VET and Careers News

Careers Information Bulletin – Something for Everyone

There are so many fantastic and current career opportunities found in our fortnightly ‘Careers Information Bulletin’. 

Careers

Mrs Michelle Carter - Careers Counsellor

It was lovely to see so many students, parents and caregivers at last week’s Year 10 and Senior Subject Selection Evenings. So many areas were covered with lots of acronyms. Here’s a brief summary of some of the many well-used terms you will hear and what they (briefly) mean:

The QCAA and QCE go together:

QCAA - Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority plays a critical role in the design and delivery of education in Queensland. It collates all Senior records; students access their MyQCE results to access their final results (16 December for current Year 12’s).  www.qcaa.qld.edu.au.

QCE – Queensland Certificate of Education which is Queensland's senior secondary schooling qualification. It is internationally recognised and provides evidence of senior schooling achievements. Students are to attain a minimum 20 QCE points over Year 10-12. As a guide, subjects are worth 4 QCE points each; Certificate II = 4 points; Certificate III = 8 points (sometimes 6 points if there is a lot of double-up with the Certificate II); Diploma = 8 points. Marist has achieved 100% success with students attaining their 20 QCE over the past few years.

ATAR - Australian Tertiary Admission Rank serves as a ranking system that reflects a student’s overall academic performance in Senior. It is calculated by QTAC and provides a standardised measure for university admissions. The top ATAR is 99.95 (achieved by 37 Qld students in 2025) and goes down in .5 increments until 30 (where it stops). See below for more information. Year 12’s will log into QTAC to find their ATAR on 18 December 2026.

QTAC – Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre processes applications for most undergraduate and selected postgraduate programs offered by Queensland universities + UNE. It also produces the Year 10 Guide for Tertiary Prerequisites and Year 12 information for tertiary entry (the QTAC portal opens on 4 August, 2026 for current Year 12s).  For students wishing to apply for university/TAFE, they will add 1-6 preferences into the QTAC system by 30 September. The cost is $75 and comes with 3 free changes. www.qtac.edu.au. (Students will need their USI to apply)

VET – Vocational Education and Training provides workplace skills, practical skills, technical knowledge and qualifications for rewarding jobs and careers. This includes Certificates, Traineeships, Apprenticeships etc. Marist offers a huge range of training courses covered both at school and through a large range of private providers (eg. Barrington, TAFE, Binnacle).

RANKS – a Summary:

Students can leave Marist with more than one rank; the highest of which is used by QTAC for tertiary entry*.  Here’s a guide:                                 * UQ has exceptions

• ATAR rank – based on 5 best General subjects OR 4 General subjects + one Applied/VET
• Certificate III rank – 68
• Certificate IV rank – 74 (not common at school)
• Diploma rank – 82-87 (87 = GU and QUT; 82 = all other universities)

• AMEB/Trinity rank – 84 for Grade 7 and 8 (+ Grade 3 theory if doing an instrument)

   

Adjustments to Ranks (at the end of Year 12):

Across Australia, adjustments (bonus points) are made for completing the following subjects:

• Specialist Maths, 2 adjustments
• Second Language, 2 adjustments

• University subject at School, 1 adjustment

   

Locally, bonus adjustments can be made for other subjects, elite athletes, rural/remote students, EAS - Special Consideration. For example, Marist students get 5 adjustments if they choose to study at ACU. This means that, if the cut-off for a course is 80, a Marist student would get in with 75. Each university has a list of subject adjustments available for students.

Interested in the Defence Force?  ADFA + Open Day details (Canberra)

The ADFA Open Day gives you the opportunity to get an insight into the experience of studying at ADFA. Click here to find out more about ADFA and the 2026 Open Day on Saturday 15 August where you will find out about:

• Learn about world class UNSW degrees in Business, Arts, Science, Engineering and Computing;
• Meet with current ADFA Training Officers to learn about life on campus; and

• See a variety of military and educational displays such as Air Force aircraft flyovers, Army parachute displays, Navy divers, abseiling, military vehicle displays, the ADFA marching band and much more.

