Spotlight on Futures & Partnerships

A Futures-Focussed Vision

A successful futures-focussed career program helps students to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to make informed decisions about their study and work options. Here at Mt A, we actively support our students’ career development to help them make effective decisions about:

• Subject choices
• Pathways through school
• Post-school destinations including further education, training, or work.

This year, it has been a valuable exercise to help our students to also know what jobs are in demand to best inform their decision-making. The following offers a summary of Queensland jobs that are in demand and available:

Healthcare and Medicine

In Queensland, the healthcare and medical sectors are the second-largest contributor to the state’s economy in 2019-20, generating $29.2 billion. 

The industry shows no signs of slowing down, with over 350,000 Queenslanders employed in healthcare across roles as varied as registered nurse, general practitioner, pharmacist and physiotherapist, job opportunities in the health sector are booming and could see students carve out a rewarding role within an essential industry.

Aged Care and Social Assistance

Another industry experiencing high demand is aged care and social assistance. The recent Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety revealed the need for an overhaul of the aged care system and will see the Australian Government spend over $450 million on immediate measures. Such developments, alongside the ongoing expansion of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) –indicate the importance of aged and disability support workers, child carers, community service and social workers, and mental health practitioners in Brisbane and across the state.

Tourism, Events and Hospitality

Queensland has long been a favoured destination for domestic and international tourists. From the Gold Coast to the Great Barrier Reef, visitors flock to enjoy the state’s tropical climate and beautiful natural environment. Queensland’s tourism market is the second largest in Australia and is worth an astounding $28 billion – which makes a career in tourism and hospitality an extremely promising prospect.

Construction

With both state and federal governments announcing major infrastructure projects and building grants, the construction industry has not only survived, but thrived during the last 12 months. It offers a diverse range of careers including air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics, bricklayers and stonemasons, carpenters and joiners, civil engineers, construction managers, electricians, floor finishers, glaziers, painters, plasterers, plumbers, roof tilers, and wall and floor tilers.

IT and Cybersecurity

As more businesses are forced to move online and offer WFH solutions for their staff, demand for IT professionals such as software developers, cyber security professionals, and database developers and designers continues to grow. Another professional career that's expected to experience strong growth in the next five years is accountants. With career options in big accounting firms, small and medium businesses, or the option to work for yourself it's a career you can make your own.

Our Vision at Mt A- Beyond the School Gates

The vision of the Futures Hub is that every student at Mount Alvernia has access to high-quality career education and resources to help them make a successful transition from school to further education, training, work, or a combination of these. We are proud to offer a range of career development services and events tailored to equip our students with tertiary and industry-relevant knowledge needed to succeed in the high-demand jobs of the future. 

All our Futures programs are developed to give students real-world understanding that the employers of today and tomorrow are looking for. These efforts are best complimented by conversations at home when parents and caregivers encourage career questions and thinking. In partnership with the home, our students are well-equipped to make informed and relevant career choices and set themselves up for future success. 

During final exams, we wish our 12s all the very best, and now wait with excitement alongside our graduates for university, TAFE, and vocational offers!

These industry insights were originally published on Insider Guides, and presented by The University of Queensland, 2023 Conference.