In this issue

Recently a report was released about the future demand for ‘soft skill’ in the workplace.  The Deloitte report found that soft skill intensive occupations will account for two-thirds of all jobs by 2030, compared to half of all jobs in 2000.

This has been discussed in numerous Careers Newsletters over the years and the so-called ‘soft skills’ are ‘anything but’!

However, it is an interesting report and underlines what students need to be aware of for their future prospects – in many areas of employment.

The next ten years will see a shake-up of the mix of skills required by the Australian workforce, with workers needing to deepen their existing skill sets, or acquire new ones.  Soft skills are becoming more important than ever.

During this extremely unusual year, our students have begun to, or have developed, many of these as a result of remote learning – one of the positives to emerge from our experiences so far!

You can download the report at this link, https://bit.ly/2lTJbLL

Mrs Deb Cumming
Head of Careers

University and TAFE applicants

Have you applied for university or TAFE courses through a Tertiary Admissions Centre?
Additional application requirements:  To ensure you do not miss submitting compulsory documents, forms or folios etc, or booking an interview or additional tests such as CASPer, check the course entry requirements on the institute’s website or on the Tertiary Admissions Centre website.

Scholarships
If you are planning to study in 2021, you should explore the scholarships available at each institute you have applied for. Simply Google the name of the institute plus the word scholarships.  External scholarships can be searched for via the Good Universities Guide website and via internet searches, https://bit.ly/3bIJm0y

Applications
If you missed the timely application dates for state-based Tertiary Admissions Centres, you can still apply for university and TAFE courses, you will just have to pay a higher application fee.

Application fees
Remember to pay the Tertiary Admissions Centre’s application fees by the closing dates.  For example – the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre is 17 December for timely applications.

Would you like to help people with eye disorders?

You may like to study orthoptics
These allied health professionals play a crucial role in the early detection and treatment of eye diseases in children and adults. They can specialise in areas such as the following:
•  Children’s vision/paediatrics
•  Eye movement disorders
•  Low vision care/rehabilitation
•  Cataract care and retinal disorders
•  Neurological vision disorders
•  Laser eye surgery and corneal conditions
•  Driver vision and sports vision
You can study orthoptics at La Trobe University, Melbourne.
For key information about this occupation, visit the Orthoptics Australia website, www.orthoptics.org.au/

You may also like to consider optometry
Often the optometrist is the first point of contact for people and they can make referrals to orthoptists.  They are health care professionals who can diagnose eye diseases, detect changes in the visual system and prescribe corrective lenses.  You can study optometry at Deakin University and Melbourne University in Victoria.
For key information about this occupation, visit the Optometry Australia website, https://bit.ly/3iOYSeV

Train to become a flight attendant

The following are examples of two institutions that offer flight attendant training in the Melbourne area:

Aviation Australia
Training runs in blocks with numerous starting dates throughout the year.  You can explore start dates, location and fees at this link, https://bit.ly/35kRGlw

William Angliss
Offers the Certificate III in Aviation (Cabin Crew).  To find out about the course go to, http://bit.ly/1U6C1uv

Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt has revitalised many of their courses.  You can watch a video on their new Bachelor of Arts degree at this link, https://bit.ly/3dm1Qqg
To book a one on one course advice consultation with a Charles Sturt course adviser visit, https://bit.ly/2WpDXqQ

Focus on VET Pathways

Vocational education and training (VET) includes traineeships, apprenticeships and TAFE study.
Four out of five parents report that they would prefer their child to go to university rather than study VET, http://bit.ly/2vPBkPF but it is crucial that both parents and students take the time to understand the VET sector and that a preference for just university study may in some cases limit a young person’s potential.

Between twenty and thirty per cent of young people in Australia drop out of or change their university course within the first year.  Many young people do not even consider studying VET due to incorrect perceptions or through a lack of understanding of the sector.

It is no secret that employers love job applicants who have TAFE qualifications, including those who graduate with a university degree with a VET qualification.

VET graduates are considered to have ‘job ready’ skills and in the future labour market in Australia, with one in every two young people expected to complete a Bachelor degree, it is more important than ever to have diverse skills, industry experience and more than one qualification (for example: a Bachelor of Engineering with a TAFE Diploma in Project Management).

