Careers

Year 10 Certificate & subject selection

This month students have started to receive information regarding their 2024 studies.

PAM sessions for Year 10 students have recently been looking at the different certificates available for them to study in 2024. VCE - Victorian Certificate of Education, VCE VM - Victorian Certificate of Education Vocational Major or VPC – Victorian Pathways Certificate.

They are all quite different and lead to different career pathways and it is important for students to understand what they will be learning over the next two years.

The school is working to ensure that Year 10 students will have a copy of the subject selection booklet containing information on the different certificates, subjects offered and VETs available, along with application forms that need to be completed.

Students received a handout in PAM recently with a timeline for subject selection. Information will be put on Compass when there are parent information nights and subject counselling bookings to be made so please check your messages regularly. Students can access their Careers Practitioner via Teams to make an appointment to discuss any questions that they may have. Parents are most welcome to attend.

Focus on open days

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

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/

OPEN DAY PERSPECTIVES

Parent perspective

Written by Shona, parent of Charlotte

I attended the 2022 Swinburne University Open Day with Charlotte. The day was exciting and informative. We learnt about the course Charlotte was interested in and the different pathways she could take in her tertiary education. Charlotte also had an opportunity to speak directly to the lecturers and current students studying the course.

For me, I loved the reassurance of taking a tour of the campus to learn about the residential accommodation options, student benefits including onsite medical and health services, campus security, parking/transport, and student support services. Getting to chat directly to current students that have come from regional areas was also a plus.

The whole experience was really beneficial, and it was reassuring as a parent to be there in person. I am really excited for Charlotte and what Uni life has to offer her.

Student perspective

Written by Charlotte

I started off by going to a talk about the course I was interested in and learnt about potential majors. The talk included how the course is structured and possible career paths that students can take. I was able to meet my future lecturers and department leaders.

I also went to the pop-up stall for my course and was able to speak to current students and ask questions. There were activities, free food, and information stalls everywhere, with incredibly kind and welcoming people to answer all your questions.

However, the best thing I got out of going to an open day was the ability to see what Swinburne is all about. I got to tour the campus and student accommodation and see which apartment style would be the best fit for me.

Going to an open day not only gave me the answers to many of the questions I had about living on campus and uni life, but also gave me peace of mind that I was choosing the best course and university for me.

Suggested questions

If you are unsure what to ask on the day, Victoria University has developed some questions you can ask:

Are there any prerequisite subjects I need to study for this course?

What study scores/ATAR do I need to achieve to get into this course?

Do I need to attend an audition, have an interview, or present a folio as part of the selection process?

Are there any other ways into this course other than through a VTAC application?

If I can’t get into this course, is there a similar course at this institution I can apply for?

Can I study majors and/or minors in this course?

How many hours per week are spent in class and can I study part time?

Can I defer the course?

What kind of jobs do graduates of this course generally get?

Are there any scholarships available?

Year 12 Students

EMPLOYMENT

Australian Border Force

Year 12 graduates have the opportunity to apply for the Border Force Officer Recruit Training (BFORT) program. This 12-month program prepares you for a role in the Australian Border Force.

During your initial 12-month training course, you will be paid $54,439 (plus 15.4% superannuation). When you successfully complete the training course, you will become an APS3 General Duties Border Force Officer.

You will play a vital role in protecting our borders. Bookmark this webpage to check for upcoming application dates https://bit.ly/3IZTlSX

PwC Higher Apprenticeship program:

If you don’t want to go university but want to receive professional training to set you up in the technology industry, join our Higher Apprenticeship Program. And the best part of being PwC Higher Apprentice? You'll get to earn an income while learning new skills and earning two technology qualifications! Applications open soon https://careernews.click/techtraineeship

GAP YEAR PROGRAMS

Department of Home Affairs

Spend an exciting 12 months, where you’ll not only get paid to carry out meaningful and important work that improves the lives of all Australians but also gain life-changing skills.