   

Click here to register to receive ADFA Open Day updates. 

How can parents support their teens’ career exploration? 

Helping young people navigate their high school careers to prepare for post-secondary or work life is personal to every family. However, how older generations view careers and life will be vastly different from the world of work that Generation Z and future generations will face because of the rapid evolution of tech and AI. So, what can parents do to help increase their child’s success in the changing world of work? Click here to read an article by Connie Lee where she talks about:

• Exploration
• Research and look for trends
• Have open conversations

• Cultivate resilience and flexibility

   

The Australian Bureau of Statistics have released  Labour Force, Australia, April 2026 | Australian Bureau of Statistics

Key statistics

In seasonally adjusted terms, in April 2026:

• employment decreased by 18,600 to 14,737,400 people.

• the unemployment rate increased by 0.2ppt to 4.5%.

   

In trend terms, in April 2026:

• employment increased by 22,100 to 14,753,800 people.
• the unemployment rate remained at 4.3%.

Age diversity will define the workforce of the future

In recent decades, the prevailing expectation has been that careers span between 30 and 40 years, with people retiring in their 60s. That no longer holds true. Work is changing. Not just when we work, how, where or the tools we use — but crucially, who is working. In the EU, over the last 10 years, the expected duration of working life has increased, from 34.9 years in 2015 to 37.2 years in 2024  Duration of working life - statistics - Statistics Explained - Eurostat and this trend is likely to continue. This is because in most major economies, populations are aging and birth rates are falling. The World Health Organization projects that the proportion of the world’s population that is over 60 will nearly double from 12% to 22% by 2050. Click here to read the full article by Susan Taylor Martin.

VET

Ms Melissa Peacock - Program Leader VET

Welcome to the Third Edition for Term 2

Please see below for our current news and upcoming opportunities for students.

If you would like further information on any of the below items or would like any assistance with completing applications, please visit the VET and Careers office.

School-based Apprenticeship

Congratulations to Quinn Malone who recently signed a training contract to commence a school-based apprenticeship in Cabinetmaking with Align Kitchens. We wish you all the best.

Work Experience Update

Last week twelve Year 11 students successfully completed a block of work experience in a range of different careers including Law, Architecture, Fabrication, Plumbing, Property Valuing, Carpentry, Electrical and Radiology. This real-life experience has supported future pathways decisions. All students represented themselves and the College to a high standard and received very positive feedback from the providers. Thank you to all the businesses who provided this worthwhile opportunity to our students.

Work Experience Agreement forms are being finalised for Year 12 students. Ms Stabik will be in contact with required students when their paperwork is ready to collect from the VET and Careers Office.

The Work Experience Agreement form is a crucial document for school students participating in the College’s work experience program. It must be signed by the student. parent/guardian, work experience provider and the school. It is essential in ensuring safety and health of a student during their work experience placement.

Specific dates have been allocated for work experience for each year level this year:

Year 12                  Wednesday 24 June - Friday 26 June  

Year 10                  Wednesday 16 – Friday 18 September 

Year 10 students must return their work experience application form by Friday 14 August.

Application forms for work experience are available from Ms Stabik in the VET and Careers office. 

Upcoming Opportunities

Energy Qld - Ergon/Energex - Work Experience Applications

Applications for the last work experience cycle for 2026 are currently open and close 7 June, 5.00pm.  This cycle is for placements between 31 August to 27 November 2026. Trade -based only.

You can find all the information you need on the website under the careers tab/work experience tile. Work Experience – Energy Queensland

TAFE Queensland School Holiday Workshops (Years 9 – 12) 

TAFE Queensland is hosting its annual School Holiday Workshops: a mix of full- and half-day workshops designed for high school students to get a taste of TAFE. The courses are a simple way for students to explore different study and career areas through hands-on sessions.

