In this issue

Welcome back to Term 4!

A busy and exciting term for all students – especially Year 12s.  Students are choosing a great variety of pathways for 2020 and beyond.  It is wonderfully interesting to hear their plans and aspirations.  There is still a short way to go until exams and applications for courses and jobs, but also still time to change directions.

The Change of Preference for VTAC applications is open until December and students can rearrange and add many courses right through until then.  All students will be given further information about this process and what happens with offers next week during pastoral block; so I encourage them all to be here for that session!  Parents can also find some helpful resources on the VTAC website, including small videos explaining the process.

When results are released in December, I will be available for counselling until the Change of Preference closes for December round offers.  It is a short window of opportunity (three days) and I encourage students to ensure they seek guidance if required.  Most offers for courses will be made in the December and January rounds, so students need to have their preferences sorted as best they can.

Students and parents will be provided with key dates in the next few weeks.

Congratulations to the students who undertook Work Experience over the last term break.  We had lovely feedback from each employer about our students and the student feedback about their experience was really positive too.  For some it cemented their focus of career, for others it raised questions about whether the career was for them or not!  A wonderful outcome either way.
We must thank all the employers in the community who have offered our students this opportunity in 2019 – without their support this realistic look into the world of work would not be possible.
I encourage all students in Years 10, 11 and 12 next year to consider undertaking a placement.  Students need to be aware that they can only undertake work experience during the school academic year – this means that no work experience can be undertaken through the school program in the Christmas and summer holiday break.

This week we were fortunate to have Dr Michael Nowotny and Mrs Larissa Attard from Monash Health address our Years 11 and 12 students who are considering applying for Medicine post Year 12.  Both Michael and Larissa are past/present parents of St Paul’s students and have a keen interest in encouraging our students and assisting them in their aspirations.  Students were able to ask questions that directly related to Medicine and the requirements of applying and the opportunities available to doctors and other health professionals – in rural settings in particular.  A huge thank you to them for giving up their time and sharing their expertise with us!

Mrs Deb Cumming
Head of Careers

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

Interested in Engineering, Science and Maths?

You can download the following ‘Careers with STEM’ magazines from this website, https://bit.ly/2Os7gCR

•  Careers with STEM: Engineering
•  Careers with STEM: Maths
•  Careers with STEM: Science
•  Careers with STEM: Economics
•  Careers with STEM: Health
•  Careers with Code

Changes to health courses at La Trobe University

For the 2020 and/or 2021 intake, the format of allied health courses at La Trobe University will shift to a Bachelor with Honours (as opposed to Bachelor of Applied Science with Masters).  Students will study their expertise sooner and be given relevant knowledge for safe clinical and professional practice.  The following course areas will have changes from next year or 2021:

•  Dentistry
•  Dietetics
•  Occupational Therapy
•  Prosthetics and Orthotics
•  Physiotherapy
•  Podiatry
•  Orthoptics
•  Social Work
•  Speech Pathology

For information go to, https://bit.ly/2kE5F3k

News from Victoria University

New Speech Pathology degree:  From 2020, Victoria University will offer the dual Bachelor of Speech and Language Pathology/Master of Speech Pathology.  This course will be taught in block mode, meaning subjects are studied sequentially not concurrently.  This is the only degree of its kind to be taught this way in Australia, https://bit.ly/2lTlCmk

Introducing ‘Early Start’:  For selected courses, you may be able to start your studies in January.  This will give you flexibility with your subjects and study plan throughout the year, https://bit.ly/2lT4OvM

New pathway to Paramedicine:  If you are concerned you will not receive the ATAR for the Bachelor of Paramedicine at Victoria University, you can undertake the following pathway:
1.  Successfully complete the Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport at the St Albans Campus, start in February 2020.  This will take one semester to complete, https://bit.ly/2mlFM8R
2.  Apply for the Diploma of Paramedical Sciences for the 2020 mid-year intake.  With credit from the Certificate III, this will take six months to complete, https://bit.ly/2Fws8V7
3.  Pathway from the Diploma into second year of the Bachelor of Paramedicine at the start of 2021, https://bit.ly/2s7VBB2

