Subject Selections

The college is in full swing with program and subject selection for students in years 7 – 11. A considerable amount of time has been spent making sure that students are aware of their program and subject options and the time for submitting their preferences is nearly here. There has been a lot of information sent out via COMPASS to parents so please make sure you take the time to glance over it. Below is a brief outline of when each year level will be submitting their selections. If there are any concerns please send a message in TEAMS or on COMPASS to the Careers Practitioner in your child’s neighbourhood. (These details are at the end of the Careers News)

Year 7 & 8:

Subject selection is on Thursday 20th July during Session 1&2.

A catch-up session will take place on Wednesday 26th July during Sessions 1-3 depending on neighbourhood for those students who miss the above date.

Year 9:

Subject Selection is on Thursday 27th July or Friday 28th July. Students will go during a designated class and see the Careers Practitioners to discuss their selections and submit them.

Year 10:

Subject selection is on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th of July. Bookings for an appointment have been sent to parents on COMPASS. Students and their parent / guardian will attend the appointment to see a Careers Practitioner. During this appointment the student's choices for program, subjects and perhaps a VET will be discussed and then submitted. GOTAFE will also be on campus during this time for students to sign up for the VET courses they are interested in.

Catch-up sessions for those who can't make the above days will be Wednesday 26th July during session 1 - 3 depending on the students neighbourhood.

Year 11:

Subject selections will be submitted by 28th July. Most students will continue in the subjects and programs that they are currently in.

Year 12 Students

CONSIDERING TERTIARY STUDY?

If you’re in Year 12 and are keen to apply for university and/or TAFE courses, this is an exciting time! You can apply for courses to start in 2024 and for most courses, you can defer your offer until 2025. There are three ways you can apply for courses.

Tertiary Admission Centres (TACs)

Each state and territory (except for Tasmania) use TACs for tertiary applications. In Victoria, you must apply for all universities through VTAC (except for CQUniversity). Applications for NSW and Canberra courses are open via UAC, and applications for Victorian courses will open on Monday 31 July. Other states will open early August.

Direct Entry

Some universities allow students to apply direct to them external to tertiary admission centres in each state. Direct entry is usually tied in with early entry programs. Applications for the majority of universities that accept direct entries are now open.

Early Entry

Universities can take into consideration more than just your ATAR. Such as:

Year 11 results

community service

a recommendation from your school

hardship (e.g., rural, financial).

Applications for early entry programs at most universities are now open.

UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS - RESOURCES

Victorian courses

Students can apply for courses via the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) from Monday 31 July 2023.

Download guides on the following:

How to complete your VTAC application in 6 steps (includes key application dates).

Victorian Early Entry programs.

Open Day Calendar.

Apply for university scholarships in 4-steps.

2024 university accommodation guide.

https://slmcareerresources.edublogs.org/

NSW and Canberra courses

Students can apply for courses via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) and for some universities – direct to the institution. Applications are now open.

Download guides on the following:

How to complete your UAC application in 6 steps (includes key application dates).

NSW/ACT Early Entry programs.

Open Day Calendar.

Apply for university scholarships in 4-steps.

2024 university accommodation guide.

https://slmcareerresources.edublogs.org/

Other states

Students can access information about course applications via:

SA & NT: www.satac.edu.au

Queensland: www.qtac.edu.au

Western Australia: www.tisc.edu.au

Tasmania: www.utas.edu.au

COMPULSORY UNIVERSITY ENTRY TESTS

Law at the University of NSW (UNSW)

Students planning to apply for undergraduate law courses at UNSW will need to sit the Law Admissions Test (LAT). The test will be held on Thursday 28 September and results are valid for two years. Registrations for the test close Friday 11 August, https://careernews.click/unswlat

Initial teacher education - Victoria

Students planning to apply for initial teacher education courses in Victoria for the 2024 intake are required to sit the Casper test. Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test (SJT). It asks what you would do in a tough situation, and more importantly, why. This helps determine behavioural tendencies of applicants pursuing people-centred professions.

