Careers & Pathways!

Everyone welcome!

We encourage all students to visit the Careers-Pathways Team at BSC! 

We have an appointment book just outside each office in the Malgobila and Wurrin Hubs. 

Our office hours are:

Upcoming Career Events:

• ATAR Results Released: 11th December 2023 (7.00 am)
• VTAC Change of preferences (COP): 13th December 2023 (4.00 pm)

Please contact Careers via 5150 4800 or malgobila@bairnsdalesc.vic.edu.auif you require support with the VTAC COP process.  

Keep an eye on your emails and Compass newsfeeds for updates on the VTAC processes.

Employment Opportunities

Please see attachment for current employment opportunities.

Work Experience

Work Experience (WE)/Structured Workplace learning (SWL)/School Based Apprenticeships/Traineeships (SBAT)

Please note: Work experience is now closed for new applications in 2023. 

New applications open in Term 1 2024.

Work experience is available to students that are 15 years old+. 

SWL is available to students doing a VET Course in their VCE/VM Pathway. 

SBAT’s are available to Year 10 -12 students through our Headstart Program (Aaron Patton) by application and availability only. 

Contact: 

Jaclyn Powell (Year 7-9) Jaclyn.Powell@education.vic.gov.au

Angela Wren (Year 10-12) Angela.Wren@education.vic.gov.au

You can be preparing for Work Experience by:

• Dropping into the Pathways Hubs for further information
• Completing an Expression of Interest (EOI) 
• Completing Employer Information Form
• Completing Career Action Plan (CAP)
• Completing Safe@Work Certificates
• Obtaining White Card* (If required – Building Industry placements)

Work Experience Opportunities

Kilmore District Hospital - Work Experience (2024 year 10 students, 15+)

Applications are currently open for Kilmore District Hospital's School Work Experience Program for 2024. This program provides students with an opportunity to gain insight into the healthcare industry.

The program is offered to students in Year 10. Students participating in the program are given the opportunity to spend one week working within available departments to observe and participate in the daily activities. KDH strongly promotes involvement in the program and encourages students from all areas of Victoria to apply.

Areas of the hospital offering general work experience placements may include:

• Nursing
• Midwifery
• Aged Care
• Outpatients
• Engineering/Maintenance
• Corporate Support/Administration/Health Information

For more information and how to apply go to WORK EXPERIENCE | KDH (kilmoredistricthealth.org.au)

Please ensure you have considered the travel time and distance to and from your home to Kilmore BEFORE you apply for a placement. 

Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) - Work Experience (2024 year 10-12 students, 15+)

The AIE Work Experience Program is a great way for secondary school students in years 10 to 12 to learn about the interactive entertainment and digital industries. The week will open the door to the range of career possibilities in the industry and allow students to get hands-on with the tools of the trade.

The Work Experience Program runs from 10am to 4pm over the course of a week and encompasses a range of activities including 3D animation, programming, designing and much more.

To register your interest now please fill out the form on the following link - Work Experience Melbourne | Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE)

Please ensure you have considered the travel time and distance to and from your home to Melbourne BEFORE you register your interest. 

Parliament Of Victoria: Work Experience Expression Of Interest 2024 (15+)

Expressions of interest to complete a work experience placement at the Parliament of Victoria in terms 1 and 2, 2024 are now open. Students can choose between 2 programs, Sitting and Services. Parliamentary Sitting placements provide the opportunity to see the law-making process up close. Students will go behind the scenes with the staff who directly support Parliament sittings, to get a deeper understanding of our democratic processes. Parliamentary Services placements offer a variety of opportunities that can be matched with a broad range of student interests and career goals, including business management, facilities management and maintenance, community engagement and broadcasting, and hospitality. Placements are open to students who are 15 years or over at the time of the placement. 

If you are interested, please visit https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/teach-and-learn/work-experience/ to lodge an expression of interest, and let the careers team know. Expressions of interest will close at 5:00pm on Friday 12 January. Interested students will be notified of the outcome of their expression of interest no later than Friday 2nd February.

Please ensure you have considered the travel time and distance to and from your home to Melbourne BEFORE you apply for a placement. 

Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary - Work Experience (2024 Year 9 & 10 students,15+)

Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary offers engaging Work Experience placements for students in Year 9 and Year 10. Their Work Experience Program is designed to foster new skills in young people, create an awareness and appreciation of the conservation and biodiversity management industry and demonstrate the breadth of career opportunities in environmental science, research and education.

Successful applicants may assist in the following areas of the Sanctuary:

• land management
• plant production
• education
• biodiversity
• marketing, promotion & interpretation
• office & administration
• workshops & tours

The Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary cannot offer any opportunities to work with animals. 

Work Experience placements run for one week from Monday to Friday on pre-selected dates throughout the year. Normal working hours are from 9.30 am until 4.00 pm. As part of your placement, you will be required to undertake some structured learning activities.

There are 4 places available for each of the placement weeks. A maximum of two students can come from the same school for the same placement week.

These dates are subject to change based on other Sanctuary activities happening at the time. 

Please ensure you have considered the travel time and distance to and from your home to Bundoora BEFORE you apply for a placement. Please let careers know if you will be applying.  

