Careers & Pathways News
Ms Geraldine Borgonha
Westall Secondary College
Here's what's happening in careers!
VET CARPENTRY 2026 is open to students undertaking Year 11 VCE Vocational Major in 2026
The VET Carpentry course opens employment opportunities in the building construction and building industries, by providing students with the skills and knowledge required for carpentry and building trades. The course is designed to strengthen their carpentry or associated building trades apprenticeships prospects.
The students gain experience in using hand and power tools, and learn a wide range of carpentry skills, including how to install windows and doors, wall framing, interior fixing and roofing.
At this stage, we will run this program on Fridays in 2026. Watch this space…..
VET BUSINESS 2026 is open to students undertaking Year 11 VCE and VCE Vocational Major in 2026 – New program
Also on offer is VET COOKERY and VET SPORT AND RECREATION PLUS ALL THE EXTERNAL VET PROGRAMS.
MONASH CAMPUS VISIT with our Year 10s on 19th May was well attended and the information received will support our students in the future decision-making process when Course Counselling occurs in August.
Campus Experience Recap: Westall Secondary College - Alumni to Mentor
The Access Monash Team has supported Westall Secondary College in the 10 years I have been employed as the Careers and Pathways Advisor at Westall Secondary College. I studied at Monash University in 1989 and coming back to the various events [run] by this team still rekindles the love of learning in me. Spending time with Westall Secondary College past students who are now Access Monash Mentors, listening and learning from them about university life is greatly valued not only by our students but by me. Long may our partnership continue as we work together to fulfil students’ dreams of higher education in their new country Australia and in particular Victoria.” Geraldine Borgonha, Career Advisor, Westall Secondary College.
Westall Secondary College had their Campus Experience on Monday the 19th of May and we were delighted to see one of our 2025 Access Monash Mentors Shabana be reunited with her Careers Advisor Geraldine Borgonha. Geraldine has been involved with Access Monash for over 10 years and it’s amazing to see the connections that the program supports in our school communities. During their visit, the Year 10 students from Westall completed a Campus Tour and Scavenger Hunt, visited the Monash Sport Facilities and met with a representative of the Disability Support Services to learn about the assistance that is available for Monash Students, who may have a disability, medical conditions or who has caring responsibilities. The cohort also had the opportunity to hear from 10 of our Access Monash Mentors during our Mentor Panel with questions including “how did you finance your lifestyle at university,” and “how did you choose the course you are studying.”
We spoke with Shabana to understand what it meant to her to have the opportunity to volunteer alongside her high school. “It was lovely seeing my high school staff again. I feel satisfied knowing how this program has helped mentors like me to guide senior students, just like they had when I was a high schooler in this program.”
If you would like to book a Campus Experience for your school we still have some dates available from the 8th to the 19th of September, which you can request through these forms, Metro Schools Access Monash Booking Form and Regional/Tasmania Schools Access Monash Booking Form.
Shabana
Access Monash Mentor
WESTALL CAREERS EXPO
The Westall Careers Expo proved to be biggest by far this year, held on 22nd May with thirty exhibitors including, AIDE, AUG, BGKLLEN, Box Hill Institute of TAFE, (Chisolm - apology), Federation University, Hawthorn College of Sport, Jobs State-wide, Kangan TAFE, Kingston Youth Services, Head Start, Victoria University and TAFE, Deakin, Holmesglen, IVET Group, La Trobe University, Monash University, RMIT, Swinburne, Torrens University, Goodman-Fielder, Kanooka Childcare Centre, Little Swim School, Tristar Aviation, Uniting and Reece and Metalflex represented by our students Demarcus, Ryhanna and Erena and the Victorian School of Languages (VSL) .
As always, the expo offered opportunities for students from Year 9 to 12 to maximise information input offered by the Careers Expo/Market providers. They were able to gather information about career pathways, education and training, and job opportunities. It was heartening to see parents and care-givers attend the Expo.
Mrs McDowell and Ms Borgonha, were the incredible force who bought this exceptional event to Westall this year.
The photos taken by our wonderful staff will say it all!
Thank you to Alex, Lisa and Year 12 VM students Leon, Ryan and Kare for car parking skills - I joked and told them I would want them back next year :) :) Erena, Berlina Abdulaziz for cleaning up at the end.
Linda, Barb Hose – ALL AROUND - SUPER STARS, and all our wonderful student helpers and staff especially Vicky and Kim who supported me every step of the way
Auntie Lee’s Kitchen 😊 and front of house style organised by our hospitality students and Donna and Voc Major students for their BBQ - which everyone loved.