Did you know that nine out of ten occupations predicted to have the most job growth by 2023 are in vocational training areas and in the industries with the most growth (for example: health and community services, construction, and accommodation and food services)?
Source: http://bit.ly/1mab7j7

Specific occupations with the biggest growth prediction include sales assistants, aged care workers, disability workers, enrolled nurses, electricians, chefs and early childhood education workers.

Current skills shortages are in occupations such as automotive trades, food trades, construction trades and building professionals.

A report, titled: ‘Perceptions Are Not Reality: myths, realities and the critical role of vocational education and training in Australia’, was released by Skilling Australia Foundation last year and revealed the following:
•  VET graduates earn wages comparable to, if not exceeding, that of university graduates.
•  VET graduates have a higher employment rate than university undergraduates.  More than seventy-eight per cent of VET graduates are employed after training.
•  VET courses have adapted more readily to changing workforce needs.

There are some occupations that require a university degree (for example: medicine, social work, law).

It is advisable that students consider undertaking VET study during their gap year (such as a gap year traineeship or TAFE course) and concurrently with their university studies (if time permits).

Other benefits of TAFE courses include:
•  Higher level courses (such as a Diploma) can provide a direct pathway into university courses with credit.
•  Can give you the opportunity to trial an industry or career area before you commit to university study.
•  Can give you a qualification you can use to gain part-time work whilst undertaking university study.

Did you know you can study a huge range of vocational courses at TAFE?
TAFE provides students with the opportunity to:
•  Undertake applied learning
•  Gain ‘industry ready’ experience
•  Learn about industries and careers
•  Obtain a qualification in a relatively short time frame.

Jane knows she loves working with people, has excellent written and verbal communication skills, is creative, loves thinking outside the box, is highly organised and enjoys solving problems.  She explores the following TAFE courses:
•  Public Relations
•  Marketing
•  Advertising
•  Professional Writing and Editing
•  Broadcast Journalism
•  Liberal Arts
•  Library and Information Services

Sheridan loves sciences and health and is considering working in rehabilitation, medical sciences or allied health in the future. She explores the following courses:
•  Dental Technology
•  Nursing
•  Massage and Myotherapy
•  Allied Health Assistance
•  Laboratory Technology
•  Pathology Collection

Paul knows he loves helping people and that he would like to work in counselling, case management or human services in the future.  He explores the following courses:
•  Community Services
•  Youth Work
•  Disability Services
•  Mental Health
•  Alcohol and other Drugs
•  Aged Care

To search for TAFE courses, use the following websites:
Victorian Skills Gateway website, http://bit.ly/2cPZDUF
TAFE NSW, http://bit.ly/1mgtM05
MySkills (Australia wide), http://bit.ly/2gWp25g

It is important to note that many courses have optional or compulsory information sessions that run between now and the end of the year.

You will need to ensure that you attend these sessions and also fulfil any portfolio or selection task requirements.

Key VET websites include:
VET – VCAA, https://bit.ly/2CKD9V
‘VET. It’s right now’, https://bit.ly/2yhKLd
Skills Road, https://bit.ly/2P2Yaz
SkillsOne, https://bit.ly/1zCKBUG
Myfuture, https://bit.ly/1t6Uj62
Australian Apprenticeship Pathways, https://bit.ly/2Glf3PD

Free TAFE for priority courses in Victoria
If you live or work in Victoria, you may be eligible for a fully subsidised course at a Victorian TAFE Institute next year.  To check your eligibility and to search for TAFE courses and providers, use the websites:
Victorian Skills Gateway, https://bit.ly/2yG6vzc
Victorian Government, https://bit.ly/2nR7NGs

The A-Z of Science careers

If you like science, wading through never-ending Google searches to find ‘the one’ can be daunting.

