Rebecca Ambrose

Careers Counsellor | Teacher

QTAC applications open for Year 12 students on 4th August. ATAR account registration opens as well. Students will then be able to submit their University/Higher Education preferences for 2021. We are having a virtual QTAC information session, presented by QTAC, 11th August, at 5.30pm. Information will be coming out to families closer to this date. Please note some auditions and portfolio applications close in August too.

Year 10 Work Experience is occurring in Week 7 – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday - 24, 25, 26, 28th August. On the Thursday all students will be coming to school and going to normal classes plus attending the BLA Careers and Education Expo at the Showgrounds. Students will be receiving their placement details and paperwork to complete on Tuesday Week 4. By law, students will need to visit their employer to meet with them and get their insurance documents signed and then returned to the school prior to the Work Experience Week.

The difference between QCE and ATAR

QTAC states that the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) and the ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) are different and have a different purpose. QCE certifies learning, shows a student's academic achieved and at what standard they achieved during senior schooling. It may be considered by employers and the general community. ATAR indicates a student’s position (or ranking) compared to all other students in the state. The only intended purpose for the ATAR is to assist with selecting applicants for tertiary study. For more information about QCE contact Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) and for ATAR information contact QTAC.

Apprenticeship resources on the myfuture website

“An apprenticeship is a contract between a registered employer and an apprentice whereby the employer employs and trains the apprentice in an occupation. An apprentice undertakes structured learning and paid employment to achieve a relevant qualification.” This definition of an apprenticeship comes from the Apprenticeships page on the myfuture website. Other topics on this page include:

Australian apprenticeships offer a world of possibilities
Australian school-based apprenticeships
Skill shortage information
Australian apprenticeship pathways
Australian Apprenticeship Ambassador program
VET - It's right now

Don’t know what types of apprenticeships are available?

On the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways website you can search by industry group (Arts, Culture and Performance, Automotive and Boating, Building and Construction, Business etc.) to find out what a particular apprenticeships and traineeships qualification is all about, the training required and jobs you can apply for with the qualification. Not sure what you are looking for? Check them out and see which you are most drawn to.

Training satisfaction increases over past decade

The proportion of trade apprentices and trainees satisfied with their training has increased since 2008, up 6.4 percentage points in 2019 for those who completed training, according to a new report released today by NCVER. Read the report here.

Career ladders can help boost your Career Ideas list

The Careers page on the Good Universities Guide website has Career Ladders for over 30 interest areas you may be familiar with and school subjects. Each Career Ladder lists jobs in four levels, according to the minimum training required:

Level 1 - Year 10, Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (e.g. Queensland Certificate of Education) or Certificate I or II
Level 2 - Certificate III or IV, or relevant experience
Level 3 - Diploma or Advanced Diploma
Level 4 - Bachelor Degree or higher.

How to use the Career Ladders to develop you Career Ideas list:

Scan all the Career Ladders and select those that interest you.
Scan the jobs listed in the four levels of your selected Career Ladders (you might choose to concentrate on one level). Choose jobs you are interested in finding out more about and write these down under the heading of ‘Career Ideas’.
Research each of the jobs in your Career Ideas list by clicking on the job in the relevant Career Ladder and delete any jobs you are no longer interested in.

The remaining jobs on your Career Ideas list can be explored further by interviewing or doing work observation with people already in these jobs, doing work experience in the jobs, and/or investigating the education/training you need to get into the jobs.

How to set yourself up for a trade while still at school

There are plenty of reasons to choose a tradie pathway:

Good life
You get paid while you learn.
There’s a national skills shortage across a whole range of trades
Trades are all about honing practical skills that can be used in your everyday life along with an awesome career.

Thinking you might want to become a tradie down the track? Read about some simple ways to get started down the tradie path while you’re still in school including:

Get your licence
Get a school based apprenticeship
Do a pre-apprenticeship course
Talk to people in the industry
Try to get some casual labouring work

Is VET for you?

Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications include certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas, offered across a large number of industries and study areas. They offer many advantages — from pathway options to skill development. If you fit into one of the categories below, a VET course could be your next step. Click here to read more.

