Competitions, activities and events

Change of Preference Events: Students are strongly encouraged to check the ‘Events’ pages for institutions of interest as new events are being made available on a daily basis, especially in preparation to support Year 12 students with post-school pathway decisions.

See the attached handy summary from Compass Career News.

What: Access Education Summer School

Who: VCE students

When: Monday 22 January to Thursday 25 January 2024

More info: Extensive, live, interactive and ONLINE 2-hour VCE preparation lectures. Visit VCE and HSC Exam Revision Lectures at Access Education to find out more or to download a brochure for the 2024 program.

What: Achieve Fest

Who: Students, Educators, Parents/Careers

When: Tuesday 28 November, Online, 9:30am – 2:30pm

More info: Explore. Build. Create. Join in for our immersive online festival exploring the Future of Work. Delivered for free and open to young Australians, educators, and parents. Explore passions, build skills, and create change on issues that matter. Achieve Fest (princes-trust.org.au)

What: Ashurst UK Free Short Course: Building your personal brand

Who: Senior students and adults interested in learning more about personal branding.

When and More Info: On-demand. In this free virtual 6-hour program you will work on your personal branding, develop a LinkedIn profile, and learn how to brand yourself to potential employers. You will receive a certificate and you can complete the program on your own time, https://bit.ly/3EcbStr 

What: Australian Defence Force Careers Sessions

Who: Students interested in roles within the Defence Force.

When: Various dates and sessions with current members of the Army, Air force and Navy

More info: www.defencejobs.gov.au/events 

What: Bond University Medicine Webinar

Who: VCE students with an interest in studying medicine at Bond University. Particularly those looking at a 2024 intake (currently Year 12s).

When: November 15, 5pm via webinar.

More info: Here is a link to more information and for students to register.

What: Careers with STEM Webinars

Who: Students, educators and parents/guardians interested in learning more about careers which have a connection to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

When and More info: Webinars are free, but registration is required.

What: Collarts Summer Workshops SeriesWho: Year 10 – 12 students with an interest in gaining hands on experience in various areas relating to creative arts, music, fashion and photography.

When: 22 – 23 January, 2023

More info: Register For School Holiday Workshops at Collarts

What: Fed Uni Information Evening and Info Day

Who: Prospective students of Fed Uni

When: Info Evening is 23 November, 4-6pm and info Day is 12 December, 1 – 5pm

More info: Churchill Campus – Info Evening Register to attend and Info Day Register to attend.

What: Flickerfest 2024 FlickerUp Youth Short Film Competition

Who/When/More info: Short film entries are invited from secondary school students or filmmakers under 18 years of age across Australia. Applications close Tuesday 7 November. For information and to apply, visit https://flickerfest.com.au/ 

What: Filmmaking Summer School

Who/When/More info: Filmmaking for the Digital Age: this intensive summer school is taught by Australia’s leading film industry professionals and is suited to people from all ages and backgrounds, 12 - 14 January 2024, Dancehouse, Carlton North, Vic. www.summerfilmschool.com/ 

What: Gallipoli Scholarship

Who/When/More info: Valued at $6,000, the Gallipoli Scholarship is open to the direct descendants of any service man or woman who has served in the Australian or New Zealand Defence Force in a conflict or peacekeeping operation, since the First World War to the present day.The Scholarship selection process is based 60% on necessitous circumstances, and 40% on academic merit. Applications open on 1 January and close on 28 February each year.All applicants are notified of their selection, or otherwise, by the end of March each year. Applications are submitted online via the website and require a number of documents to support the application.Find out more at Gallipoli Scholarship

What: GTLC Building and Construction Course

Who: School leavers (16+YO), especially those looking to secure future work in the building and construction industry.

When: 27 November to 7 December at Morwell

More info: Free, 2-week course which provides a number of highly desirable qualifications. See attached flyer.

What: Gordon Hospitality Bootcamp

Who/When/More Info: The Gordon, Geelong, is running an exciting 4-day hospitality bootcamp for young people keen to explore a career in hospitality between 20 – 23 November. The program aims to prepare students for the summer season of work through interactive workshops and the completion of short courses such as RSA, espresso coffee basics, food service skills, and point of sale. For information and to apply for the program, visit www.thegordon.edu.au

What: Homesglen Open Day

Who: Prospective students 

When:  Thursday 23 November.

More info: locations, courses and details https://bit.ly/2MTYYFx

What: Little Stories, Big Ideas Writing Competition

Who: High school students with an interest in writing. 

When:  Open now

More info: The theme is ‘Magic’. Applications close 22 December, https://littlestoriesbigideas.com.au/ 

What: Magnify Music Camp

Who/When/More info: Magnify Music Camp is an intensive high-level skills camp for high school students between the ages of 14 – 18 who are serious about career success in the field of music. Run by Box Hill Institute, the camp will run between 15 - 20 January 2024. There will be a final concert on Friday night, where students can show off their newfound skills. Entry is by audition and there are only 30 places. The cost is $450, https://bit.ly/45idxrc 

What: Monash Peninsula Campus Experience

Who/When/More info: Year 10 and 11 students are invited to explore the Peninsula campus on Thursday 23 November. A series of exciting workshops will be run focussed on business, nursing, and health & physical education teaching. Students will participate in two workshops, tour the campus, and have a free lunch. For information and to register your place, visit https://bit.ly/46Bpc5Z

What: myfuture webinars

Who: Students and their career influencers

When and more info: Registration is now open for the following webinars 

• Tuesday 28 November, 1:00pm: The importance of the careers information ecology. Register here.
• Thursday 30 November, 1:00pm: Where do young people go for career information? Register here. 
• Tuesday 12 December, 1:00pm: Career conversations at results time. Register here. 