Hit up the Careers With STEM list of every science-related job option they can think of.  Some you would have heard of and loads will surprise you!  https://bit.ly/2SQi5CI

New early entry programs

La Trobe University
Achieve Plus – students can apply to complete two first-year La Trobe subjects during Year 12.  Results across the two subjects will give students a boost to their ATAR or a La Trobe entrance score, as well as an early conditional offer (if completed successfully).  The La Trobe entrance score will be used instead of an ATAR if it is higher – giving them more chances to succeed.  For information visit, https://bit.ly/34P5qFD
Achieve Plus information webinar
Date:  Monday 26 October
RSVP:  https://bit.ly/3lCRp4D

Federation University
Advance to university is your opportunity to study first-year university units as part of your VCE.
How it works:
•  Choose from a range of paired university units, including business, health, education, maths, physiology, biology and IT.
•  Your final score in your advance studies (two units) may result in an additional ATAR increment.  Please note, only one higher education study (two units studied over two semesters in one year) is approved in the VCE and for your ATAR increment.
•  You will not pay or incur a Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) debt for any of the university units you study. However you may need to factor in textbooks and other costs for learning resources.
•  Successful completion provides entry to Federation University and credit for both subjects in your first year of study. Entry to some courses may also be subject to additional requirements (such as ATAR and VCE pre-requisites).
•  Each unit is delivered via flexible online learning, alongside an on-campus orientation session and a number of on-campus enriched learning experiences each semester.
•  Students attend an academic preparation program in February, before commencing university studies in March.
How to apply:
•  Select your university unit pair, ensuring you have the necessary VCE pre-requisites/co-requisites
•  Complete the Direct Application form available from federation.edu.au/advance-to-university

Discover your career in health at Monash University

Explore your course and career options in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences through the ‘Future Careers in Health’ website, https://bit.ly/2MCr7xj

The STEM Careers Guide

The Uni Guide is excited to announce the 2020 STEM Guide can now be accessed online!

The co-produced guide is a careers resource designed to help Victorian and NSW students in Years 10 to 12 understand the wide range of career paths available to students of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees, https://bit.ly/34PH3aK

UCAT ANZ

National Institute of Education
Is running online medical interview and effective communication skills workshops for students who have sat the UCAT ANZ.  For information, dates and to register your place visit, https://bit.ly/34yQuga

Federation University

To access recorded webinars covering a variety of topics and courses visit, https://bit.ly/3i7CdLo
To book a one on one course advice consultation with a Federation University course adviser visit, https://bit.ly/3lItFvI

Jobs of the future podcasts
Federation University has released a series of podcasts exploring jobs of the future such as social entrepreneurship and cyber security.  Search ‘Jobs of the Future’ Federation University.

Study Abroad and Exchange Programs offered by Victorian Universities

Students who choose to take up an opportunity to do some of their university studies overseas get the opportunity to immerse themselves in another culture, study at an overseas university and really get to engage with students and lecturers at those institutions.
An added bonus of many study-abroad programs is that students get to study for one or two semesters at these overseas partner institutions and earn credit towards their degrees.

Find out more about the Study Abroad programs offered by browsing the following links:
Australian Catholic University, Exchange and Study Abroad
Deakin University, Student Exchange
Federation University, Study Abroad and Exchange Programs
La Trobe University, Student Exchange Opportunities
Monash University, Study Abroad
RMIT University, Study Abroad
Swinburne University, Study Abroad
University of Melbourne, Study Abroad
Victoria University, Study Overseas

Scholarships to Study Abroad
Looking to study abroad but worried about the costs?  Good news!  There are hundreds of scholarships to study abroad, including general scholarships and more specialised funding schemes.  Some are offered by government agencies, some by individual universities and others by external funding organisations and charitable enterprises.

The Top Universities website is an excellent resource to learn more about what scholarships are on offer.  Students can search for region-specific scholarships or country-specific scholarships.  Students can even search for subject-specific scholarships.

Students are encouraged to browse Top Universities – Study Abroad Scholarships.

C.A.S. Hawker Scholarship

C.A.S. Hawker Scholarships are one of the most generous privately funded scholarships available to undergraduate students in Australia.  Each residential scholarship is valued at up to $60,000 over three years.  The scholarships are available to all Australian students and the majority are usually awarded to students entering their first year of university studies.

