Year 9 Careers Week
Careers Week was a huge success for our Year 9 cohort, giving students a genuine taste of what life beyond school could look like. From creative dressing for interviews to navigating the streets of Melbourne, students were challenged to think seriously about their futures while having a great time doing it.
A true highlight of the week was the City Experience over Thursday and Friday, where we saw real growth in our students from Day One to Day Two. On Day One, students worked in teams to complete a photo challenge across iconic Melbourne locations: Flinders Street Station, Queen Victoria Market, Hosier Lane and Federation Square, to name a few. This day was as much about building trust within their teams as it was about exploring the city; students had to communicate, problem-solve and look out for one another to make it to each checkpoint. It was wonderful to see our Year 9 students taking genuine ownership of their group's success, supporting teammates who weren't as confident in navigating public transport, and stepping up to keep their group on track and on time.
By Day Two, that growth was unmistakable. Students moved from working within set teams to taking on a far greater degree of independence, either researching and visiting a destination tied to a career interest of their own choosing or completing a more demanding navigation challenge that took them past Carlton Gardens, AAMI Park, the MCG and Parliament House. Many groups also visited tertiary institutions such as RMIT, William Angliss, Victoria University, and the VCA, researching career pathways linked to each site. The shift from Day One to Day Two asked students to take real ownership of their own learning and decision-making, planning routes, managing time, and representing themselves and our school respectfully out in the community. Watching students rise to that challenge, often stepping outside their comfort zone to do so, was a genuine highlight for staff and a strong reflection of the growth mindset we work so hard to build in our students.
Back in the classroom, students also got stuck into some practical career skills. The "Dress to Impress" activity had them thinking carefully about how to present themselves for different industries, while our resume and cover letter sessions gave them a solid first step towards building their professional profile. The Q&A session with our senior VCE and VCE-VM students was particularly valued, with many Year 9s saying it was eye-opening to hear directly from older students about their own pathway choices.
A big thank you to all the staff who supervised, organised checkpoints, and supported students throughout the week, and to the industry speakers who gave their time to share their experiences. A particular thank you must go to our Careers Team, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organise our line-up of industry speakers for the week. The caliber and variety of speakers they secured was fantastic, giving students real insight into a broad range of career paths straight from people working in the field.
Most importantly, well done to our Year 9 students for engaging so enthusiastically, it's clear this week has given them plenty to think about as they continue shaping their own pathway.
