Senior School

Supporting your Child through Results 

Article by Kate Runciman, Career Development Leader

Results time can be a big moment for the whole family. For some students, there’ll be excitement, celebration and a sense of relief. For others, there may be disappointment, uncertainty or a few tears. And for many, it might be a mixture of all of these things. Whatever the outcome, one thing is worth remembering: a result is not a measure of your child’s worth, and it certainly doesn’t determine their future.  A result is just a result 

It’s easy to get caught up in ATAR ranks, course offers, and what everyone else is doing. But academic results are only one small part of a much bigger picture. 

They tell us how a student performed at a particular point in time. They don’t tell us how curious, creative, resilient or kind they are. They don’t measure their practical skills, their ability to work with others or the things they might discover they’re really good at later on. 

So, if things haven’t gone exactly to plan, try to keep things in perspective. There is so much more ahead. There’s more than one way forward 

If your child is disappointed with their results, they may initially feel as though their plans have been thrown out the window. This is where a little reassurance can go a long way. 

There are many different ways to reach a career or study goal, including: 

• TAFE (vocational education): TAFE programs can lead to fantastic careers in theirown right and can also provide a pathway into further study at university.  Overnewton students with aspirations to undertake tertiary study in 2026 have been supported to identify the specific diploma or certificate pathway within their study areas and have been encouraged to include it in their course preferences. 

• Pre-apprenticeships: For students interested in a trade, a pre-apprenticeship can be a great way to gain hands-on experience, learn practical skills and build confidence before moving into an apprenticeship. 

• Gap years: A gap year can be an amazing opportunity to work, travel, volunteer, learn new skills or simply take some time to work out what comes next. A gap year might also include studying, such as a micro-credential, short course, or another qualification that benefits employability. Barista training, the Responsible Service of Alcohol certification, and First Aid qualifications are great examples. 

• Alternative pathways: Sometimes the course a student originally planned isn’t the course they end up taking! Starting somewhere else, changing direction or taking a different route can still lead to the same destination.  

   

The important thing is to find a pathway that works for your child. Most importantly, please remember that they only need to work out the next step, not their whole life. 

So, what can parents do? 

Listen first If your child is disappointed, give them space to feel that. If they’re thrilled, celebrate with them. You don’t always need to have an answer or a solution straight away.  

Try not to compare It can be tempting to ask what their friends got or where everyone else is heading. But every young person is different. Encourage your child to focus on their own strengths, goals and options. 

Keep the conversation positive Instead of focusing on what hasn’t worked out, talk about what could work. There may be more options than your child realises. Use the support that’s available The team of career practitioners at Overnewton will be available throughout the results period. TAFE providers, universities and other institutions are also there to help during this time. Encourage your child to engage in conversations – asking questions will help them to navigate their options. Most institutions run campus events during the Results and Change of Preference period. These can include campus tours, presentations, mini expos, and 1:1 sessions or drop-in consults. If your child missed the Open Day back in August, these events are strongly encouraged. 

See it in real life! If you can, visit the campus. Sometimes a campus visit can make an option feel much more real, and much more achievable. And remember… This is a big moment, but it’s just one moment. Your child’s future won’t be decided by one result, one course offer or one decision made at the end of Year 12. There will be plenty of opportunities to learn, change direction, have another go and discover things they didn’t know about themselves. So, celebrate the wins, acknowledge the disappointments and, most importantly, remind them that there’s more than one way forward. Life isn’t a straight line - and that’s often where the most interesting journeys begin. 

Summary of Dates 

• VCE results and ATAR released 7am Thursday 10 December 

• Students have until 12noon Saturday 12 December to make changes to their VTAC course preferences 

• More information can be found here 

• The first round of tertiary offers are released Wednesday 23 December 

• More information can be found here 

Hear from the experts  

VTAC - Instagram Live Q&A with Unserious Careers 

VTAC are teaming up with Unserious Careers for Instagram Live Q&A sessions to help students and their supporters navigate the next stages of the VTAC journey; 

• Monday 14 December 2026, 7pm – Watch on VTAC’s Instagram 

• More information can be found here

Each fortnight, the College Careers Team publishes a newsletter providing students and parents with the most up-to-date career information, events and opportunities.  

Please access via the following link.