Selection is largely based on personal qualities and demonstrated leadership as well as academic ability.  Undergraduate Hawker Scholars are able to attend a range of Australian educational institutions, so this scholarship is not restricted to one university.

The Charles Hawker Scholarship perpetuates the memory of scholar, soldier and pastoralist Charles Allan Seymour Hawker and commemorates the achievements of one of Australia’s most respected statesmen.

The 2021 C.A.S. Hawker Scholarships will open on Monday 7 December and close on Friday 8 January 2021.

Current Year 12 students are encouraged to browse Hawker Scholarship for more information about the scholarship and to download an application form.

Diploma of Professional Learning at La Trobe

Students who do not receive the offer they might want, might like to consider enrolling in the Diploma of Professional Learning that provides an alternative pathway to a range of La Trobe Bachelor’s degrees.

The Diploma of Professional Learning is a twelve-month course that combines online university preparation subjects and an individual choice of a number of online or on-campus undergraduate subjects.  All the Diploma of Professional Learning subjects are supported by on-campus Learning Hubs and a dedicated team who will give you one on one advice and guidance.

Students begin working towards a range of La Trobe Bachelor’s courses straight away, so they can enter their degree with a foundation to help them succeed in their studies.

After successful completion of just six months of study, students may be eligible to transfer* into one of a selected range of La Trobe Bachelor’s degrees across arts, business, health sciences and information technology. *Transition to a Bachelor’s degree is subject to meeting minimum requirements.

Melbourne pathway courses from the diploma:
•  Bachelor of Arts
•  Bachelor of Biological Sciences
•  Bachelor of Business
•  Bachelor of Business (Event Management/Marketing)
•  Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
•  Bachelor of Business (Sport Management)
•  Bachelor of Creative Arts
•  Bachelor of Health Sciences
•  Bachelor of Information Technology
•  Bachelor of International Relations
•  Bachelor of Media and Communication
•  Bachelor of Science

GAP Year Online

The School of The New York Times Gap Year Online is designed to foster moments of reflection, self-discovery and exploration.
Learn online with New York Times journalists and other industry experts as you explore your passions and reach your potential.  Our Gap Year Online program is designed for anyone aged eighteen to twenty-one who is deferring college/university or taking time off to pause, think and reflect.

Spend five or ten weeks learning about the stories and ideas that shape our world as you prepare for the future and build practical skills for life.

Using sections of The New York Times newspaper as a guide, each week of the program dives into a specific topic or industry.   This modular curriculum stimulates debate, challenges perspectives and exposes students to career opportunities.  Times journalists and industry experts guide students through every step of their journey of self-discovery.  Students are encouraged to ask questions and pursue projects that are meaningful to them.

This is open to students who have completed Year 12 and are aged between eighteen to twenty-one.

Applications opened on Thursday 15 October 2020 and the priority closing deadline is Monday 16 November 2020.  There are three different programs to choose between and all commence next year.

Students from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply and there is the opportunity to apply for financial aid and full-tuition scholarships for eligible applicants.

Find out more about the programs, costs and details of the online application and selection criteria at, The New York Times GAP Year Online.

Defence Force – Upcoming Virtual Career Events

October
23:  Defence Careers
23:  Army Careers
28:  Defence Careers

You can watch past sessions on the following topics:
•  ADF Careers Information Session
•  Royal Military College
•  Navy Officer
•  Navy Technical Trades
•  General Entry
•  Women in Defence

For information, to register your place and to watch past webinars go to, https://bit.ly/2MpyMUj

ADF Cyber GAP program announced
https://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/lreynolds/media-releases/adf-cyber-gap-program-underway

Interested in forensic science?

Web series
Afterlife is a web series that explores what goes on behind the doors at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Coroners Court of Victoria.