The Department of Home Affairs offers challenging and diverse employment in roles impacting many parts of Australian life –emergency management, trade and travel, national security, immigration, settlement services, citizenship and border security.

Successful applicants will be offered a 12-month contract at the Australian Public Service. Full time salary at commencement will be $54,439 per annum plus 15.4% superannuation contribution.

You’ll have the opportunity at the end of the program to continue with Home Affairs through a part time APS3 internship program while completing tertiary studies. Positions will be located at various national offices across Australia. Applications close Sunday 2 July www.homeaffairs.gov.au/

Digital Traineeship Program

Year 12 students can apply for the Australian Public Service Digital Traineeship Program. Applications are now open for the 2024 intake https://bit.ly/3MUmtgv

Ag Career Start

This is gap year program on a farm. You will live in a regional location, earn a salary, achieve a nationally recognised qualification, and build life-long industry connections. Applications are now open for the 2024 intake https://agcareerstart.com.au/

Australian Defence Force

Current Year 12 students can apply for a 12-month position in the Air Force, Army, or Navy to begin in 2024. There are 18 roles on offer, including military police, airbase security, electronics engineer, chef, administration assistant, and maritime warfare officer. To explore options and start your application, visit www.defencejobs.gov.au

EARLY ENTRY PROGRAMS

Early entry programs enable universities to make course offers to Year 12 students based on factors other than just the ATAR. You can apply for as many early entry programs as you like. Year 12 students are encouraged to map out the best early entry programs to apply for based on their course interests. Early entry applications are open for the following universities:

VICTORIA

Swinburne University

RMIT University

La Trobe University

Federation University

Victoria University

CQUniversity

SAE Creative Media Institute

NSW

University of New England

Charles Sturt University

Southern Cross University

CQUniversity

SAE Creative Media Institute

Download early entry guides via

https://slmcareerresources.edublogs.org/

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 take 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. Register for the test via https://acuityinsights.app/casper/

MEDICINE & DENTISTRY

By now, Year 12 students applying for medicine and/or dentistry courses that require the UCAT ANZ should have completed the registration and booked a test date. For information on the application process and key dates for Victorian, NSW and ACT courses, please download resources via https://slmcareerresources.edublogs.org/

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE ACADEMY

Students planning to apply for ADFA are encouraged to start planning as soon as possible. There is a dual application process and applicants will need to be mindful of key dates. Read through the ‘how to apply’ section on the ADFA website and record key dates and tasks. The process will take several months https://careernews.click/adfa

Year 11 & 12 Students

BUSINESS EXPLORER PROGRAM

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

Accounting

Banking and finance

Analytics, stats, and actuarial studies

Economics

Management

Marketing

Entrepreneurship

You can register your interest in attending the September event via www.monash.edu/business/business-explorer

MELBOURNE UNIVERSITY

Year 11 and 12 students are invited to experience a taste of university life by joining us at our Parkville campus for 'A Day at Melbourne' on 28 June.

Throughout the day you will have the chance to take part in two areas of study workshops of your choosing, sit in on a panel of current students to hear about their experiences, speak to staff one-on-one about your study interests, discover our broad range of student clubs and societies, and participate in student accommodation tours. Places are strictly limited and will fill quickly– please register via https://bit.ly/45NRKcz

Year 11 Students

2024 NATIONAL YOUTH SCIENCE FORUM

Love STEM? Want to engage in a life changing experience? You should consider applying for the NYSF. This is a two-week on-site and digital program where students are immersed in hands-on science activities, lab experiments, field trips and meet researchers who are leaders in their field. The program will be held during January 2024. Applications close Friday 1 July. For more information and to apply, go to www.nysf.edu.au

Year 9 & 10 Students

THE SANTOS SCIENCE EXPERIENCE

The Santos Science Experience is a fun program of science activities. Each program is designed to provide students who have an interest in science with an opportunity to engage in a wide range of fascinating science activities under the guidance of scientists who love their work. The next Victorian program will be held at Swinburne University on 10 – 11 August. There are 13 places left. Book your place via www.scienceexperience.com.au

CAMP SEEK

Camp Seek is a STEM focussed learning and immersion program for Year 9 and 10 girls and non-binary young people (aged 14 – 16 years) taking place during the September school holidays. Participants will spend four days at SEEK HQ in Melbourne.