News from Charles Sturt University

New Bachelor of Geospatial Science:  Available for on-campus study at Albury-Wodonga and online from session 1 2020, this degree equips students to pilot advanced technologies and study the relationships between physical locations, people and earth processes.  Geospatial science is a rapidly growing field with increasing demand for graduates, https://bit.ly/2lYi0zk

Creative Industries specialisations:  Learn about the following specialisations at Charles Sturt University at this link, https://bit.ly/2klhrzg
•  Sound and Radio
•  Acting and Theatre
•  Advertising and Public Relations
•  Animation and Visualisation
•  Film, Television and Multiplatform Production
•  Interactive and Digital Media
•  Journalism
•  Photography and Photomedia
•  Visual Arts

Passionate about IT?  Not ready for university study?

Microsoft IT Traineeships:  Each year, an estimated 20,000 IT jobs are being created in Australia – with approximately 5,500 graduates coming from university.

That is why MEGT has partnered with Microsoft Australia to launch the Microsoft Traineeship Program, designed to help close the skill gap and provide a new pathway to those looking to kickstart their IT career.

The program is an opportunity for school leavers to gain valuable (and paid!) on-the-job experience while working towards a nationally accredited qualification — a Certificate IV in Information Technology.  Trainees will also gain some of the latest Microsoft certifications that are in high industry demand!

Over twenty-four months, trainees will be placed with a Host Employer in the Microsoft Australia network in the Melbourne area and learn while they earn.  Trainees will complete the program with an innovative skillset of IT fundamentals and industry experience, setting them up for a rewarding career in IT.

Applications are now open!  For information go to, https://bit.ly/2mfGYdH

University applications – key closing dates (Victoria)

APPLICATIONS
It is not too late to apply for the 2020 intake!  The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) processes course applications on behalf of tertiary institutions, www.vtac.edu.au/

Early bird applications closed for VTAC on 30 September.  You can still apply for courses, however you will be required to pay a late fee.
You can apply for up to eight courses.  These can be changed later by certain dates but some courses with early application dates have closed
You can complete a Special Entry Access Scheme (SEAS) application by Friday 11 October.
You can apply for access and equity scholarships via VTAC by Friday 11 October.
VTAC resources, https://bit.ly/2MFsD1O

EARLY/GUARANTEED ENTRY SCHEMES
The following Early Entry programs close TODAY Friday 11 October 2019 as previously advertised to students.

Monash University, The Monash Guarantee, http://bit.ly/2x5nwBC

The University of Melbourne, Access Melbourne, http://bit.ly/2gBAqPD

University applications – key closing dates (NSW/ACT)

APPLICATIONS
It is not too late to apply for the 2020 intake!  The Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) processes course applications on behalf of tertiary institutions, www.uac.edu.au

Early bird applications closed for UAC on 30 September.  You can still apply for courses, however you will be required to pay a late fee.
You can apply for up to five courses.  These can be changed later by certain dates, but some courses with early application dates have closed.
You can complete an Educational Access Schemes (EAS) application by 29 November.
You can apply for selected access and equity scholarships via UAC by 15 December.
UAC resources, https://bit.ly/2PL3J2K

Private colleges and TAFE institutes for Victoria, NSW and Canberra
You will need to apply directly to some institutes.  Each relevant private college and TAFE will set their own application dates.

Victorian Police Force Careers

‘Explore Careers’ interviewed Lauren from the Critical Incident Response Team at Victoria Police.  In the video, Lauren talks about her career and what she does on a day-to-day basis in her role.  You can watch the video here, http://bit.ly/2xvozOQ
You can explore other careers in the Force and learn about the recruitment process at this link, http://bit.ly/1LfnfeQ

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

Study Food Systems and Gastronomy

The Master of Food Systems and Gastronomy at William Angliss is unique to Australia and explores the challenging problems facing contemporary food systems and cultures.  The program focuses on areas of food production, distribution and consumption, policy, food security and sovereignty and community health and wellbeing, http://bit.ly/2dmbXP0

Have you considered studying orthoptics?