Join Meshel Laurie and Catherine McClements as they interview Melbourne’s real Silent Witness and meet some of Australia’s top forensic and legal experts, including forensic pathologists, anthropologists, toxicologists, odontologists, molecular biologists, physicians and coroners, https://bit.ly/3eC56xc

Forensic Science Careers
Explore careers in forensic science and study pathways at, https://bit.ly/2TbU4WS

New Speech Pathology podcast

Third-year speech pathology students, Hannah McKerral and Sienna McCormack have started a podcast called ‘The Up + Coming Speechies’.  This is fantastic podcast for students interested in studying speech pathology or allied health in the future.

You can find episodes on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and new episodes are released weekly on Wednesday mornings.

For information on speech pathology as a career and course information visit, https://bit.ly/3dEkPfE

University and TAFE Scholarships

Land surveying and spatial science, https://bit.ly/2TcrF2R
Nursing and Midwifery, https://bit.ly/31muXVA
Students from a farming background, https://bit.ly/34dIRez
Regional and remote students, https://bit.ly/35XEB1T

Calling all creatives!

Festival X is the University of Newcastle’s School of Creative Industries graduating student experience, delivered virtually.  You can attend the event and immerse yourself in the talent of the students from Visual Communication Design, Music, Communication and Creative Industries as they exhibit their final work and make their mark on 2020.  Walk through the virtual gallery, watch live performances, short films, animation, documentaries and much more in this digital celebration of student creativity.
Date:  13 to 15 November
Information:  https://bit.ly/31oahMO

Who wants to be an engineer?

Do you prefer building bridges or creating engines?  Who has more fun – a civil engineer or an aerospace engineer?  Bring together skills and knowledge with a degree at RMIT.  Play this game to find out what type of engineering you would be best suited to, and about student life at RMIT, https://bit.ly/2MVJrDK

Interested in Engineering?

The following information has been written by Nathan Chanesman at ‘My Career Match’:
“Engineering is one of the most exciting and in demand careers for young people to choose.  Engineering is an occupation with extremely wide reach.  The term ‘engineering’ covers many fields and, by extension, many skills.

Engineers are scientists, inventors, designers, builders and great thinkers.  They improve the state of the world, amplify human capability and make people’s lives safer and easier.

As technology continues to develop, the need for engineers, and the reward of being an engineer, increases too.  Some of the most popular reasons to become an engineer include:

•  Personal Happiness
This is a career that will keep you happy by providing great financial security, diversity, flexibility, prestige, intellectual development, challenges and personal satisfaction.  The variety of ideas and finished projects keep an engineer’s job interesting.

•  Work with Smart People and Travel
People who enjoy working with other people and travelling may become field service engineers.  Creative people who constantly have new ideas about everything may enjoy working as design engineers.  People who enjoy conducting experiments in laboratories.

•  Become an Entrepreneur
Engineering also lends itself nicely to entrepreneurial types.  In fact, more engineers are CEOs of companies than any other undergraduate degree.  Usually this is because they invent something and then form a company to market and sell it.  Other engineers may form construction, environmental, or consulting firms because their knowledge is in high demand.

•  Manage Companies
Many engineers obtain higher degrees in business to become better managers and to receive a broader understanding of the inner workings of engineering companies.  Many graduates work for financial companies; they may write software programs or construct financial models.

•  Learn to Think
One of the best reasons to choose engineering is because an engineering education teaches you how to think through a problem in order to solve it.  Engineering teaches all these mental agility skills that will help you solve problems for the rest of your life.  You access several different approaches to solve a problem and then it is up to you to show everyone how your solution meets the needs of the design.

•  Make a Difference
Engineering is one of the most humanistic fields. Engineering is about making life and the world a better place. The more you expose yourself to the world of engineering, the more opportunities you may have and the better prepared you will be to meet the challenges ahead.”

You can sign up to receive newsletters and career articles from My Career Match here, https://bit.ly/2kBBw4o

Download the Careers with STEM Engineering Magazine here, http://bit.ly/39SxV6r

Cyber Security

AustCyber Canberra Innovation Node has partnered with the University of Canberra to deliver a FREE cyber security careers showcase which will:
•  Unpack the skills cyber security employers look for when hiring
•  Provide insights into a ‘day in the life’ of a cyber security professional; and
•  Showcase career pathways in the dynamic and rapidly growing cyber security sector.
Date:  Tuesday 27 October, 10:00 am
RSVP and information:  https://bit.ly/3nSVS5h

Do you love the outdoors?