Participants will learn from subject matter experts about their career journeys in tech, develop their coding, learn about real-world problem solving and put it all to use in a Create-a-Thon project with fellow Camp SEEKers. For information and to register your place visit www.seek.com.au/camp-seek

All Students

STUDY SKILLS AND RESOURCES

Lisa Tran has developed a series of free resources and study guides for high school students. While many of the resources are targeted to Victorian students, all students will benefit https://bit.ly/227DGng

CHOOSING STEM ELECTIVES

Careers with STEM has written an article looking at the 10 most popular university courses (NSW) for the 2023 intake and what STEM electives they need. This is a fascinating look at how STEM subjects can prepare you for courses in study areas such as medicine, arts, computer science, and business. Read the article via https://bit.ly/43sUJWk

DENTAL SCIENCE

Are you interested in health and science? Have you thought about dentistry but not sure you want to study to become a surgeon? You may be interested in exploring the following occupations:

Dental Nurse/Assistant

Assists the dental team, supports patients, steralises equipment, prepares dental materials, maintains client records etc.

Dental Hygienist

Educates patients about prevention of disease, treats oral diseases, and provides dental treatments.

Dental Therapist

Examines and treats diseases of the teeth in children and adolescents under the supervision of dentists.

Dental Technician

Designs and constructs dentures, crowns, impression trays, oral splints etc.

For information on these career options, go to the Australian Dental Association www.ada.org.au Download a course guide on dentistry and oral health https://slmcareerresources.edublogs.org/

INTERESTED IN PSYCHOLGY?

Would you like to become a psychologist?

You will need to start your education by studying a 3-year bachelor’s degree or a 4-year integrated bachelor’s and honours program with an Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) approved major in psychology https://psychologycouncil.org.au/

Cool facts about psychology

*It takes at least 6-years to become a generalist psychologist and another 2 – 4 years to become a specialist.

*You can study a psychology major within a degree that is focused on your interests – such as health, humanities, science, business etc.

*In some degrees you can study a second specialisation. Examples of study areas include criminology, disability studies, marketing, neuroscience, health promotion, nutrition etc.

*There is maths in psychology degrees such as statistics and correlation! It’s highly advisable to study senior level maths at school.

*If you don’t want to become a psychologist, you can complete an undergraduate degree with a psychology major and then complete graduate studies in an area that is focussed on human behaviour – such as social work, career development/counselling, marketing, human resource management, criminology etc.

Specialist psychology fields

Once you complete your 6-years of study and training and have registered as a generalist psychologist, you can pursue training in an area of psychological practice, such as:

Clinical neuropsychology

Clinical psychology

Community psychology

Counselling psychology

Educational and developmental psychology

Forensic psychology

Health psychology

Organisational psychology

Sport and exercise psychology

Careers in psychology

Deakin University has developed an excellent website showcasing different careers in Psychology, https://psychologycareers.org.au/

Research psychology courses

The pathway to becoming a psychologist is complex and it’s important to be aware of the grades and hurdles required to move between each stage. Please see your career adviser to map out the best courses for you. You can research courses at www.courseseeker.edu.au

Upcoming Career Events

One of the best ways to develop ideas for occupations and courses is to participate in career events. Check the Career Newsletter for upcoming events and join social media accounts for any higher education provider or training institute you are currently interested in to ensure you are up to date with events.