You're looking for practical, hands-on training
You're looking to qualify for a specific job or trade
You’re looking for a pathway to university study
You’re looking to add to your current skill set
You’re looking to ‘try out’ a study area before you commit to extensive study

Life skills - what are they and how can you nurture them

What do you think would be taught in a life skills class? The following are some suggested topics that would help you recognise and develop your own set of life skills:

Building a Good Attitude: Stay positive, hungry, humble, and do whatever it takes.
Taking Initiative: If you’re willing to go first, others will see you as a leader.
Capturing Vision: See the big picture and pursue something bigger than you.
Communicating Effectively: If listeners don’t get it, you haven’t communicated.
Teamwork: To go faster, travel alone. To go further, learn to travel together.
Creativity: Learn the art of combining two existing ideas to generate a new one.
Grit: Resilience and work ethic can replace what you lack in talent or personality.
Emotional Intelligence: To connect with others, understand yourself and them.
Resourcefulness: Searching and finding new answers keeps you relevant.
Critical Thinking: Seeing all sides of an issue enables you to act intelligently.
Problem-solving: The best way to influence is to serve people and solve problems.
Getting Over Yourself: The clearest sign of maturity is focusing on others.

From these dozen topics, almost every micro-skill can be covered, like changing a tire, interviewing for a job, or laying out a budget.

Videos about jobs

One way to learn more about the jobs you are interested in is to watch videos about them. The myfuture website has information on over 500 jobs. You will need to ‘Sign up’ (free of charge) to enter the site for the first time. Otherwise ‘Log in’ and, once on the site, click on ‘Occupations’ and search for the jobs you are currently exploring. Most job descriptions on the site includes a video. Each video lasts approximately three minutes. After you have viewed a video see if you can answer the following questions.

Name at least three of the main duties and tasks required in this occupation.
Would you like to do this job? Why or why not?
List some things you learnt about this occupation.

What choices do you have after finishing school?

Careers Event Management has put together an article outlining some of the more common pathways after school. Read what they think about:

Further education
Apprenticeships
Employment
Internships/work experience/volunteering
Australian Defence Force
Gap year
Start a business

What is a VET Course?

The Good Universities Guide has information on the Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathway. The VET pathway comes with many advantages so find out if it is an option for you. Click here to find out information about:

What is the RealWorld Studio competition?

The RealWorld Studio competition is a competition is designed for Queensland high school students to create, communicate and design an entry that will change your world. Schools will be supported by QUT Student Ambassadors with creative workshops, so you can pitch your best ideas. Prizes of up to $3,000 are on offer, including QUT Creative Industries Enrolment Bursaries. It's free to register and entries close on Friday 28 August.

Top 5 in demand skills and why

As the workforce continues to evolve, employers are placing a premium on people with skills that will help secure their success in the future. But what exactly are they looking for? Some of Australia’s leading recruiters have reveal the five skills in high demand and how you can show that you have exactly what employers are looking for. Read more about these skills:

Adaptability
Analytical thinking
A positive approach
Empathy
Resilience

Transferable skills ... it's time to start building them!

Transferable skills are skills that aren't directly related to a specific job. You may learn these skills on the job, at school, doing voluntary work, participating in sporting and community activities or even in everyday social interactions. Transferable skills can include:

Digital literacy
Communication skills
Problem solving
Critical thinking
Team working
Flexibility
Resilience
Self-motivation
A strong work ethic

For more information about transferable skills and how you might acquire them check out the following links:

Identifying Transferable Skills from Griffith University
Developing my skills from The University of Melbourne
Transferable Skills Checklist from Seek.com

Why digital skills are good to have

As the world of work changes, the degree of digital literacy required for occupations will shift rapidly within the next five years. The Foundation for Young Australians (FYA), report that most jobs require some level of digital literacy. However, the level of knowledge and skills required may differ and will depend on your day-to-day tasks at work. The article lists four levels of digital literacy:

A digital muggle, requiring no skills
A digital citizen, who uses technology to communicate, find information and transact
A digital worker, who configures (such as website design or publication design) and uses digital systems
A digital maker, who builds and creates digital technology (for example JavaScript, HTML, Python and other programming tools).

The article states that 90% of the workforce will require at least basic computer skills, such as using email or company software. Over 50% will need to be able to use, configure and build digital systems in the next 2-3 years. Read the article and think about how prepared you are for this shift in the need for digital literacy.

