Careers News

April, 2024  -  FACT:  those who have goals are 10 times more likely to succeed than those without goals 

As we conclude Term 1, I reflect back on how productive the term has been in the area of pathways and partnerships. Our students in Year 11 and 12 have now completed their first assessment block of 2024, and will be reflecting on their results and where improvements can be made. Last week Year 12 students were sent their UAC (University Admission Centre) PIN in preparation for applying to their desired university course post school. Our senior students will be given a number of opportunities to research and explore post school options, including attending the Sutherland Shire Career Information Day on Thursday, 9 May (Year 12) and the HSC Careers Expo (Year 11) on Friday, 31 May. Furthermore, there are a number of universities presenting in our THRIVE program over the next two terms, and I encourage our students to be involved in this. There are other various Information Evenings and Open Days being held by tertiary institutions, and I will continue to post these in this newsletter in the coming months.

At the College, we are continuing to develop unique partnerships to benefit our students as they complete their secondary education. We are also encouraging our students to participate in a number of micro-credentials which help them to build an extensive portfolio and make them more employable in the future. Recently our Year 12 Hospitality students completed a barista course, and these students are now working as baristas in the College’s ‘Cafe on Cross’ every Friday. There are other courses being planned for this year, including in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Electrotechnology, Entertainment, Sports Administration and Entrepreneurship. I encourage all students to continue to check their emails and to take up opportunities as they arise. 

Industry Partnerships

Over the past few months, our College has been working with community and industry to form partnerships. These partnerships will assist our students to gain the necessary skills and credentials to thrive in the changing workplace. We are excited to announce a partnership with a number of universities including UTS, UNSW, UOW, SEDA Academy and ACPE, along with community partnerships with NSW Mining, Tribe Social Fitness, Mavericks Chicken, Cronulla RSL, Giro Osteria and Alphabet Street, and Kareena Hospital. NSW Mining will be working with a number of our students as they seek cadetships and scholarships post school. They will also be delivering an engaging Virtual Reality Experience to our STEM students to experience work in the fields of engineering and science in NSW mines. 

This term we welcomed the University of Technology (UTS) Start-Ups team to work in collaboration with our Design and Technology staff and guests as they assessed Year 12 students’ Major Design Projects. UTS Start-Ups work with students to inspire them to be entrepreneurs and support them at scale. We also welcomed ex-students Gabrielle Pagano (Fashioner Designer - Bridal Wear), Breanna King (Creative and Critical Marketer) and Bianca Casarotto (Freelance Graphic Designer) to work with our staff. The entire team was able to provide valuable feedback to our students and encourage them to continue innovation and creativity as they commence the production of their Major Design Project.

UAC

UAC have recently opened their portal for 2025 university applications. I will be speaking with Year 12 students early next term about the application process, including Early Admissions. I refer students to the following UAC publication, Steps to Uni for Yr 11 and 12 students, which lists important dates and explains more about the process of applying to university. 

UNIVERSITY

When it comes to university, there are a number of great choices. It is interesting to note the most popular courses that students applied for in 2024, as listed below.  

If you’re in Year 12 this year, you’re probably also thinking about Early Admissions. Early entry gives students the chance to receive an offer to university before they have finished their exams. One important thing to note is that most early offers are conditional – this means you need to meet one or more ‘conditions’ before your offer becomes final. Common conditions include things like completing Year 12, achieving a minimum ATAR, or completing prerequisite subjects.

How do I apply for early entry?

Most universities manage their own early entry programs, so students will need to be applying directly to the university. Recently I posted on Compass the “Early Entry Guide” which listed the dates for most universities. I will update the list of all Early Admission dates in the next Careers Newsletter. 

