🎓Careers

Year 10 – Building Our Career Portfolio

This week, Year 10 students continued developing their resume as part of their MyPath Career Portfolio. Students used a resume checklist to review their work and make improvements before completing this important portfolio checkpoint. Boys who had completed their resume moved on to the basics of writing a cover letter, looking at how a cover letter can be tailored to a particular job and used alongside a resume when applying for casual or part-time work.

Year 11 – Preparing for Life Beyond School

Our Year 11 MyPath sessions were split according to students' intended pathways. University pathway students explored some of the financial realities of university, including university course costs, Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs), HECS-HELP and HELP loans. We also introduced students to university scholarships, the different types of scholarships available and what they can start doing now to prepare for scholarship applications in Year 12.

Students considering VET, employment, apprenticeships and traineeships explored the opportunities available through VET and Workplace Learning. We discussed how workplace experience, vocational qualifications and school-based apprenticeships or traineeships can help students begin building a pathway into an industry while they are still at school.

The aim is for students to enter Year 12 with a clearer understanding of their pathway and the opportunities they should be preparing for.

Year 12 – Preparing for the Next Step

Our Year 12 MyPath program has continued to focus on the transition from school into further study, training and employment.

Students pursuing VET and employment pathways worked on interview skills, including how to prepare for an interview, present themselves professionally and respond effectively to common interview questions. Students also continued exploring VET and training pathways that may lead to employment, apprenticeships or further study.

For our university pathway students, recent sessions have covered the practical side of preparing for university, including course costs, HECS-HELP, scholarships and university applications.

As the boys move closer to finishing Year 12, the focus is increasingly on making sure they are prepared to take that next step confidently.

TISC – Important Dates for Year 12

University applications are well underway and several important TISC dates are approaching.

30 September – Medicine & Dentistry applications close: Applications close at 11:59 pm for Curtin Medicine and UWA Assured Pathways to Medicine and Dentistry. These courses cannot be added as new preferences after this date, although existing preferences can still be reordered.

5 October – First Early Offer Round: First conditional Early Offers are released to eligible Year 12 applicants for their first preference.

27 November – EAS deadline: Education Access Scheme applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by 5:00 pm for Main Round consideration.

2 December – Final Early Offer Round: Final conditional Early Offers are released to eligible Year 12 applicants for their first preference.

20 December – ATAR Results:
- 8.00am - WA 2026 ATAR results and Universities Admission Advice Letters online.
- 11.59pm - Closing date to apply and add/re-arrange preferences, and to update your postal and/or email addresses, before the Main round of offers.
24 December – Main Round Offers: University Main Round offers are released.

Students should regularly check their TISC application and preferences, particularly if hoping to receive an Early Offer.

View all TISC Important Dates HERE.

Apprenticeships & Traineeships – Start Looking Early

Students considering an apprenticeship or traineeship after school are encouraged to start exploring opportunities now rather than waiting until the end of Year 12.

Apprenticeships and traineeships provide the opportunity to earn while you learn, combining paid employment with practical workplace experience and a nationally recognised qualification.

Opportunities extend well beyond the traditional trades and can be found across areas including:

Electrical, construction and automotive
Engineering and manufacturing
Mining and resources
Business and administration
Health and community services
Hospitality
Information technology

Students can also begin some apprenticeships and traineeships while still at school through school-based programs.

Students interested in this pathway are encouraged to speak with the Careers/VET Team and begin investigating employers and industries that interest them.

Explore apprenticeships and traineeships through Jobs and Skills WA HERE.

Early Career Opportunities – Water Corporation

One organisation worth exploring is Water Corporation, which offers several different ways for young people to begin their careers.

Students don't necessarily need to wait until they have completed university to work for a large organisation. Water Corporation offers pathways ranging from opportunities after Year 10 through to university graduate programs.

Opportunities include:

Apprenticeships – earn while completing a trade qualification in areas such as electrical, mechanical and fabrication. Applications are currently open.
Water Operations Traineeships – paid employment while completing a qualification in Water Industry Operations.
Engineering Associate Traineeships – paid employment while studying a Diploma in Civil and Structural Engineering.
Vacation Student Program – paid industry experience for university students.
Graduate Program – structured employment opportunities for university graduates.

Water Corporation's apprenticeships are available to applicants who have successfully completed Year 10 and combine paid employment, practical training and study towards a nationally recognised trade qualification.

This is a good example of the different ways students can enter a major organisation — through an apprenticeship or traineeship after school, a vacation program while at university, or a graduate program after completing a degree.

Explore Water Corporation Career Pathways HERE.

Other organisations offering early-career pathways that students may wish to explore include Western Power, Main Roads WA, the Public Transport Authority and the wider WA Government.

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

ECU – Future Student Events:

ECU has several events approaching for students wanting to explore particular courses and career areas:

11 September – Year 11 & 12 Engineering Showcase | Joondalup | 4:30–6:30 pm
14 September – Medical & Health Sciences Showcase | Joondalup | 5:30–7:30 pm
17 September – WAAPA Performance Making Night | ECU City | 6:00–7:30 pm
22 September – WAAPA Production & Design Information Evening | ECU City | 6:00–7:30 pm
13 October – WAAPA Arts & Cultural Management Information Evening | ECU City | 6:00–7:30 pm

The Medical & Health Sciences Showcase includes Allied Health, Medical and Exercise Science, Public Health and Occupational Safety & Health, making it particularly useful for students exploring the health sector beyond the traditional medicine and nursing pathways.

There is something here for almost every area of interest. Students are encouraged to register early for events relevant to the courses or careers they are considering.

View all ECU events and register HERE.

FREE ECU Year 12 ATAR Revision Sessions:

Tuesday 29 September – Friday 2 October

ECU is offering FREE Year 12 ATAR revision sessions during the September school holidays, with sessions available on campus at Joondalup and online.

Subjects include:

Biology
Human Biology
Chemistry
English
Mathematics Applications
Mathematics Methods
Mathematics Specialist
Physics

Each four-hour session covers the Year 12 syllabus, examination techniques, revision strategies and Q&A, with students also receiving revision notes.

These sessions are well worth considering for Year 12 ATAR students preparing for their final examinations.

Career Spotlight – Apprenticeships, Traineeships & Early Careers

There is more than one way to start a successful career. While university is the right pathway for many students, some of Australia's largest employers recruit young people directly into apprenticeships, traineeships and structured early-career programs.

These programs can provide:

Paid employment from the beginning
A nationally recognised qualification
Practical workplace experience
Mentoring and professional development
Opportunities to progress within a large organisation

For students who enjoy learning by doing, an apprenticeship or traineeship can provide an excellent pathway into an industry without needing to attend university first.

Importantly, these opportunities aren't limited to traditional trades. Large employers and government agencies recruit young people into areas including engineering, utilities, transport, business, technology, infrastructure and operations.

Students should start researching employers early. Look beyond the university course pages and explore the Careers or Early Careers sections of organisations you might like to work for.

You may be surprised by how many ways there are to get your foot in the door.

Careers Newsletter

The attached newsletter has a good write-up with information about some great new courses and assured pathways.

In Focus Careers News September 2026.pdf

There is plenty of news so please have a good read and enjoy!

As always, the Careers Team is available to support students and families with pathway planning, university applications, scholarships and career advice.

Tyrone Tuohy

Careers and Pathways Coordinator