Hieu and Kevin for the brilliant power point presentation running the big screen and music
Kristina for the shopping and allocating times for our Year 12 students. Naseer for IT support
Helen, Gary, Linda for the walk around camera shots. Dung, Sandie and Office staff
Tristan for a stirring introduction and note of thanks. Michelle and Middle School team for the Career Expo passport and identifying the winner 😊
Debby and Esther for our WELC students,
Jackie for her help. Last but least was Goodman's ongoing contribution to our school. It was great seeing our students sharing raisin bread at 3:15 pm yesterday
Most exhibitors told me they were excited by the enthusiasm and energy shown by all our students. Our students showed confidence in the way they asked questions.
We have had such positive feedback because of each of YOU. See Austeen from AUG's feedback below...
Our students who attended benefitted by having the Universities, TAFE, Employment providers and our very own REECE Voc Major Year 11 students who are currently doing SBATs - Demarcus, Ryhanna Katu and Pax represented HEADSTART SBAT.
THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
Geraldine and Linda-Marie
Dear Geraldine and Linda,
Happy Friday!
I am writing to express my gratitude and appreciation for inviting AUG
Melbourne to participate in your wonderful Careers Expo. The event was amazing,
and the support from your team and student volunteers was fantastic.
We would be delighted to be a part of any of your future events and look
forward to continuing our collaboration 😊
Thank you once again for the opportunity and have a great weekend!
Kind Regards,
Austeen WONG
Marketing Officer / Education Consultant
AUG Melbourne
Level 1, 480 Elizabeth Street,
Melbourne Victoria 3000, Australia
+61 3 9663 5333
Thank you for all the lovely photos to those who provided them
Ms Helen Ifandis (Director of Learning Senior school) & Ms Geraldine Borgonha (Careers Advisor)
VETS Programs in 2024
All our 55 VET (Vocational Education and Training) students are progressing well. Some of our Year 11 and 12 VCE and Vocational Major students have undertaken their Structured Work placements in Electrical, Manufacturing, Automotive, Retail, Hospitality and Early Education and Care during these school holidays and last week.
Westall Secondary College is privileged to run two VET Programs on site – VET Cookery headed by Mrs Read assisted by Mrs Lynette and our RTO Skillinvest Australia delivers VET Building and Construction Carpentry on site every Friday with Sam Zaphiris who engages our students so we have record attendance and commitment to this program.
SBAT and SWL in Vocational Major and VCE
Our 8 School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships students are also making huge strides with a pathway whilst they are at school and beyond. Their employers such as National Food Institute, GRE8 in Supply Chain Operations, METALFLEX and REECE, HAIR PLACE -Carnegie speak highly of their reliability, work ethic and expertise. These students work during the school holidays on Wednesdays and Fridays and are compensated by receiving their wage and learning new skills.
Vocational Major Students Visit Fare Share Year 12
Work Related Skills Students recently visited Fare Share, a not-for-profit food rescue organisation that operates out of Melbourne. Fare Share are dedicated to combating hunger and reducing food waste. They rely on volunteers such as our Year 12 students and teachers who helped prepare meals for distribution for those experiencing hardship.
As part of Units 3 and 4, WRS Students were able to build upon their workplace skills for their Career Portfolio and upcoming interviews and presentations. A special thanks go to Teachers Fathima Jameel and Erica Tickner for their valued assistance on the day.
Mr Gary Bottomley
Classroom Teacher
Year 10 Work Experience
Around 120 students in Year 10 will be undertaking work experience from 30th June to 4th July where observation is key to their knowledge of their world of work. We thank our local employers and in particular the BGKLLEN for providing our students this opportunity and parents and care givers for getting students to their work places.
CAREERS shines a spotlight on AGED CARE and employment in The Little Swim School
William Lette our past student visited our Year 10 Pathways Student on 14th May on the request of Mr Bottomley and discussed his pathway both whilst he studied at Westall and Boxhill TAFE where he undertook VET Health and this led him to a structured work placement at Oaklea Hall, Hughesdale and work experience at The Little Swim School, Clayton South which then has led to full time employment with this Company.
Thank you William for sharing your career pathway story with our students.
CAREERS shines a spotlight on CHILD CARE and employment in Kanooka Childcare Centre
Cathy Andrewartha, Centre Manager from Kanooka Child Care Centre visited our Year 10 Pathways Student on 30th April on the request of Mr Bottomley and discussed her organisation’s recruitment processes, what makes a good Child care Assistant and the work experience process at Kanooka Child Care Centre, Clayton. The studies that a student can undertake i.e VET in Year 11 and 12 which gives them units of credit when they undertake the Traineeship after Year 12. No work day is the same but the learning students will receive by working with young children is very fulfilling. Kanooka has supported our school by attending the Annual Career Expo on 22nd May and talking to our students from Year 9 to 12.
Thank you Cathy for sharing your career story with our students.
Ms Geraldine and Ms Linda
Career Advisors