Reminders and upcoming events:

UMAT applications close 2 June; test 26 July. Information Booklet: http://umat.acer.edu.au
‘INSIDE MONASH’ seminars – Coming up soon: April 6th Design and Fine Art, 11th Architecture, 12th Interior Architecture; Register: www.monash.edu/inside-monash
‘EXPERIENCE LA TROBE’ – 7 April; Register: Experience La Trobe registrations are now open
WILLIAM ANGLISS INSTITUTE - School Holiday Program - Thurs 13 April. Book on-line.
WERRIBEE VET CLINIC OPEN DAY - Sunday 29 April; Info: info-fvas@unimelb.edu.au.
EARLY ACHIEVERS PROGRAM AT (ACU) – Applications open 26 April, close 17 July. See: www.acu.edu.au/eap.
‘MAKE IT POSSIBLE AT MELBOURNE’ – 7 April Year 12’s; 16 May – Biomedicine; 17 May – Agriculture; 18 May Veterinary Science; 23 May – Engineering; 24 May – IT; 30 May – Science; https://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/explore/events.
CHECK OUT DEAKIN – Medical Imaging, Optometry and Medicine Information Evening,12 April at the Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus. ‘STEP ON CAMPUS’: deakin.edu.au/steponcampus.
YEAR 10’s AT MONASH UNI- Year 10 Discovery Day; 5 April; www.monash.edu/year10-day.
VCE AND CAREERS EXPO 2017: Thurs 4 – Sun 7 May; at Caulfield Racecourse; Admission: $10 or $25 for families. Info: www.vceandcareers.com.au.

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY NEWS

The Bachelor of Biomedicine is the new name for the Bachelor of Biomedical Science course, commencing at La Trobe University in 2018. It has a new stream in Human Physiology and Anatomy, offering additional pathways for students. By studying this degree, students can gain the skills and knowledge required for entry into La Trobe postgraduate Allied Health courses such as physiotherapy, dietetics, prosthetics and orthotics, orthoptics and speech pathology. Priority places (Melbourne only) will be offered to graduates in La Trobe’s Physiotherapy postgraduate course and other La Trobe Allied Health postgraduate courses mentioned here.
Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Bendigo) – a new degree offered in Bendigo with largely the same subjects as the Melbourne B. Biomedicine.
Health Sciences – new Melbourne majors in sports counselling and athlete welfare, and in health promotion; new Bendigo majors are public health, health promotion, sports counselling and athlete welfare, rehabilitation counselling; priority places for B. Health Sciences (Anatomy and Physiology) graduates in La Trobe physiotherapy postgraduate courses and other allied health postgraduate courses.
I-ASPIRE is a new program designed to empower indigenous high school students to qualify for La Trobe’s Aspire early admissions program. For the first time this year 100 indigenous students enrolled to study at La Trobe, and the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics has increased to seven. The I-aspire program will include an academic boot camp to help indigenous students learn about university life, a cultural immersion program with community elders providing support, and one-on-one mentoring with senior peers.

AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY (ACU) NEWS

THE NEW BACHELOR OF PHYSIOTHERAPY at ACU’s Ballarat Campus welcomed its first cohort of students in Semester 1, 2017. There has been excitement over the new cutting-edge facilities, which includes anatomy wet laboratories and physiotherapy teaching laboratories. NOTE: Other universities offering physiotherapy are Charles Sturt at Albury-Wodonga, La Trobe, Melbourne and Monash.
ACU will commence its BACHELOR OF NUTRITION SCIENCE in 2018 at its Melbourne campus. This course will strengthen ACU’s reputation of offering quality allied health education, and attract a lively cohort of aspiring nutritionists. In Australia, nutrition and exercise are rapidly becoming the most recognised, modifiable lifestyle factors linked with disease prevention. Nutritionists have a key role in community and public health, and they can offer nutrition advice to improve the wellbeing of individuals, communities, and populations. They can work as nutrition consultants, public health and health promotion officers, and it the food science and technology industries. The program will also be a pathway for postgraduate studies in dietetics.
EARLY ACHIEVERS PROGRAM (EAP) – don’t forget that applications open on 26 April; See: www.acu.edu.au/eap.

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE NEWS

FOCUS ON MELBOURNE – Check out courses at Melbourne in the Focus On Melbourne program. Check out courses, majors, pathways, employment prospects, entry requirements, and the unique Melbourne Experience. When: various dates from 16 may to 21 June (6.30-8.30pm) Info: https://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/explore/events/victoria_and_interstate/victoria/2017-focus-on-melbourne
VCE GEOGRAPHY LECTURE SERIES – The University of Melbourne and Monash University are hosting the annual VCE Geography Series lectures. Programs still on offer:
Sunday 30 July 10:00 am – 12:00 noon Lecture Two: Unit 4 : Human Population trends and issues
Sunday 15 Oct (Morning) 9:30 am – 11:30 am Lecture Three: Units 3 & 4 VCE Revision Lecture
Sunday 15 October (Afternoon) 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm Lecture Three (Repeat): Units 3 & 4 VCE Revision Lecture information
Information and bookings: https://www.gtav.asn.au/geography-students/2017-vce-geography-student-lecture-series.
SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHY LAUNCHES – Geography has long been taught at University, but recently the school of Geography has embarked on a new venture with the launch of ‘the School of Geography’ within the Faculty of Science. This follows its move into this faculty in 2015, and in recognition of the importance of geography’s capacity to work in and across both the social and natural sciences. Students can undertake a geography major as part of a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts and then advance onto various Masters and PhD programs. Current areas of research include international development, urbanisation, biogeography and earth surface processes, with an overarching interest in environmental change. For more information see: http://geography.unimelb.edu.au/

FULFILLING CAREERS IN THE COMMUNITY SERVICES SECTOR

Speakers at a recent career practitioners seminar at RMIT were told that some major policy innovations will ensure that social and community services will be the fastest growing employment segment into the future. Labour market shortages are predicted, and opportunities will be great, both in Australia and overseas.

Some major policy innovations are helping to drive this:

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will double disability spending by 2020
The Family Violence Royal Commission is likely to lead to a $1b+ investment plan of which workforce will be a key part
Growth of the social economy within both the private and public sectors and in civil society organisations

There are expected to be fantastic opportunities because:

Very big labour shortages are predicted across the sector
Existing workforces and enterprises will need upskilling
A new workforce needs to be educated and trained
VET Certificates and diplomas will be in high demand
Those with university degrees will be eagerly sought.

HEALTH COURSE INFORMATION SESSIONS

Deakin University is holding evening information sessions about the fastest growing employment industry – exercise and sport science, food and nutrition sciences, health sciences, nursing and midwifery, medical imaging, optometry and medicine; For dates and registration, see: www.deakin.edu.au/health/events.

The Easter bunny

The Easter Bunny visited Wantirna College