staff wanted, apply today!
Enthusiastic Learn to Swim Teachers are required:
- No experience needed - we provide full on the job training
- Fun, supportive team environment
- Ages 15.5 + welcome
Flexible hours and rewarding work
Apply now:
hello@thelittleswimschool.com.au
mob. 0480 152 799