University of Sydney Academic Excellence Scheme

The Academic Excellence Scheme recognises high performance in Advanced English and Advanced Mathematics (or higher levels) by applying adjustment factors to boost your selection rank. Depending on the course you have applied for and whether you achieved a Band 5, 6 or E4 in these courses, you can have an adjustment of up to five points added to your ATAR score, to raise your selection rank for an eligible course. Learn more here:

UTS Become A Teacher Info Evening, 30 April, 6.00 - 7.30pm

Explore your career options in primary and secondary education. Learn more here: 

Nursing at University Notre Dame, 30 April, 3.00 - 3.45pm (online)

You’ll learn about the program, internships, support offered, study load, and scholarships. Learn more here: 

UNSW Year 10 & 11 Experience Days, 22-24 April

UNSW welcomes students to Campus for a day to discover the large number of courses available. Students can choose from 45+ different workshops, explore UNSW’s campus lifestyle and enjoy a free lunch from our delicious food trucks. Learn more here:

Discover Health Science at ACU (North Sydney),  April 16, 9.00 - 1.00pm

A free event tailored to students interested in a career in Health Science and Allied Health. Find out more

Discover Teaching and Social Work at ACU (Strathfield), April 17, 10.00 - 1.00pm

A free event tailored to students interested in a career In Teaching or Social Work. Find out more

ACU Webinar - Talk to Physiotherapists, Exercise Scientists and High Performance Sport Professionals

7 May, 6.00 - 6.45pm. Learn more here:

Torrens University Virtual Open Day, 7-9 May

Learn more about courses on offer, including design, fashion, interior design, animation, gaming, UX, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity and Software Engineering. Register here: 

COLLEGES

Whitehouse Institute - Introduction to Portfolio Design - Fashion Design, 22 April, 9.00 - 4.00pm.

Learn more here:

Whitehouse Institute - Introduction to Portfolio Design - Interior Design, 24 April, 9.00 - 4.00pm

Learn more here:

ACPE Open Day,  June 22

Exploring study options for a career in the sport industry. Find out more

AIE Open Day,  April 17

Learn about the local and international game development, 3D animation and visual effects industries. Find out more

Endeavour College Natural Health - Open Day, 15 June, 10.00 - 12.00pm

Find out more about courses on offer in the natural health industry. Find out more here: 

OTHER CAREER OPTIONS …

Fee-Free Apprenticeships are a great way for students to launch their careers in industry areas including construction, hospitality, aviation and automotive.

The NSW Government is paying the course cost for 100,000 new apprenticeships – meaning apprentices undertaking a government funded apprenticeship no longer face a student fee of up to $2000. Apprenticeships generally take around 3-4 years to complete, and apprentices earn a salary while they learn. Learn more here: 

ADF Gap Year

A Gap Year in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is a unique opportunity for students to experience life in the Navy, Army or Air Force without needing to make a long-term commitment. Discover more here:

NSW Police Application Process. NSW Police Force have a comprehensive process in place to ensure candidates are suitable to a career in Policing. The application process is undertaken in seven stages. Check out this page to see the steps involved in becoming a NSW police officer.

Pathways to joining the Australian Federal Police. There are over 200 role types across a wide range of areas when working with the AFP. Learn more about the entry pathways to a career with AFP.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Work experience is a great option to add value to your career portfolio and is highly regarded in industry. It also gives you the opportunity to try work and career opportunities before you leave school.

AABT Beauty Therapy, Salon Management | Work Experience Discover work experience weeks at Rockdale campus. Tailored for students in Years 10-12, these immersive programs offer a unique blend of learning.  Register here:.

CADETSHIPS / SCHOLARSHIPS

Business Cadetships with Professional Cadetship Australia Applications Close 24 May.

As a Business Cadet, typically you combine university study in Sydney with paid work at UBS or Barrenjoey Capital Partners in Sydney. The Business Cadetships Program allows you to choose the university where you will study and allows you latitude in your choice of degree program. Learn more here: 

As always, if you would like to speak with me about pathways for further study or careers post school, please book a meeting.

Mrs Yvette Kennedy

Instructional Leader Pathways and Partnerships

yvette.kennedy@syd.catholic.edu.au