Congratulations to all our students finishing their exams and/or assessments for 2024! A few notices below, but I’d like to wish you all a great break whatever you are doing. I’m looking forward to helping you all with your career choices for 2025 and beyond!

YEAR 10

Year 9s (going into Year 10) - now is a good time to start thinking about or looking for workplaces for work experience week which is on 12 to 16 May 2025. Whilst you might be on holidays, most businesses are still open during January, and this is a great time to approach them as many are not so busy and have time to speak with you about work experience. Some tips before you ring or drop in:

Decide what it is you want and why you want to work for a particular employer. Doing some research impresses them when you call.
Think about the places you can ask or where you can look. Can you ask your parents? Family? Friends? Search on the internet?
Use the holidays to spruce up your resume and take this with you when seeing employers.
Avoid emailing employers. Ring them or drop in, they love it when young people use their initiative.
Practice what you will say when you see them and what you will ask them. If you can tell them why you want to work with them you’ll have better prospects.
Note that our work experience dates are 12 May to 16 May, they will need to know this. If they offer another timeframe, ask your Learning Leaders when you get back to school; they will support you if they can.
If you get a “no” from an employer, don’t give up that wasn’t the right place for you. Keep going until you find something, because you will.

Just remember that time creeps up very quickly once you start school, so use this time to ring around or see employers at a more leisurely pace.

Work Experience Program with Yarra Ranges Technical School (YRTS), Lilydale (12-14 May 2025 during Work Experience Week)

An opportunity has arisen for Year 10 students who are interested in hands-on learning experiences through STEM activities, technology, problem-solving and design, to explore the manufacturing industry through the YRTS Work Experience Program. This opportunity is available to students who are interested in manufacturing, engineering, STEM careers, or who would like to explore what these careers are about. The lucky students will be met by bus at school and will be taken to YRTS for work experience for the three days, one of those days visiting a manufacturing employer. If would like to be considered for this program, please email your interest to Ms Aligizakis in Careers.

Work Experience for VCE VM or SBAT in 2025

A reminder if you want to apply for a school-based apprenticeship, you will need to arrange a second week of work experience in the industry you wish to obtain your apprenticeship or traineeship. If you are having difficulties finding a placement, please see Ms Aligizakis in the Careers Office for some help.

YEAR 12

UPCOMING VTAC DATES

December Offer Release Monday 23 December 2024

Change of Preference for January Offers Tuesday 24 December at 10.00am

January Offer Round 1 on Friday 10 January 2025

Digital ATAR Statements

VTAC is pleased to launch Digital ATAR Statements for students eligible to receive a printed ATAR statement. From January 2025, students will receive an official digital ATAR Statement with scaled study scores via the My eQuals platform, which they will be able to continue to access throughout their tertiary education journey. My eQuals is used by all Victorian universities and a range of institutions to display student results and transcripts, meaning students will have a lifelong record of all their further studies alongside their ATAR. 

In 2024, this year’s eligible Year 12 students will receive printed ATAR statements via mail, arriving from 12 December 2024 onwards. From 21 January, students will receive an email with instructions on how to access the My eQuals portal with their official digital ATAR statement. The My eQuals platform is separate from the VCE Results and ATAR Service which is provided by VTAC and VCAA which will still show students their results at 7am on the 12th of December.   For students graduating in 2025 and beyond, the ATAR statement will be a paperless experience.  You can find out more about digital ATAR statements via our fact sheet.

Bulk ATAR statement orders for offshore campuses 

Due to reduced take up and the introduction of digital alternatives, VTAC will no longer be offering bulk ATAR statement orders for offshore campuses. Students can access their results via the VCE Results and ATAR Service, in their VTAC account, and from 21 January access digital ATAR statements via the My eQuals portal.

VTAC Course Search and Prerequisite search here VTAC's CourseSearch and VCE Prerequisite Explorer

Students graduating without an ATAR – how they can find courses on VTAC

With timely applications closing on the 30th of September, we wanted to remind you that students without an ATAR and those looking to take a gap year can still apply through VTAC.

Students studying VCE but not graduating with an ATAR: Did you know VTAC lists over 500 courses with no prerequisites? Majority of these courses also do not require an ATAR. Students can find these courses on CourseSearch under the VCE prerequisite explorer. Simply tick courses 'With no prerequisites' and this will display the list. Students can then filter further by study area, institution or qualification level for example.

VCE VM students: VTAC lists many certificates, diplomas and some degrees that VM students can apply for. Using the above advice for the VCE prerequisite explorer, VM students can also filter to find courses with no prerequisites that they can preference.

Students looking to have a gap year: Students looking to take a gap year can still apply through VTAC this year for courses that allow for deferral. Students should check with their chosen institution that they allow for deferral of offers. If students secure their offer this year, they take advantage of the lower application fee for Year 12 students and also lock in an offer to study in 2026.

We have also recently updated our Year 12 guide to cover more information and advice for all student groups, including those graduating with and without an ATAR. You can read our Year 12 Guide here.

POWERCORP AND CITIPOWER APPRENTICESHIPS

2025 apprenticeship and traineeship intake is now open for applications for Line workers, Substation Electricians, Cable Jointers, and Meter Technicians. Details here Beon, CitiPower, Powercor, and United Energy | Explore Careers Australia

YEAR 8 & 9

Female and non-binary students from across years 8 and 9 are invited to an Empowered Women in Trade event at Yarra Ranges Tech School (YRTS) on 6 March 2025 from 10.00am to 2.00pm. Buses will be arranged from school to YRTS. Catering will also be provided. See attached flyer and also a video of one of their events. This will be a hands-on immersive experience across 2 to 3 trade-based activities. Refer to this video as an example click HERE

If you are interested in this opportunity please contact/email Ms Aligizakis in Careers so that buses, catering and permission forms can be provided to you.

YEARS 9-12

VICTORIA POLICE CAREERS

School Leavers Information Session

When: Friday 24th January 2025

Time: 12:00-1:30pm – please arrive strictly between 11:00am and 11:45am

Location: Victoria Police Centre – 311 Spencer Street Docklands, VIC 3008

We will also be streaming this session online. The event will allow attendees to:

Gain firsthand knowledge of the roles and opportunities available at Victoria Police
Understand the skills that we seek in potential applicants
Network with our recruitment team and learn about our recruitment processes

APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITY – FLOORING INSTALLER

Are you looking for a different career path? Are you over 16?

Become a qualified Flooring Installer through an apprenticeship!

You could work in many different types of flooring such as vinyl & resilient flooring, commercial installation, residential, timber, carpet, etc. As a flooring installer, most of your work will be conducted indoors. Includes:

Hands-on training: Apprenticeships provide practical, on-the-job training that allows individuals to gain real-world experience and develop valuable skills in a specific trade or profession.
Earn while you learn: Apprenticeships offer a salary allowing individuals to earn an income while receiving training.

If you are interested in exploring more about an apprenticeship as a Flooring Installer, contact Ms Aligizakis in the Careers Office for more information.

YEAR 11 & 12

LOOKING TO DO A MEDICAL DEGREE?

Other NIE services for Medical Interviews and UCAT readiness:

21 December: Intensive UCAT Preparation Workshop

22 December: Bond University Psychometrics Training

UCAT Preparation Services and Resources

Future Doctors Australia: 4-day program (limited spots)

Academic Insights: 11-day residential program (limited spots)

JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOL LEAVERS

We currently have employers looking for the following:

Legal administration
Horticulture/Greenkeeper
Plumbing

See Ms Aligizakis in Careers for more details.

Year 9

Julia Dowse