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

(Wednesday and Friday, carterm@marash.qld.edu.au)

Discover ACU (Banyo) – Invitation for Students Years 10–12:  9 April (9:00am-12:00pm)

 ACU is excited to invite your Year 10–12 students to Discover ACU 2026, a hands‑on experience designed to give students a taste of university life and the degrees they are considering. Students can participate in interactive workshops in areas such as exercise and sports science, biomedical science, law and criminology, midwifery, nursing and paramedicine, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology and education. It’s a great way to experience life at ACU and explore future study options. Register here: acu.edu.au/discover-acu

STUDY AND PLAY USA - US College Sport Scholarships Information Session on 30 March (Marist)

Marist College Ashgrove will host an evening with Study and Play USA on Monday 30 March 6:00pm-7:00pm (Tower Building Function Room). All parents and students are welcome to attend. Study and Play USA also has connections with a similar Sporting arrangement body in the UK so they can help with starting that process too. Should you be interested in considering this pathway for your son, you can organise a further free one hour 1:1 session with Study and Play USA. Many Marist boys have taken this step previously, with great success.  Please see the flyer below.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT’s):  For students considering studying in the US, it’s recommended that they sit the SAT’s.  In Queensland, the two designated test centres are at Hills College (Jimboomba) and TSS (Southport).  Dates: Exams are held on specific Saturdays throughout the year (typically March, May, June, August, October, November, December).

1. Hill's College Information:  SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) | Hills College

2. TSS (The Southport School):  USA College Testing - The Southport School

    

SAT's are run by the College Board in the USA: College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools. Registration: Students must create an account and register directly with the College Board. Validity: Scores are valid for 5 years for application to US universities. Information about the SAT, including planning, searching and applying for colleges, financial aid, and practice questions is available at the College Board website www.collegeboard.org.  Students wishing to take the SAT are first required to open a student account with the US College Board. Students are then able to register to take the SAT on their preferred testing date, noting that registration is made directly via the College Board. 

UCAT registration details for Year 12 future Dentists and Doctors:  UCAT ANZ Test Cycle | UCAT ANZ Consortium  (Registrations are open NOW).

UniSC Update including: Best field trip in the world is back with more experiences and more chances to WIN

Bond University Virtual Open Day:  Saturday 28 March from 11:00am

You and your students are invited to experience Bond's deliberately different approach to learning at Virtual Open Day, streaming to you live on Saturday, 28 March from 11am AEST.  Discover why the Gold Coast is Australia’s favourite classroom. From our personalised attention to our exceptional graduate outcomes, Virtual Open Day is the place to uncover everything Bond University has to offer.

Please register to attend and share with all your students who are thinking about future careers and universities – it’s the perfect opportunity to experience the Bond difference.  Virtual Open Day 2026 | Bond University | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Paynters Pathways Information Evening

VET

1. Work Experience (Year 10-12 WEX)

The process of work experience has changed this year. 

Specific dates have been allocated for work experience for each year level. These have been selected to minimise impact on student learning and assessment.

Year 10 – Wednesday 16th September – Friday 18th September (Week 10 Term 3)

Year 11 – Wednesday 27th May – Friday 29th May (Week 6 Term 2)

Year 12 – Wednesday 24th June – Friday 26th June (Week 10 Term 2)

You will be expected to pick up a form from the careers office and have this back by the due date on the calendar (Second Friday of terms 1, 2 and 3).

Students who might have a need to complete work experience in relation to trialling with a company for an apprenticeship can put in an Expression of interest in Terms 1, 2, 3, 4.

If you wish to do this then you will need to come to the careers office and have a discussion with Ms Heather (ILO)/ and or Mrs Gooley to discuss this process.

2. This year, we have had a number of companies looking for apprentices in a variety of industries.

We will connect with these companies and identify who they might be seeking to fill these positions and what they are looking for in the applicant.

Once we have sourced this information, we will:

1. Put a notice in for students to contact us with an EOI. It will be expected that the student will attach a resume in this email identifying how they meet the criteria. Students are welcome to come and discuss this in person if they wish.
2. Assist the student in connecting to the employer. 
3. Set up Work Experience or guide the employer and student on how to complete private work experience during the holiday period.

As a College, we do not offer or source apprenticeships for students. 

When students apply for WEX, they need to indicate that they are looking for apprenticeships, and we will try to match them with a company that is keen to take on an apprentice. This is not a guarantee that they will offer an apprenticeship to the student. 

Tips and Tricks for finding apprenticeships

1. Keep an eye out in notices and the newsletter for any opportunities coming up
2. Use the WEX time to ensure the employer knows you are looking for an apprenticeship.
3. Cold Call industries in the area and ask if they are looking for a school-based apprentice.
4. Review BEYOND/ SEEK for any positions that are coming up.
5. If you are out on excursions, start constructive conversations with the employers

3. Apprenticeship and VETiS funding changes

Students who wish to start an apprenticeship will need to understand that this will impact the funding that they will receive from the Government for the VETiS-funded courses available in Years 11 and 12.

Students need to be aware that once funding has been used, they will have to use Fee for Service or courses in years 11 and 12.  It must be noted that not all courses are VETiS Funded and will incur a cost with the RTO.

4. Apprenticeship Opportunities

Please bring your current resume to the VET/ Careers office to enquire about these opportunities:

Some examples of current apprenticeship opportunities:

Painting - Cert III in Painting

Hospitality - Cert III in Hospitality

Carpentry - Cert III in Carpentry 

Pharmacy - Cert III in Community Pharmacy 

Newsagency - Cert III in Business 

Mater Education - Cert III in Health Services Assistance

Landscaping - Cert III in Landscape Constructions

Electrical - Cert III in Electrotechnology

Dental – Cert III in Dental Assisting

Plumbing - Cert III in Plumbing