Senior School

St Andrews Careers Education Program

The New Mindset: Helping young people to navigate work now and in the future.

Ecclesiastes 7:11-12 (NIV)

11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing

and benefits those who see the sun. 12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.

As technology and globalisation increasingly transform the way we live and work, there is an urgent need to shift our mindset in how we approach careers education. Many jobs will disappear; however, if we equip our students with transferable skills, they will be able to navigate the complex world of work.

Research and workforce data analysis provide us with insights into the patterns of skills that our young people will require to cope with complex and uncertain working lives. The current demand for digital skills is already up 212%. Equally, critical skills are up 158% and creativity and presentation skills are up 65%. 

In this context, St Andrews careers development program responds to these demands by ensuring that students build their future work-related skills and explore their talents and strengths. This is achievable through their engagement in activities and programs in and outside the classroom.

Start Smart

On the 30th of March our Year 10 students participated in the financial education workshops: ‘Smart Earning’, ‘Smart Saving’, ‘Smart Spending’ and ‘Smart Investing’ delivered by a Start Smart facilitator. The program is designed to engage students and empower them to make confident financial choices and draws on leading research and best practices in financial literacy from around the world.   http://startsmart.com.au/

Leaders of Change

Our Year 10 students are involved in Moral Fairground’s ‘Leaders of Change’ school program and Pollinate Energy is our Social Enterprise Partner.

The program gives our students an opportunity to be free thinkers and use their innovative ideas to come up with a solution for Pollinate Energy.

The program also teaches students about Fair Trade movement and an ethical trade. Students will be marked on the completion of their course work and marks will be awarded for effort, organisation, persistence and creativity.

Pollinate Energy

On Thursday 27th of April, Luke Barbagallo, Pollinate Energy Program Officer and two representatives from Moral Fairground, Susanna Bevillaqua, Director, and Celeste Simpliciano, Project Manager, visited St Andrews to meet with our Year 10 students and present a challenge to solve a real-life Pollinate Energy scenario.

Students formed teams and will present their ideas and responses to the challenge at the Student Fair Trade Conference on the 14th of August.

Pollinate Energy is a social business based in Australia and India. We bring life-changing products to people who need them most: the millions living in poverty in India’s urban slums.

Can you imagine a life without energy? For many people all over the world, it’s their reality. Here at Pollinate Energy, we aim to improve the lives of India’s urban poor by giving them access to sustainable products that make their lives better. We’re passionate about empowering local Indian entrepreneurs to be a positive force for change in India’s urban poor communities. It’s our mission to make social business mainstream by raising awareness about the communities we work with, and supporting the next generation of social entrepreneurs.

Moral Fairground

Our mission is to educate, encourage and inspire young people about social entrepreneurship, so that in the future they will make ethically responsible consumption choices to positively impact our world.

I always see it as a privilege to do what I do, educating young people about the world of work. In ‘Work Studies’ classes students build a portfolio of skills and capabilities and learn through experience, immersion and engagement. This helps them to embrace the new work mindset and confidence needed for their future.

Irena Yevlahova

Year 10 ‘Work Studies’ teacher and Careers Coordinator ​

Careers News

The VCE and Careers Expo will be on until Sunday 7th May at Caulfield Racecourse. Admission: $10 or $25 for families. If you are planning to attend, I still have 15 complimentary tickets to give away to St Andrews students and their parents.

Please find attached our St Andrews careers newsletter for this week. It includes,

• Dates to Diarise in Term 2
• VCE and Careers Expo 2017
• Melbourne School of Theology Open Day - Tuesday 9 May
• Bachelor of Biomedicine to Master of Physiotherapy at La Trobe University
• Health Course Information Sessions at Deakin University
• Bachelor of Science (Adv.) and Doctor of Dental Medicine at the University of Sydney
• Where will the Jobs be in 2020?
• Law at the University of Swinburne
• Animation & Gaming Courses offered in Victoria
• What is STEM? ‘The 7 Most Important STEM Skills We Should Be Teaching Our Kids’

The last item informs about the essential skills our students need to learn to adapt to the rapidly changing world. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) experts share what they think will be most important for 21st-century learning and careers. Many experts also believe that STEM graduates will have the highest employment rates and higher start salaries.

Previous issues of the Careers News are here:

If you have a question about a topic featured in the Careers Newsletter, please contact Careers Coordinator Mrs Irena Yevlahova iyevlahova@standrews.vic.edu.au

Irena Yevlahova

Careers Coordinator