Careers Update

Job Skills Expo

In July our Year 11 and 12 Vocational Major students attended the Job Skills Expo at Lardner Park. This event brought together a wide range of employers, training providers and industry representatives which gave students the chance to explore and make valuable connections for their future. The expo was an excellent opportunity for our students to build confidence in networking and gain practical insights into the world of work. Thank you to the Baw Baw Latrobe LLEN and exhibitors for making it an informative day. 

VTAC

Our Year 12 students have begun the process of their VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) applications. Students are supported during this entire process. Students are encouraged to have their applications completed before the timely application deadline in late September to avoid additional fees.

The fee for a VTAC application is listed in the below chart.

It is strongly recommended that senior students, both Year 11 and 12, attend as many University open days as possible as this will ensure they have made an informed choice when selecting courses. If you are unable to attend the open days, please don’t hesitate to contact the University directly to speak with the relevant faculty or to organise a private tour. Attending open days gives students the opportunity to learn how an institution works, where it is, what opportunities are available and how you feel about the environment, people and courses. You can meet staff and students, see facilities, experience the on-campus culture and ask lots of questions. It’s a good idea to visit open days for all the institutions you’re interested in studying at so you can feel prepared and be confident in your decisions when listing courses in your VTAC preference list. 

Below is the link to the Universities and RTO open days for 2026. If you have missed the open days, please don’t hesitate to contact the University directly.  

Open days

Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) placements

Meanwhile, our VM students are continuing to complete their Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) placements. These experiences are providing valuable opportunities to develop real world skills, connect with industry and gain hands on experience in their chosen fields. 

We would also like to congratulate our students who have successfully gained apprenticeships this year, whether that be full time or school based. This is an outstanding achievement and we are incredibly proud of the effort, dedication and determination they have shown in securing these opportunities. 

We are proud of all our students as they take these important steps toward life beyond school and encourage families to support them through this exciting stage of their journey. 

Accommodation On Campus 

Any Year 12 students considering living on campus at university next year will need to apply as soon as applications are open via each university website. On-campus accommodation options fill very quickly.

Year 9 Morrisby 

As part of our Careers Education Program, all Year 9 students will sit the Morrisby online career assessments in August. This engaging program helps students discover their strengths, interests and potential career pathways while also providing personalised subject suggestions for future study. 

The assessment is completed online at school and includes a series of quizzes and questions covering areas such as verbal, numerical, abstract and spatial reasoning, as well as interests and personality preferences. In late October, students will also access a 30-minute appointment with a trained Morrisby counsellor who will sit and unpack the detailed report with the student.

To participate, parents/guardians need to provide permission via Compass. Please log in and open the event – ‘Morrisby’ and submit your consent.

Australian Defence Force (ADF)

The Australian Defence Force came to speak to our interested students about the vast range of careers on offer within the ADF and to educate them on how to pursue those opportunities.

Bombardier Drew Pratt from the Australian Army and Corporal Fletcher Parr from the Royal Australian Air Force shared their career highlights and journey. Students gained insight into the life within the ADF and thoroughly enjoyed the presentation.

Work Experience

In July, 115 of our Year 10 students participated in one week of work experience. Students were responsible for securing their own placements, a process that required resilience, initiative and perseverance. By seeking out these opportunities, they further developed valuable organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.

The Work Experience Program provided students with meaningful insights into the industries and workplaces they were interested in exploring. It gave them the opportunity to investigate potential career pathways, gain an understanding of employer expectations and develop key employability skills. Throughout the week, students also strengthened their independence, built self-confidence and gained a greater understanding of their own strengths, interests and future aspirations.

The feedback from employers was overwhelmingly positive. Our students were commended for their maturity, positive attitude and willingness to learn, while consistently demonstrating the values of Lowanna College. Respect, initiative, enthusiasm and a strong work ethic were recurring themes in employer feedback. Congratulations and thank you to all of our students for representing the College so well and exemplifying our high expectations.

With work experience now complete, students are encouraged to reflect on what they have learned and continue exploring their career interests and aspirations through conversations. 

Lowanna College extends its sincere thanks to the many employers who generously hosted our students this year. Your support and commitment to providing valuable workplace learning experiences have helped our students grow in confidence, develop new skills and make meaningful connections within the local community.

My Future

You can explore occupations related to your favourite school subjects. After you create an account, click on ‘explore career bullseyes’ and then click on your favourite subjects. Start exploring career pathways by selecting a learning area you enjoy.  https://myfuture.edu.au/

The Good Career Guide

This is a multi-platform resource for students commencing their career journey. There are over 500 different job descriptions and students can explore occupations based on their interests and traits.  https://www.goodcareersguide.com.au/

Careers

Don’t forget to check out our career’s website which has mountains of information and resources to support students and families.

https://www.lowannacareers.com/

Careers Support

We are available as a support for students and parents with any questions or queries they may have. Please feel free to contact the Careers Team:

Kirsty Mitchell ph: 5127 9225 or kirsty.mitchell@education.vic.gov.au 

Alisha Disisto ph: 5127 9264 or alisha.disisto@education.vic.gov.au