Students will be required to sit the following test: CSP 10409 – Australian Undergraduate Teacher Education. During the registration process, you will select the universities you would like your results sent to. You will need to create a VTAC account before you can register for the test. VTAC opens on Monday 31 July 2023. Register for the test via https://acuityinsights.app/casper/

BUSINESS CADETSHIP PROGRAM

Interested in pursuing a business career? You may consider applying for a cadetship under the Business Cadetships in Melbourne Program. Cadet placement is in Global

Markets and Global Research at UBS, a top-ranking global bank. Business Cadets combine paid work at UBS Melbourne with study at the university of their choice in Melbourne. Applications are now open for the 2024 intake and close 16 August 2023, www.businesscadetships.com.au

NEWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA

Applications are now open for Year 12 students to apply for courses! Students can apply via the School’s Recommendation Program. Selection is based on a recommendation from your school. Successful applicants will receive a course offer well before exams. Applications close 6 October, https://careernews.click/7

c1655

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY (ACU)

Year 12 students can apply for early entry to ACU via the ACU Guarantee program. Selection is based on Year 11 grades and the optional submission of personal statements. Applications for the program open on Monday 24 July. The University is running a webinar on the program on Thursday 20 July. For information and to register your place, visit https://bit.ly/3K0nYbp

EMPLOYMENT – INDIGENOUS STUDENTS

Expressions of interest are now open for the 2024 Indigenous Apprenticeship Program. You can apply for an apprenticeship at different departments and agencies across the Australian Public Service, such as Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Department of Education, and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. For information and to complete the expression of interest form, visit https://bit.ly/3rAtyKW

Year 10 & 11 Students

DEFYING THE DRIFT PROGRAM

This is an amazing two stage program for young people keen to learn about careers in agriculture. You will participate in a 3-day residential program at Longerenong College in September and then present to a Rotary Club about your experience in the program. A fee of $350 per participant is payable, reduced to $250 if paid by July 31st. Sponsor Rotary Clubs assist by contributing part or all of the fee. For information and to apply, visit www.defyingthedrift.org

All Students

Opens days are almost here!

If you are considering studying at TAFE or university after school, it's crucial that you attend Open Days.

Throughout the yar, vocational and tertiary institutions open their doors to the public and showcase their courses, accommodation, scholarships, pathway courses, student services and their 'point of difference'.

At an Open Day, you will be able to:

Get a feel for the culture of the campus;

Learn about courses and career options;

Undertake campus & accommodation tours led by current students;

Speak directly to student ambassadors & lecturers about the courses or careers you are interested in;

Compare the course area you are interested in at different institutions;

Learn about sports and societies you can join and be active in;

Get course counselling and guidance;

Attend information sessions and workshops;

Watch live demonstrations;

Listen to bands, eat lots of food, participate in activities and have fun!

Don’t just pick a course at an institution without visiting the campus – you potentially will be spending several years studying there and spending tens of thousands of dollars on your course and accommodation. It’s worth making the effort.

Now is the perfect time to identify institutions you would like to visit, record their open day dates on a calendar, register for the event, and complete a personalised planner on the website. If you have time, try and attend information sessions on topics like pathways, scholarships, accommodation and overseas exchange programs.

Open Day Resources

Tips for parents:

Victoria University has developed a guide for parents, https://bit.ly/2XTCC9y

A-Z of Open Days

Careers with STEM has developed a

handy guide that covers everything from how to prepare, what a campus tour involves, and who you’ll meet while you’re there, https://careernews.click/f58dd2

Open Day Dates

For a list of open day dates for Victoria, NSW, and Canberra, visit https://slmcareerresources.edublogs.org/

THINKING ABOUT STUDYING CYBER SECURITY?

