Parent News
VicSRC Executive Committee
Hello parents and students of Suzanne Cory :D
This year, I have the honour of representing my Victorian peers on the Executive Committee at the Victorian Student Representative Council.
VicSRC is a state-wide organisation, led by students, for students. We work to facilitate student-led advocacy in schools across Victoria, and a student-centered education system that empowers young people to make informed choices, and henceforth, a difference in our world.
What is the Exec?
The Executive Committee is a group of 15 secondary school students across metropolitan and regional Victoria, who are instrumental in the governance of VicSRC, and ensure the organisation remains student-led and student-focussed.
As a member of the 2020-21 Executive Committee, I advise the organisation on strategic direction, implement advocacy priorities and represent Victorian students - you guys - among other stakeholders in education.
How can we get involved?
There are so many ways to get involved with VicSRC!
VicSRC has pioneered many projects and programs, like the Student Voice Hub, Teach the Teacher, the Ambassadors program and the renowned Congress!
Congress is a student-led, 3 day event, hosted in Melbourne by the VicSRC team. Students from all areas of the state come together to pitch issues, vote on priorities, and work to devise action plans, to solve the top issues in our state’s education system. These action priorities become part of VicSRC’s advocacy platform over the course of the coming year, spearheaded by the Executive Committee.
Unfortunately, 2020 Congress is sold out, but I would highly encourage you to participate next year! If you have an issue in mind that must be voiced, get in touch with me so I can pitch the matter for you, and ensure that everyone of us is heard!
VicSRC’s socials are also being updated regularly! We are constantly conducting surveys and asking for your opinion, to improve schooling experiences for us all.
Thank you!
Aakriti Malhotra
R8
COVID-19 and Unemployment
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a strong impact on Australia’s unemployment rate, which has risen to 7.5% according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Young people are especially vulnerable, with their unemployment currently at 16.4%, a rate we have not seen since the late 1990s.
Unemployment Rate (%), Australia
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics - Labour Force, Australia, July 2020
Youth Unemployment Rate (%), Australia
Source: National Skills Commission “The impact of the pandemic on the Victorian labour market and its implications for young people” webinar, August 2020.
The advice from the National Skills Commission to combat unemployment is for students to pursue further education through a Bachelor or VET qualification, a goal of the majority of SCHS students. These studies provide a higher employment rate, and higher average wage. The Commission is predicting growth in IT and technology, advanced manufacturing, food production, green energy. Health, scientific and technical services, construction, education and manufacturing are all predicted to continue employing large workforces. You can visit Joboutlook to investigate different career options.
Source: National Skills Commission “The impact of the pandemic on the Victorian labour market and its implications for young people” webinar, August 2020.
Employability skills, such as people skills, communication, teamwork, organisation, adaptability, reliability and critical thinking will continue to be invaluable for employment. The best ways for students to gain these skills are through casual employment, volunteering, community engagement, and extracurricular activities. All students should be developing a portfolio of skills and activities that will aid them in job applications. It is always important not to focus on the skills you already possess, but the skills you are yet to build.
Suzanne Cory High School will continue to help students to build towards careers that match their strengths and interests, and have strong employment outcomes.
To learn more about employment trends, students can register for a Department of Education’s “Trends impacting the future of work” webinar in Term 4.
Brendan Taig
Careers Practitioner