Careers & Pathways News

Here’s what’s happening in CAREERS

REGIONAL AWARDS - Applied Learning Awards 2023

Westall has had a very successful year with Nominations for the 2022 Applied Learning Awards both for our students, employers and Mr. Gary Bottomley.  These nominations were submitted by Mr. Gary Bottomley, Miss Donna Yuan and Ms. Geraldine Borgonha.

There were many schools in the cities of Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston that submitted nominations and the judges had a hard time choosing the winners.  

The well-deserving student winners have each received a certificate and a Westfield gift voucher and the Employers, a certificate/plaque.  

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to receive an ALA, nominated students must be:

• attending school within the Bayside, Glen Eira and Kington areas AND/OR

actively participating in VCAL, Vocational Major, VETiS or and SBAT course within the Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston areas.

• To be eligible to receive an ALA, nominated support person must be providing services to at least one student who meets the above criteria.

Announcing the winners of the 2023 ALA awards 

Our thanks go to STRIDE Education and supported by Big Brothers Big Sisters Australia, Rotary, the BGK LLEN and Tania Hutchinson, Operations Manager at

IN 2 LIFE INCORPORATED

CAREERS – shines a spotlight on SBATs

What does it mean when a student is doing a SBAT (School based apprenticeship/Traineeship) ?

These are available to secondary school students who are over 15 years old are enrolled in VCE or VCE – Vocational Major (VM).

A SBAT offers students the option of combining part-time employment, school and training. The program runs under a contract with an employer and has a training plan registered with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority. The training must lead to a nationally recognised qualification.

The vocational training components of SBATs also contribute credit towards a senior secondary certificate. Many school based apprentices and trainees move on to a full-time contract with their employer after leaving school, while others choose to continue their education and training at a registered training organisation or university.

Also in 2023

We have students completing two SBATs – Horticulture and Supply Chain Operations through National Food Industries with Employer GRE8.  The Graduation event is planned for Friday 8th December from 1 pm – Parents and families of these students are warmly invited to attend.

Our SBAT Horticulture students have been working in Keshava Grove, Dandenong where they assist the City of Greater Dandenong – Parks and Gardens team and on our school grounds every Friday honing their skills and supporting our Maintenance Leaders. They are listed in the following table.

Our SBAT undertaking Supply Chain Operations have made their way to 59 Williams Road, Dandenong South every Wednesday and Friday. 

Our SBAT students with Employer REECE, their RTO is MURRAY MALLEE TRAINING CO. LTD.

Elaiza PALALAGI-SUNDAR - Certificate II in Retail and Warehousing Operations 

Jerome William - Certificate II in Warehousing and Retail Operations – Employer Metalflex in Dandenong

Patrick Mautairi - Certificate II in Retail and Warehousing Operations

We take this opportunity to thank our valued Registered Training Organisations (RTO) mentioned above and Employers. 

We also thank and congratulate our SBAT students in Years 10, 11 and 12 and parents for all their support.

2023 Speed Careering Day - Thursday 7th December and presentation of Applied Learning Awards to our employers 

Years 8, 9 and 10 students to attend our School’s Sport Centre on Thursday 7th December 2023 where this program will take place as follows:

Year 8 – (from 10 to 11:20 am)

Year 9 and 10  (from 12 to 1 pm)

Refreshment break for our visitors (11:30 to 12)

Monash Mentoring Program

Lucky last, we showcase our Monash Mentoring Program which is an amazing opportunity for our Year 11 and  12 VCE students to have access to a mentor from Monash University to help them with a particular subject and give them advice while navigating their final school years. 

Thank you, students, for your attendance and registration.

Structured Work Placement Week 20th-24th November

Last week our year 11 Vocational Major students took part in their first structured work placement, on the job training, where students are expected to practice a set of skills or competencies, related to the VET certificate in which they are studying. 

The benefits for students participating in structured workplace learning include, but are not limited to:

• Improving understanding of the work environment and employers’ expectations.
• Increasing motivation to continue study and/or undertake further training.
• Enhancing opportunities for part‑time and casual employment.
• Providing opportunities to develop and gain work-related competencies.
• Providing opportunities to develop contacts with potential employers.
• Exposing students to the ‘real’ world of work.

Some of the placements included childcare, plumbing, parts interpreting, roof trusses, IT, hospitality, hair and beauty to name a few. 

Congratulations to all of the students involved it was great to hear such positive feedback. 

I would also like to thank Ms Borgonha, Ms Jamieson and Mr Bottomley for supporting our students in getting their placements. 

We hope our senior students enjoy the break and look forward to seeing them refreshed and ready to start school in the new year.

Mr McIntosh 

Vocational Major Coordinator

Career update of past student Kyle - graduate from 2022

Kyle started his SBAT in Retail Warehousing at REECE in 2021 working with them on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. 

Kyle graduated from Westall in 2022.  He made up a sign to to request Plumbers who visited the show room to give him an opportunity to undertake a Plumbing Apprenticeship.  He was successful with getting a job and I had the good fortune to meet him and his Yellow UTE last week when he was working at an apartment block in Brighton.   

Both Kyle and his Manager came out to say Hello and that Kyle was representing Westall very well.   

Excellent work Kyle, are so proud of you.

Look at Benedict Espiritu Year 11 VCE student flying high!

Benedict started his VET Aviation with TRISTAR AVIATION COMPANY PTY LTD AVI50222 DIPLOMA OF AVIATION – (Partial Completion) Commercial Pilot Licence and will continue with his 2nd year in 2024. 

Our Westall Community wish you every success.

WHAT IS SPEED CAREERING?

Our school holds an annual event known as “Speed Careering”. 

The activity is designed to build student awareness of the various roles/ work options available in our community, including the fact that there are just as many individual career pathways as there are roles.

It involves small group informal discussions. It is, but a dialogue with students and their parents and caregivers from Years 8 to 10. 

Ms Geraldine Borgonha

Careers Advisor

Current Opportunities 

For any students interested in a aviation, below is a flyer regarding a course.