Careers Update
Welcome to Term 2! We’ve had a lot happening in the careers space since our last newsletter. There are an abundance of programs and events on offer, so it is important our students demonstrate initiative and a desire to explore their future career opportunities. If you are interested, sign up and see what you will discover!
VCE Camp
Our Year 11 students attended the 3-day VCE Camp in Melbourne and had a great time! They visited RMIT, University of Melbourne, Deakin University, Latrobe University and Monash University. The universities conducted detailed presentations about courses, benefits and supports that they offer students. Students also took part in campus tours and briefings about entry requirements. We also visited the VCE Careers Expo at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre which hosted over 150 exhibitors and students had the opportunity to research and gain resources from the stalls. During the evenings, students and staff had dinner together, went to the movies and enjoyed Kingpin Crown’s laser tag, bowling and arcade games! It was a busy three days, walking over 58,000 steps!!
Aviation and Aerospace Careers Expo
Our students attended a Careers in Aviation and Aerospace Expo at Latrobe Regional Airport. Expo exhibitors included Swinburne University (rocket, drones), Boeing, RAAF (including Lockheed Martin, Jet Aviation, Pilatus), Nova System, Thales, Tours of Gippsaero, aircraft manufactures, Helimed, Gippsland Tech School and Gippsland Aeronautics Aircraft Manufacturer. The students thoroughly enjoyed the day! A huge thank you to the Baw Baw LLEN and Latrobe City Council for facilitating the event.
Careers Guest Speaker – Physiotherapy & Allied Health
We had a special guest speaker in Careers, past Lowanna College student Leila Raymond, now a qualified physiotherapist. Leila ran a session with some of our Year 10-12 students who have an interest in Physiotherapy or the Allied Health field. Students heard about Leila’s school journey, how she decided on her pathway, what her course was like and some cool short stories. Students also discovered what it’s like to assess a patient and to live a day in Leila’s life. Leila currently works in Lakes Entrance at Gippsland Lakes Complete Health and was a huge inspiration to our students! Thanks for visiting Leila and sharing your journey, we are so proud of your achievements thus far!
Tertiary Information Session (TIS)
During National Careers Week, our Year 12 VCE students attended a Tertiary Information Session at Federation University. These sessions are designed to help students prepare for future career opportunities. There was a VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre) presentation followed by a mini expo, which was a collective of universities, Tafe providers and independent tertiary colleges. Careers will be providing ongoing support for our Year 12’s through homegroup sessions and information events as the year unfolds!
TAFE Gippsland Taster Day
TAFE Gippsland is offering mid-year tasters aimed specifically at students in Year 10 looking to choose a TAFE VET course in 2026. The aim is to give students an opportunity to explore more than one course that may be compatible with their interests and career pathways, helping them approach the subject selection process feeling better informed about the options available at TAFE Gippsland.
These taster sessions will run on the 17th of June. Please see below for the list of courses.
Students need to put their names down with Careers by Friday the 30th of May to attend.
Block 1
· Paint and Decorating
· Bricklaying
· Building and Construction
· Civil Construction
· Engineering
· Automotive
Block 2
· Health Services Assistance
· Conservation and Ecosystems Management/Forestry
· Animal Care
· Hospitality & Cookery
· Electrotechnology
· Plumbing
· Community Services
Year 11 Home Group sessions
The Careers Team are working with the Year 11's in homegroups, offering information sessions about the online resources and websites to assist student’s pathway research. We hope that students will access these resources to assist with their future planning.
VCE Vocational Major (VM) – Structured Work Placements
Our Vocational Major (VM) students are undertaking their work placements - well done to those students who have sourced, completed paperwork and contacted employers as this is a requirement of your VCE VM certificate. Students who are in the workforce completing their structured work placements are building their employability skills and working profiles within our community.
Some students still have not found a placement. Please note that this is a critical component of the VCE Vocational Major (VM) program and students must find a work placement. If your child does not have a work placement, please speak with them about arranging it. Careers and the Senior School Team are here to support students.
Work Experience
In Year 10, students will undertake a Work Experience Program. It is expected that all Year 10 students will participate in this 5-day program. All work experience arrangement forms were due on Friday the 16th of May.
Work experience program:
Term 2 – Monday 2nd June to Friday 6th June (inclusive)
Work experience is a one-week placement where students will gain insights into the industry and the workplace in which they are located. It provides students with a valuable opportunity to develop employability skills, explore possible career options, understand employer expectations and increase their self-understanding, maturity, independence and self-confidence.
Work experience students are with employers primarily to observe and learn – not to undertake activities which require extensive training or expertise.
Students are required to source their own work experience placement. Doing this provides students with a wonderful opportunity to develop their communication skills, initiative and ‘real world’ experiences. Should students have any issues or difficulties in gaining a work experience placement they can be supported through this by teachers and careers staff.
We look forward to seeing our Year 10 students out and about in the working world.
Please note that any students who have not found a work experience placement are expected to attend school as normal during Work Experience Week.
Lowanna Careers
Don’t forget to check out our career’s website with mountains of information and resources to support students and families.
https://www.lowannacareers.com/
Kirsty & Alisha
Careers Team