Cyber security specialists are in demand. The sector is predicted to grow by 300% by 2030, making this an exciting time to start your studies. Check out the Careers with STEM cyber security careers hub – you will find out what to study, which employers to hit up and the exciting jobs you can pursue, https://careernews.click/639966

You can study cyber security at TAFE or university. Some universities offer double degrees in cyber security – for example, you could combine cyber security and criminology or cyber security and psychological science.

The following are examples of Victorian universities you can study cyber security at:

Deakin University, https://bit.ly/3AVTSj4

La Trobe University, https://bit.ly/3xx7Qpr

Swinburne University, https://bit.ly/3xONrfu

Victoria University, https://bit.ly/3RGW6v7

STUDYING BUSINESS AT UNIVERSITY

Do you have a passion for business? Are you planning to study business at university in the future? Not sure where to start or what to consider? Monash Business School has a podcast series called ‘What I Wish I Knew About Studying Business’, aimed at helping future students understand the transition from high school to university https://careernews.click/3a6043

POST SCHOOL QUALIFICATIONS

Why is completing a vocational or higher education qualification after school so important? According to the My Career Match website:

“Of the millions of jobs advertised in Australia around 85% require a Certificate III or higher and around 30% require a bachelor’s degree or higher. Many of the careers and jobs that are around today will disappear by the time students get their first job and many new careers will be created.”

To read more about the future of automation, globalisation, and collaboration of the future workforce, read the following report by the Australian Foundation for Young Australians - https://careernews.click/23a16b

5 EMERGING CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE

Traditional farm roles are still going strong, but as the industry seeks to evolve and meet changing demands, new roles are emerging – and it’s expected these will grow in popularity in the years ahead. This article highlights five emerging agriculture careers:

Agroecological farmer

Cricket farmer

Farm safety adviser

Beekeeper

Hydrologist engineer

https://careernews.click/3d8ea2

THE HEYWIRE COMPETITION

The Heywire competition is open to people aged 16 – 22 to submit a story about life in regional Australia. Your story can be created in any form of media: text, video, photography, or audio. If you are selected as one of the winners, your story will be featured on ABC Local Radio, ABC Radio National, ABC TV and abc.net. Entries close 1 September 2023, www.abc.net.au/heywire

UNSW BRAGG STUDENT PRIZE FOR SCIENCE WRITING

This exciting competition is for students in Years 7 – 10. The UNSW Bragg Student Prize is a science writing prize designed to complement and enrich your Science and English study. All you need to do is write a short essay on ‘AI in STEM’, and you could win a fantastic set of prizes, including publication in Australia’s top science websites. Entries close on 25 August 2023, https://tinyurl.com/4k94kzxd

COMPETITION - TAX, SUPER + YOU

This exciting competition is for students in Years 7 – 12. To enter, you will make a creative project that highlights your topic. The topics are:

Junior (Year 7–9): 

“How do tax and super help me and my community?”

Senior (Year 10–12):

“What are the most important things you need to know about tax and super to be work ready?”

Applications close 25 August. For information on how to enter and the amazing prizes, visit https://taxsuperandyou.gov.au/competition

EMPLOYABILITY TOOLKITS

University of Sunshine Coast has developed these fantastic employability toolkits for students:

Toolkit 1: professional branding, https://bit.ly/2AWko1w

Toolkit 2: maintaining a professional LinkedIn profile, https://bit.ly/3j3boZx

Toolkit 3: develop your digital portfolio, https://bit.ly/3gS8PaQ

Toolkit 4: support your personal brand in a job application process, https://bit.ly/2CCHmLt

STUDENT EXCHANGE

Have you considered applying for an overseas exchange program? The benefits of exchange include:

Cultural immersion

Language development

Development of soft skills such as resilience

And lots of fun!

Exchange can be as short as 6-weeks and as long as a year. There are many countries and programs to choose from. Scholarships may be available. The following two exchange companies are running information webinars:

World Education Program (WEP) https://wep.org.au/

YFU Student Exchange

https://yfu.com.au/

UPDATES FROM MONASH UNIVERSITY

Interested in studying medicine?