Have you considered studying outdoor education or outdoor recreation?  You can study outdoor recreation at TAFE institutes, private providers and via a traineeship at outdoor education centres such as Camp Coolamatong, Victoria and Outward Bound, NSW.

You can also study outdoor education and outdoor recreation at university.  The following are examples of courses you can explore:
•  Victoria University, Footscray Park:  Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership, https://bit.ly/2Qlzukf
•  La Trobe University, Bendigo:  Bachelor of Outdoor Education, https://bit.ly/2N1qoLr
•  Federation University, Ballarat and Gippsland campuses:  Bachelor of Outdoor and Environmental Education, Bachelor of Sport, Physical and Outdoor Education, https://bit.ly/2TbHFlu
•  Charles Sturt University, Albury-Wodonga:  Bachelor of Applied Science (Outdoor Recreation and Ecotourism), https://bit.ly/2Frkuyo

For information on future job prospects for outdoor adventure guides go to, https://bit.ly/2x1meYP

For information on careers in outdoor education, outdoor recreation, bush adventure therapy and nature tourism, check out the Outdoors Victoria website at, https://outdoorsvictoria.org.au/

Tax File Number

Year 12 students are reminded yet again that they cannot enrol in a CSP (Commonwealth Supported Place) university course next year without a Tax File Number (TFN).  Students who do not have one are reminded to apply for a TFN online and have their identity verified through an interview at a participating Australia Post office.
To apply and also to find out about participating Post Offices visit, TFN Application

Unique Student Identifier

A USI (Unique Student Identifier) is a reference number that creates an online record of your training and qualifications attained in Australia.  Current Year 12 students are reminded that you will need a USI number when applying for Commonwealth financial assistance when you enrol at university next year.

Some students who have already been studying a VET subject may already have one and it is recommended students create or find their USI via, https://www.usi.gov.au/ ahead of time.

Study Assist

Students are encouraged to browse the following link as the website provides information to students about Australian Government assistance for the financing of tertiary study.  There is very useful information on study loans, how one pays back those loans, scholarship opportunities, etc.

A useful PDF titled Beyond School Study Guide published in February this year can also be found at, Beyond School Study Guide.

LOCAL Traineeships for 2021

St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School
Traineeships for Sport or Administration are available at both the Warragul and Traralgon Campuses commencing in the new school year.  Please email a resume to Ms Annie Wilson anwilson@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au   Applications closing soon.

Buneep Park Pastoral Pty Ltd
Located in Bunyip North, Buneep Park Pastoral Pty Ltd are currently seeking a full-time trainee for their regenerative agriculture farming business:
•  Property details:  Three hundred and forty ha river flats, breeding calves from three hundred and twenty Angus cows and fat lambs from 1,100 Composite ewes
•  Currently transferring from chemical based farming to chemical free regenerative agriculture
•  To work with the Farm Manager
Looking for someone who is:
•  Capable of making a real contribution to the operations of the farm and has a passion/interest for learning about agriculture
•  Enjoys working outdoors and with animals
•  Has a driver’s licence or very close to obtaining
Contact Andrew Troedel 0428 039 000 for further information or to apply.

Full-time agricultural traineeship, Inverloch
An exciting opportunity exists for a highly motivated person, with a can-do attitude who enjoys working with animals and in the outdoors to join an expanding dairy farm business only minutes from Inverloch.

The business is currently milking one hundred and ten cows in a double up ten-aside herringbone dairy and has a beef operation on a total of five hundred acres.  We are keen to develop and train the right person to learn all aspects of the business including animal husbandry, milk harvesting and pasture management.
The position includes:
•  On the job training, and
•  Support to complete an accredited Certificate in Agriculture at TAFE Gippsland.
Duties include:
•  Milk harvesting
•  Calf rearing
•  Monitoring herd health
•  Fencing
•  Moving and drafting cattle
•  Pest and weed management, and
•  General farm maintenance

To apply for this exciting opportunity please contact Troy on 0417 742 950.