More info and how to apply here - Secondary school students, Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary, Get involved, La Trobe University

Swinburne University - Work Experience (2024 Year 9 & 10 students, 15+)

Swinburne welcomes students in year 9 and 10 to participate in work experience at the university. These one-week placements give students the opportunity to:

• develop employability skills
• explore possible career options
• understand employer expectations
• build self-understanding, maturity, independence and self-confidence.

Their work experience programs run in the following areas: Applied Mathematics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, or Biotechnology and Biochemistry.

Applications for their next intake of work experience programs will open in January 2024. They encourage early applications as there are limited places, and places are usually filled by March.  

For more info go to Work Experience | Swinburne 

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) - Work Experience 2024 (15+)

MSO Work Experience offers students an opportunity for meaningful, well-rounded engagement with MSO as a major performing arts company, as well as the arts sector more broadly.

Placements are run in a group format, with a strong focus on arts administration. During their time with the MSO, students will have the opportunity to meet with musicians and staff, mix with MSO’s industry-leading artistic planning team, observe orchestral rehearsals and explore Melbourne’s arts precinct.

Most of all, students will come away from their placement with a broad understanding of the role played by the MSO – as a cornerstone of Melbourne’s rich cultural heritage – in the Victorian and Australian performing arts industries.

How to apply: MSO welcome applications by all students attending Secondary School in Victoria aged 15 years+ as of the placement date. The MSO can accept up to 30 students per placement and will hold two placements which run for three days:

• Tuesday 25 June to Thursday 27 June 2024, 10.00am-4.00pm or
• Tuesday 27 August to Thursday 29 August 2024, 10.00am-4.00pm

Applications open Monday 29 January 2024. For more info go to Work experience | Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (mso.com.au)

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) of Medical Research - Work Experience (2024 year 10 students, 15+)

The program will give students direct experience working in medical research. As well as hands-on experience in the lab, the program also includes group workshops devoted to laboratory skills and safety, research ethics and science communication.

Up to 24 students will be selected for each of two week-long intakes (19–23 June and 11–15 September). 

The program will take place at the WEHI Parkville campus.

Students will be expected to attend the entire program, approximately 9am – 4pm daily. All students will need to arrange their own transport to Parkville each day, as well as any necessary accommodation. Students will be paid $10 per day as part of the program.

WEHI aims to provide educational opportunities to a range of students. They welcome applications from students with diverse backgrounds and life experiences.

Applications open: Wednesday 1 February 2023.

Applications close: 5pm Wednesday 15 March 2023

Successful student applicants notified: Early April 2023

Program intake weeks: 19–23 June 2023, and 11–15 September 2023

For more information go to Work experience | WEHI 

Victorian Opera - Work Experience (2024 year 10 students, 15+)

Applications for Victorian Opera’s 2024 Work Experience Program will open Monday 12 February (Week 3, Term 1), and close Friday 19 April 2024, 5.00pm, unless places are filled prior to this date. Their Work Experience Program gives Year 10 students the chance to work with other like-minded students whilst being mentored by leading professionals in the performing arts industry. At the conclusion of the week, students present their own production plan to the Company Executive, covering design, direction, company management and budget.

The 2024 Work Experience Program will run from Monday 22 July to Friday 26 July (Week 2, Term 3), coinciding with the last week of studio rehearsals of our Grand Lyric Opera, La Rondine by Puccini.

For more information and how to apply, go to https://www.victorianopera.com.au/learning-pathways/education/secondary-schools/work-experience/

University of Melbourne (Faculty of Science) - Work Experience (2024 year 10 students, 15+)

Dates: 24th-28th June (last week of term 2)

Program Structure

The University of Melbourne year 10 Work Experience Program provides students with a sample of activities that are part of a career in STEM including conducting experiments, attending seminars, collaborating with others on research projects, and presenting their own findings. Participants discover what it is like to be a scientist, meet like-minded friends and scientific role models, and also get a taste of university life.

The program is divided into a number of science discipline streams. Students must nominate their top three preferences as part of the application process. During the week, students will be hosted by academics working in their chosen discipline, and also spend some time interacting with students from other groups.

Applications open mid-late January. For more information go to Year 10 Work Experience (unimelb.edu.au)

Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) - Work Experience (2024 year 10 students, 15+)

This program gives successful applicants the opportunity to gain experience working in the arts and culture industry.

As part of the program, students will spend a working week onsite at ACMI, engaging with various ACMI teams members and departments, whilst embarking on a filmmaking task.

ACMI is an inclusive and accessible organisation. 

Applications for the 2024 work experience program open in February, please check back here and/or Compass in future for further details. Work Experience at ACMI | ACMI: Your museum of screen culture

Compass Newsfeeds

Student communication about careers and opportunities are updated weekly via the Compass newsfeed pages.

Career events, excursions, apprenticeship/traineeship opportunities, guest speakers, are shared with students via these alerts, so please keep an eye out for the latest opportunities.

Careers Website

Bairnsdale Secondary College (bairnsdalesccareers.com)

Students and families have access to a variety of career resources and information via our designated careers website. Students can use career targets in the students to help them identify career interests.