Workshop topics include Art Design and Music, Horticulture, Sport and Recreation, Information Technology, Nursing and Early Childhood, Cooking, Hospitality and Tourism and Business, Justice and Study Skills. 

*Parent/guardian contact information and permission is required on registration.

Date:     Monday 6 July – Friday 10 July 2026 

Time:     8.45am - 1pm, or 8.45am - 4pm

Where: Various Brisbane Campuses

Cost:      $60 (full day) or $40 (half day)

Tickets  close: 11.30pm (AEST) Tuesday 16 June 2026 (or earlier if workshops sell out)

*Tip: Spots are limited - book early to get the workshop you want.

Further information and registration form: School Holiday Program 2026

High School Health Adventure – Mater Education

Mater Education offers two immersive, practical opportunities for students in Years 10 – 12 interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. Programs are held in school holidays.

• High School Health Adventure (Two-day program)

High School Health Adventure | Mater Education

• High School Health Adventure Experiences (One-day experiences)

High School Health Adventure Experiences | Mater Education

Ergon Energy Network and Energex 2027 Apprenticeship Program

Learn more about apprenticeship program and hear from apprentices and tradespersons in online information sessions. The sessions will cover:

• The benefits of working for us
• The different types of apprenticeships on offer
• The recruitment process and how to apply
• Your application and best practices

• The aptitude testing how to prepare yourself.

   

Session times: Tuesday 2 June, 4:00pm – 5:00pm and Thursday 4 June, 6:30pm – 7:30pm. Apprenticeships | Energex

Next intake Energex Apprenticeship Program will be advertised on 12 June 2026.

Positions & locations | Energex

Ergon-Energy-Network-and-Energex-2027-Apprenticeship-Program.pdf

Hastings Deering – 2027 Apprentice Intake

Working with world-class Caterpillar machinery, you will learn about the repair, service and maintenance of a massive range of equipment, engines and power systems. You will acquire skills and knowledge through on-the-job training and study, all under the guidance of the best in the business. 

2027 Intake offers the following apprenticeships:

• Brisbane - Apprentice Auto Electrician
• Brisbane - Apprentice Diesel Fitter
• Cairns - Apprentice Diesel Fitter
• Cairns - Apprentice Engine Reconditioner
• Darwin - Apprentice Diesel Fitter
• Mackay - Apprentice Auto Electrician
• Mackay - Apprentice Diesel Fitter
• Mt Isa - Apprentice Diesel Fitter
• Rockhampton - Apprentice Diesel Fitter
• Rockhampton - Apprentice Auto Electrician
• Rockhampton - Engine Reconditioner
• Toowoomba - Apprentice Diesel Fitter
• Townsville - Apprentice Diesel Fitter

Applications are now open and close 14 June 2026.  Apprenticeship Program

Origin Apprentice and Trainee Intake 2027

The Origin Apprentice and Trainee Intake offer roles based in the Western Downs region of Queensland at Origin’s Condabri and Talinga sites in the Chinchilla/Miles area. 

You must be a resident of the Western Downs region to be eligible for these apprenticeships and traineeships.  Applications for the next Origin Intake open on Monday 20 July 2026. Further information and application form: Origin Apprentice and Trainee Intake | MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees

Hitachi 2027 Apprentice Intake

At Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia, people are at the heart of everything. They supply world-class construction and mining equipment across Australia, supported by a team focused on safety, hands-on training, and long-term career development.

Applications are now open for the 2027 Apprenticeship Intake 2027 Apprentice Intake - Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia

Services Australia - Australian Government Indigenous Apprenticeships Program

A pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to start their career in the Australian Public Service (APS).

Information including registering your interest in the 2027 program can be found here: Australian Government Indigenous Apprenticeships Program - About us - Services Australia

School-based apprenticeship and traineeship resource:

The Queensland Government has a very informative website on school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. It is worth a read if this a pathway you are considering.

School-based apprenticeships and traineeships | Education | Queensland Government