Did you know there are two pathways into medicine at Monash? The University has developed a fantastic animation that explains the differences in entry pathways. You can access it via https://careernews.click/91c764

Pharmaceutical Sciences

Unlock a future where you can help millions! Pharmaceutical science combines biology, chemistry, and technology, equipping you to discover and develop lifesaving drugs. It's more than just a degree—it's a chance to improve health, tackle diseases, and make a real difference in the world.

Monash offers the following pharmaceutical science courses:

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science (3-years)

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours) (4-years)

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours) Dean's Scholars Program (4-years)

Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science / Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (majoring in Chemical Engineering) (5-years).

To understand the differences between the course options, visit https://bit.ly/3OeOZtY

CAREERS WITH STEM

The team at Careers with STEM have written several inspiring articles on amazing STEM occupations and courses.

Corine Brown - Meteorologist

“After completing a Bachelor of Science (Astronomy / Astrophysics, Climate Science) and a Master of Research (Mars Climatology) at Macquarie University, Corine Brown is now a meteorologist and forecast systems developer at Weatherzone. Check out Corine’s story and CV”, https://bit.ly/43s21Zx

Jacob Harris - Economist

“Jacob Harris’ job involves writing reports about the Australian dollar and analysing the exchange rate. He also works on the RBA’s exchange rate models and looks at how money flows in and out of the country. See what a typical day is like for him at RBA”, https://bit.ly/44kox7X

Maths careers

“In this video, you’ll learn about everything you can do by combining maths with your passion. Maths is a really broad area, and people who do maths degrees can work in government, in business, with our oceans – even in space!” https://bit.ly/3Q5u2mR  

CAREERS IN URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING

Interested in the environment, design, communication, and sociology? You may be interested in studying urban and regional planning in the future.

Urban and regional planners are like city architects. They analyse communities, study population trends, and create plans for smart development. They decide where parks, roads, and buildings should go to ensure cities grow sustainably and provide a high quality of life. They shape the future of our towns and cities.

A career in urban and regional planning offers the chance to shape vibrant communities, tackle pressing issues like sustainability and social equity, and create positive change. It combines creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration, allowing you to shape the future and make a meaningful impact on people's lives.

You can study urban and regional planning in Victoria at the following universities:

La Trobe University, www.latrobe.edu.au

Monash University, www.monash.edu.au

RMIT University, www.rmit.edu.au

The University of Melbourne, www.unimelb.edu.au

HAVE YOU CONSIDERED VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (VET)?

VET includes apprenticeships, traineeships, and TAFE study. VET is one of the most progressive forms of education available to school leavers. It’s in touch with the realities of the current and future employment market – because it’s entirely driven by the employment market.

If you would like to learn more about VET and why you should consider gaining a VET qualification after school, visit Your Career, www.yourcareer.gov.au/learn-and-train

WHAT TYPE OF APPRENTICESHIP WOULD YOU BE SUITED TO?

Taken from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways website.

“Career evaluation is constant and unending especially for people who are considering their next career step. Career choices can be difficult as there are so many options out there.

It can be easier if you know which Work Types you prefer and what career options they lead to. These Work Types are identified through a Career Interest Explorer, co-created in consultation with Australian Centre for Career Development and focus on apprenticeship and traineeship career pathways. 

There are seven Work Types in total which can lead to different industries and occupations. While it may be easy to choose the best-known occupation in a Work Type, it may not be the best option for you.

Realistically, an occupation can be linked to many Work Types, but focusing on your primary Work Type can help narrow down the industries or occupations that may interest you.

Below are the seven Work Types that are linked to apprenticeship or traineeship occupations. There may be some occupations that you haven’t even thought could be done as an apprenticeship or traineeship.