BOX HILL INSTITUTE

Box Hill offers vocational and higher education courses and has several Victorian campuses. The Institute is running ‘Talk and Tours’ for prospective students on the following dates in June:

13: Elgar and Nelson campuses

14: Lilydale campus

HOLMESGLEN INSTITUTE

Holmesglen offers vocational and higher education courses and has campuses at Chadstone, Moorabbin, and Drummond Street. The Institute is running an open day for prospective students and their families on Thursday 15 June. Register via https://holmesglen.edu.au/

NATURAL HEALTH

Endeavour College of Natural Health offers courses in natural health, such as acupuncture, naturopathy, nutritional and dietetic medicine, and Chinese medicine. The College is running an open day at their Melbourne campus on Saturday 17 June. Register via www.endeavour.edu.au

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS

Photography Studies College is located in Melbourne. The College offers vocational and higher education courses in photography. The College is running photography workshops for Year 11 and 12 students on 28 and 29 June. For information and to register visit www.psc.edu.au

ACADEMY OF INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT (AIE)

AIE is an institute in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Adelaide that offers courses in game art, game design, game programming, 3D animation and VFX, and filmmaking. The Academy is running the following two events for prospective students.

Information evening: This event will run on Thursday 15 June between 6pm – 8pm.

Industry experience days: These exciting days are for students in Years 10 - 12 event will run on Wednesday 5 July at the Melbourne campus.

For information and to register your place visit https://aie.edu.au/aie_event/

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

MUSIC CAREERS EXPO

The Push is running an exciting Music Careers Expo on Tuesday 15 August at the Corner Hotel, Richmond. The Expo will be a fun and interactive way to learn about the various professions within the music industry. Register via www.thepush.com.au/mce

RMIT – CAMPUS TOURS

RMIT University are hosting campus tours for high school students during the upcoming term break at the City, Bundoora and Brunswick campuses. The tours will run between 26 June – 5 July. Book a tour via https://bit.ly/3MWAGbA

TECH AND TRADES EXPO

RMIT is hosting a free Tech and Trades Experience Day for Years 10, 11 and 12 students and their parents / guardians on 29 June at the Melbourne campus. Students can experience hands-on workshops from various fields in Future Technologies and Trades to gain practical knowledge, tour facilities, and interact with teachers, current students and industry. Register for the event via www.rmit.edu.au/events

MELBOURNE CAREERS EXPO

This is Australia’s largest careers expo. You will have the opportunity to:

attend information seminars;

speak directly with organisations;

watch demonstrations;

receive career advice;

participate in hands-on activities;

speak to course advisers from universities and TAFEs;

speak to industry experts and learn about apprenticeships;

learn about international exchange and gap year programs

The Expo will run between Friday 14 - Sunday 16 July at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre and is free for participants www.careerexpo.com.au

YEAR13 EXPO

The Year13 Expo enables you to find a career you’re genuinely passionate about from the comfort of home. All sessions have been recorded and will be available online for the next three months. There are five virtual stages packed with content where you can learn about different aspects of the future. Access the Expo via https://year13.com.au/

VICTORIAN CAREERS & EMPLOYMENT EXPO

This Expo is free to all people and 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 Thursday 17 – Saturday 19 August at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre. For information on the event and to secure tickets, visit www.careersemploymentexpo.com.au

MONASH UNIVERSITY

Discover Events

These events are for prospective students and their families and will be held on campus, www.monash.edu/discover/events

June 15: Discover Criminology & Policing

July 3: Discover Commerce

July 12: Discover Information Technology

Campus Tours

These events are for prospective students and their families and will be held in July. They are a great opportunity to tour campuses, speak to course advisers, and meet current students www.monash.edu/discover/events

July 3: Clayton Campus

July 4: Peninsula

July 4: Caulfield

Access Monash

The following events will be held online in July https://bit.ly/3kVijtH

July 26: Engineering student panel

July 27: Regional Student Experience – making friends and connections

Art, Design, Architecture

Monash is running the following Experience Days in June for Year 10 – 12 students interested in Art, Design and Architecture:

June 27: How to build your fine art folio at Monash

June 28: Design and architecture studio workshops

The events will take place at the Caulfield campus and participants will have the opportunity to be a student for a day and learn about fine art mediums and design thinking approaches. Places will fill quickly, book your place via https://bit.ly/3OZMQTH

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