Pathways and Conferences

Last week, St Catherine's School hosted its biennial Year 11 and 12 Careers Breakfast, bringing together students and a remarkable group of 24 members from the St Catherine's Old Girls' Association (SCOGA) and the Parents and Friends' Association (PFA).

The morning provided students with a valuable opportunity to engage with professionals from a diverse range of industries, including business, health, law, education, communications, finance, engineering and the creative arts. Through informal conversations and shared experiences, students gained firsthand insights into career pathways, workplace expectations, tertiary study options and the many different routes that can lead to professional success.

One of the most valuable aspects of the Careers Breakfast was the chance for students to hear authentic stories from members of the St Catherine's community. Alumnae and parents shared personal journeys, highlighting both achievements and challenges encountered throughout their careers. These conversations helped students understand that career paths are rarely linear and that resilience and lifelong learning are essential qualities in a rapidly changing world.

The event also encouraged students to expand their professional networks and develop confidence in speaking with industry professionals. For many Year 11 and 12 students who are currently making important decisions about subject selections, tertiary education and future employment, the opportunity to ask questions in a relaxed and supportive environment was particularly beneficial.

Careers education is most effective when students can connect classroom learning with real-world experiences. The Careers Breakfast provided a platform for students to explore possibilities and gain a better understanding of the skills that employers value. It also reinforced the importance of building professional relationships and seeking guidance from experienced mentors.

Through the continued support of SCOGA, the PFA and their generous members, the Careers Breakfast provides students with invaluable opportunities to learn from the experiences of others and explore a diverse range of career pathways. These meaningful connections not only enrich students’ understanding of future possibilities but also reinforce the strong sense of community that defines St Catherine’s School.

We thank our line-up of guest speakers:

Ms Kristy Tine

Head of Careers

The I-Wish Challenge

The I-Wish Conference is a cross-generational initiative that encourages girls to embark on inter-disciplinary careers in STEM and Health. This wonderful initiative, as part of our collaboration with Mathew Flinders Anglican College and Pymble Ladies College, provides our students with the opportunity to engage with and be inspired by the ground-breaking research of scientists, health professionals and doctoral students.

Designed for Year 10 students on the verge of Senior School, they work collaboratively in a three-hour design-sprint session to design an advocacy project, followed by a final pitch to a judging panel. Students extend themselves by applying their scientific communication skills to educate, inspire and advocate. 

This year, we had 45 Year 10 participants, who were ably led by Year 11 student mentors, and Year 12 leaders. Bravo to the Year 10s and their mentors for producing some incredible advocacy projects.  Making use of public speaking and skit techniques honed in debating and drama, the disciplinary knowledge taught in science, and their digital skills for engaging and effective slides, the students presented a range of terrific ideas. The winning group designed nutritional app targeted at the parents of toddlers, based on their translation of Dr Alex Chung’s transformative work on misleading packaging of infant food in supermarkets. 

We were so fortunate this year to hear from five incredible researchers, including three St Catherine’s alumnae who presented on a diverse range of topics from their specialisations of dietetics, speech pathology, physiotherapy, social science research and marine biology. It was a privilege to welcome Dr Alex Chung, Alecka Garrett, Georgia Sexton, Dr Katy de Valle and Dr Claire Moad to share their work and career pathways with our students.  We were all so inspired by the incredible impact their work is having on the community, keeping our children healthy and improving our natural and urban environments for the next generation. 

This year we also took the opportunity to tap into our wonderful parent community and invited three of our current St Catherine’s Year 12 parents to judge the design sprints as well as participate in a highly engaging panel discussion with our Principal, Ms Natalie Charlies and Year 12 student Isabelle C on ethical decision making in executive and leadership roles. Drawing on their significant expertise in nursing, intellectual property law and civil engineering, Fiona Dobbin, Helen Mutimer and Nicole Stoddart emphasised the need to act with ethical clarity, providing fascinating insights into the moments where their integrity was put to the test. It was also a great opportunity for students to seek out mentoring from those who have already walked in their shoes.  We are also indebted to Helen Haysom for assisting our judging panel and continuing her ongoing support of our students to pursue their interests in STEM.

It has been a wonderful three year so far journey with I-Wish, and we say thank you to the wonderful Year 12s who have volunteered three years to the program: Marley N, Isabelle C, Diya A and Isabella W. We wish them well as they go into their final exam period and hope to see them back one day as researchers on our panel. Thank you as well to the wonderful science and health teachers who inspire our students every day. 

Ms Kristy Forrest 

On behalf of the I-Wish team: Clare Haysom, Anna Watts, Deb Thompson and Kelly Brady.