Analytic and Scientific

Creative and Artistic

Helping and Advising

Nature and Recreation

Organising and Clerical

Persuading and Service

Practical and Manual

Go to https://bit.ly/3pkVCx3 to complete a career interest quiz, research occupations that align with each work type, and to further research your apprenticeship and traineeship pathways.

INTERESTED IN PLUMBING?

If you are completing school at the end of the year and are interested in pursuing a career in plumbing, you may be interested in undertaking a pre-apprenticeship at the Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) at Brunswick. This is a world-class training facility. For more information, go to http://picac.vic.edu.au

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PILOT, FIREFIGHTER, OR PARAMEDIC ETC.?

The Pilot Aptitude Training Systems (PATS) website explains the process for Year 12 students to apply for these different courses and occupations. It also explains the process for applying to the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA). Visit www.pilotaptitude.com

CAREERS IN RAIL

The Rail Academy has produced a fantastic video about careers in rail. A variety of roles exist within Customer Service, Infrastructure, Rolling Stock, Operations and Corporate. To find out more watch the ‘Discovering careers in rail’ animation video at https://bit.ly/2Z9f3dT or visit the Rail Academy website at https://railacademy.vic.gov.au/

Upcoming Career Events

One of the best ways to develop ideas for occupations and courses is to participate in career events. The following events are running soon.

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY (ACU)

Discover ACU

ACU is hosting on campus interactive days for prospective students. You will be able to participate in interactive sessions tailored to your interests and speak to course advisers. The following events are running in July at the Melbourne campus:

July 27: Discover Nursing, Midwifery, and Paramedicine

July 28: Discover Allied Health, Biomedical, and Exercise Science courses.

July 29: Discover Law and Criminology

Information, www.acu.edu.au/discover-acu

CAMP SEEK

Camp Seek is a 4-day STEM focussed learning and immersion program for girls and non-binary young people aged 14 – 16. The camp is taking place during the September school holidays. Information - www.seek.com.au/camp-seek/

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE

You can find out about careers in the Australian Defence Force through participating in free information sessions. There are sessions running at various locations across Victoria and NSW and online sessions, www.defencejobs.gov.au/events

VICTORIAN CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT EXPO

This Expo will be packed with exciting seminars, demonstrations, and hands-on workshops. You will be able to: speak to exhibitors from over 100 organisations, watch the WorldSkills National Championships, try different trades, participate in seminars, and learn about your post school study and training options. The Expo will run between Thursday 17 – Saturday 19 August at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. www.careersemploymentexpo.com.au

MONASH UNIVERSITY

Access Monash

The following events will be held online for prospective students and their families, https://bit.ly/3kVijtH

July 26: Engineering student panel

July 27: Regional Student Experience – making friends and connections.

August 3: Alternative pathways to university

IT student panel

August 9: Pharmacy and pharmaceutical science student panel

August 10: Arts student panel

August 15: Education student panel

September 12: Exam preparation and techniques

VCE revision lectures

Monash is running VCE revision lectures in the following subjects: Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematical Methods during the September holidays. Book your place via https://bit.ly/3K0xds0

Business Explorer Program

This is a free program for students who are keen to explore course and career options in business. The next event will run on 27 September at the Clayton campus. You will participate in 3 hands-on sessions from the following course areas:

Accounting

Banking and finance

Analytics, stats, and actuarial studies

Economics

Management

Marketing

Entrepreneurship

Register your interest via www.monash.edu/business/business-explorer

Spring into Monash: Indigenous Camp

This camp will provide Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students from Yrs 10 to 12 with an insight into university life and an opportunity to connect with youth from across the country. The camp will run between 24 – 27 September 2023, https://bit.ly/44QnNaF

The Careers Team

Careers Leader – Natasha Boyko

Biyala Neighbourhood – Susan Barr

Dharnya Neighbourhood – Greg Bristol

Bayuna Neighbourhood – Dan Watson

Partnerships Manager – Mary-Ann Linehan

Industry Engagement Priority Cohorts Coordinator – Colleen Wilkinson

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