Great Australian jobs that don't require a university degree

CV Saviour has published an article that lists the jobs that don't require a degree but provide an excellent income. They say that Indeed, the international jobs website, gathered data from various job advertisements from 2018 to come up with a list of highest-paying Australian jobs that don’t need a degree. The research analysed salary offers that are more than the average Australian annual salary of $82,000 for roles that are open to non-graduates. The top five money earning jobs in Australia not requiring a degree are Construction Manager, Ethical Hacker, Pilot, Real Estate Agent and Software Engineer. Click here to read more about these and other jobs on the list.

Have you heard about: Electrical Engineering Draftspersons, Electroplaters, Equipment Hire Managers

Electrical Engineering Draftspersons prepare detailed drawings and plans of electrical installations and circuitry in support of Electrical Engineers and Engineering Technologists. Specialisations are Electrical Engineering Design Draftsperson, Electrical Engineering Detail Draftsperson, Electrical Engineering Drafting Officer, Relays Draftsperson, Substation Design Draftsperson. You usually need a diploma or advanced diploma in electrical engineering or a related field to work as an Electrical Engineering Draftsperson. VET (Vocational Education and Training) and university are both common study pathways for Electrical Engineering Draftspersons.

Electroplaters control plating processes and maintain solutions used to coat metal articles and other parts with non-ferrous metals. Specialisations are in Anodiser, Electroformer, Galvaniser. You can work as an Electroplater without formal qualifications, however, they may be useful. A course in engineering - fabrication trade might be helpful.

Equipment Hire Managers manage the operations of establishments engaged in the hiring out of equipment to companies involved in areas such as building and engineering construction, government, mining and resources, manufacturing, maintenance, special events, and to individuals for personal use. Related work experience is needed to work as an Equipment Hire Manager. Formal qualifications might be useful but aren't essential. Equipment Hire Managers often complete a certificate III or IV.

Click on the links to read more about the jobs, their tasks, pay etc

Job profiles - How much you might earn across different industry areas

Seek.com has an explore careers tab where you can find out information about jobs that you are investigating. You can browse career profiles by industry and then find information about most common salary, job growth and satisfaction. They also categorise jobs into the following subcategories; high job satisfaction, high job growth, jobs that interest you. You can click on each job and find a description of what the job entails.

Pre-Apprenticeship courses

Whether you're looking to get a foot in the door or just try something new, pre-apprenticeship training could be your ticket to an exciting new career. Pre-apprenticeship training is an entry-level certificate made up of traditional classroom learning at TAFE as well as hands-on work experience out in the real world. Click here to find out about the benefits, jobs you could get, making a decision about what courses to do, courses that are available and how to apply.

TAFE pathways to university study

TAFE provides several pathways that can be used to gain entry to degree courses at university. These include:

Upgrading - Successful completion of any diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree at TAFE may improve your tertiary entry score when applying through QTAC for entry to university degree programs.
Credit transfer agreements with universities - You complete a diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree at TAFE and apply through QTAC for a related degree course at a university with which TAFE has a formal credit transfer agreement. This means you receive credit from your TAFE course towards your degree course.
Dual awards - You apply through QTAC for a dual TAFE/university qualification. Once you have completed your TAFE qualification you commence your university degree studies without reapplying through QTAC.
Degrees at TAFE – Some TAFE institutes partner with universities to deliver a degree program on the TAFE campus. TAFE Queensland South Bank campus has been accredited to offer its own degree programs – B Dental Prosthetics, B of Applied Management, Associate Degree in Civil Engineering, B of Acting and Performance, B of Applied Fashion, B of Contemporary Music Practice, B or Visual Arts, B of Games and Interactive Design.

Check out the TAFE QLD Pathways and Degree Guide for a listing of pathway programs offered by TAFE Queensland and for a list of pathway options to universities and other higher education providers.

Five study mistakes you’re probably making

The University of Queensland’s Health Faculty blog suggests five study mistakes and how to manage when:

You can’t read over old notes whilst watching Netflix or playing Fortnight and call it studying
Taking everything so seriously
Skipping meals
Using a highlighter like a lightsabre
Freaking right out

SMCC Sport