What/Who/When/More Info: National Mathematics Summer School

The National Mathematics Summer School (NMSS) is a program for motivated and high-achieving school students that has been held each January since 1969. The 56th NMSS will be held in Canberra from 7 to 20 January 2024. The application process for the 2024 School will open later this year. Bookmark this page and check for updates - https://nmss.edu.au/ 

What: National Youth Science Forum

Who: Year 11 students with a passion for Science

When: Apply now for 2024

More info: This is a two-week on-site and digital program where students are immersed in hands-on science activities, lab experiments, field trips and meet researchers who are leaders in their field. In-person STEM visit days and events will be held over a week of the program at major city hubs across the country, enabling students to meet each other and network with like-minded peers. The program will be held during January 2024. www.nysf.edu.au 

What: NIE Medicine and Dentistry Information Session

Who: Senior students with an interest in pursuing medicine or dentistry.

When: 15 November, 7-9pm, via webinar

More info: REGISTER NOW

An invaluable forum recommended to students considering a career in Medicine or Dentistry, and especially for those who already know that they will be sitting the UCAT or attending Med School Interviews.  

This forum is an excellent opportunity for students and parents to find out about the UCAT, Interviews, Pathways into Medicine, and have all questions answered by expert teachers who have been working in the field since 1999.

The session is PACKED with invaluable information during which we will be covering the following topics, and more.  

• What is UCAT? UCAT scores? UCAT Sub-tests?
• Year 10, 11 and 12 - things to consider now. 
• The Undergraduate Selection Criteria
• Application process into universities for medicine and dentistry
• When and who can sit the UCAT
• GAMSAT
• Can you prepare for the UCAT?
• Undergraduate interview process
• Med School Applications
• Gap Year
• Alternative degrees and career choices
• Q & A

What: Sony World Photography Award Youth Competition

Who: Young people under 19YO with an interest and passion for photography.

When: Open now until 5 January 2024

More info: For this year’s Youth competition we’re asking you to show us Through your eyes. What is your (and your generation's) perception of the world? From your family to the local environment to your day-to-day life, show us what – through your eyes – are the subjects and themes you want to photograph and share. Whatever the genre, technique or subject matter, we want to see your photographs. You can enter up to three images for free. Find out more and enter here: https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/youth

What: Toyota Dream Car Art Contest

Who: All young people 15years and younger.

When: Open now until 22 December 2023

More info: The Toyota Dream Car Art Contest encourages and inspires creative expression and imagination, challenging the boundaries of traditional thinking. It’s a chance for tomorrow’s engineers, designers, and creative thinkers to let their imaginations run wild by drawing their ‘Dream Car’. All entries must be created by hand (drawing, painting, etc.) and submitted online. Simply scan or take a photo of your drawing and follow the instructions in the link to enter. Make sure that the entry has been approved by a parent or guardian. Remember to keep a physical copy of your artwork once you have submitted it. 

What: TSFX Summer School Program

Who: VCE Students

When: Wednesday 10 – Tuesday 23 January 2024

More info: Face-to-face, in person Head Start lectures held at the University of Melbourne, Parkville. Visit TSFX Summer School to find out more about the 2024 program or to enrol.

What: University of Melbourne Summer School

Who/When/More info: The University of Melbourne will run a two-week summer school in January for students entering Year 12 in 2024. Applications haven’t opened yet, but students can read about the program and complete an expression of interest for the program via https://bit.ly/47RACUg 

What: UNSW – Bragg Student Prize for Science Writing

Who: Students in Year 7-10 who are willing to consider STEMs relevance to everyday life.

When: Open now

More info: Write an 800 word essay on the STEM that's part of your everyday life and you could win a $500 voucher plus publication in Australia's most prestigious science writing outlets. More details available here

What: VTAC Webinar – ATAR and Subject Scaling

Who: VTAC will be holding this webinar for applicants, parents and schools on the ATAR and subject scaling.

When: Wednesday 15 November at 6pm, online.

More info: In this session VTAC will discuss:

• How and why subjects are scaled
• What an ATAR is and how this is calculated
• Eligibility for an ATAR
• How and why the ATAR is used by institutions to make course offers

Registration is open at http://www.vtac.edu.au/events

What: Victorian Police Info Sessions 

Who: Open to all students, especially those considering pursuing a role with Victoria Police

When: 27 November and 13 December (Online)

More info: www.police.vic.gov.au/police-information-sessions

What: Work Experience with Parliament of Victoria

Who: Open to current Year 9s (Year 10 2024)

More info: Expressions of interest for work experience placements in semester 1, 2024 are now open. Work experience at the Parliament of Victoria is suitable for students who are interested in a wide range of careers, including politics, multi-media, education, business, landscaping, law-making or hospitality.  Students nominate their preference for a one-week placement in either the Parliamentary Sitting Program or Parliamentary Services Program. To be eligible, students must be aged 15 years or over at the time of their placement, be a Victorian resident and a student at a Victorian secondary school. Expressions of interest for semester 1 close at 5:00 pm on 12 January 2024. Find out more here.