Have you considered 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/paediatric
•  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

There are about five hundred Orthoptists in Australia and their population is ageing, which means there will be plenty of jobs in the future both in Australia and overseas.  You can study to become an Orthoptist at La Trobe University, Melbourne, http://bit.ly/1PeR4Na and the University of Technology Sydney, http://bit.ly/2d8dntl

For key information about this occupation, visit the Orthoptics Australia website, www.orthoptics.org.au/

Where can a social work degree take you?

One area you can work in is rehabilitation of people who have committed crimes.  Rather than seeking to punish criminals, Dr Sophie Goldingay believes play could be the key to rehabilitating them.
Working in Deakin University’s School of Health and Social Development, Dr Goldingay helped develop an innovative ‘play therapy’ program to reshape mindsets. Discover her creative approach to rehabilitation, http://bit.ly/2cM6fGM

The following are examples of six universities you can study social work at:
•  Deakin University, http://bit.ly/2dDHI3H
•  La Trobe University, http://bit.ly/23Y328R
•  Monash University, http://bit.ly/1omFO8U
•  RMIT, http://bit.ly/2dkHp2k
•  The University of Melbourne, http://bit.ly/2dkH5AX
•  Victoria University, http://bit.ly/2dBr3wW

Interested in engineering?

Spark Night at Monash University is the Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering (ECSE) department’s annual industry event and exhibition, celebrating the achievements of final year students and showcasing over one hundred and thirty projects.

Interested secondary school students and parents are invited to come along and see the fantastic work the students have produced.  The event will be held Wednesday 23 October 2019 at the Clayton Campus, www.ecsespark.com

FlickerUp Film Competition

Passionate about filmmaking?  Flickerfest, Australia’s largest and only Academy® Award accredited and BAFTA recognised international short film festival, is now accepting entries from around Australia for the FlickerUp competition.
FlickerUp is Flickerfest’s national youth short film competition.  Short film entries are invited from primary and secondary school students or filmmakers under eighteen years of age across Australia.  For information about the initiative and to apply by Saturday 9 November go to, http://flickerfest.com.au/

Interested in design?

Deakin University’s School of Architecture and Built Environment’s annual PaperSpace student exhibition showcases outstanding work from undergraduate and master degree students studying architecture, construction management, landscape and planning.  Dates are listed below.  For information and venue locations go to, https://bit.ly/2Mq6BSy
•  Melbourne, Federation Square: 4 to 8 November.
•  Geelong, Deakin Waterfront Campus: 12 to 22 November.
To keep up to date with the Deakin Faculty of Architecture and Built Environment events, research and course information, join the A+B Blog at, https://bit.ly/2znXzO2

RMIT Engineering Exhibition

EnGenius Engineering Exhibition, RMIT:  EnGenius is an annual industry sponsored exhibition that showcases third and fourth year projects from students in the School of Engineering and is open to the public.
Working either in a small group or as an individual, students design and develop technology and solutions to solve real world problems.
Using the technical knowledge and skills gained throughout their degree, EnGenius provides RMIT engineering students with the opportunity to showcase their abilities and gives them the opportunity to network with industry representatives.  Come along and chat to our students and discover new technologies. 23 October, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.  Register online at, https://bit.ly/33crZl1

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

OCTOBER

• 14, 22:  Australian Defence Force Information Sessions: Health Careers, Melbourne (14), Defence Careers, Melbourne (22), https://bit.ly/2Vovhip

• 15:  What to expect from online study, Deakin University, online webinar, 5:00 pm, https://bit.ly/35fYmRM

• 15 to 21:  Deakin Accelerate Information Evening, Deakin University, Melbourne Burwood, Geelong Waurn Ponds and Warnambool, https://bit.ly/2p0912o

• 15 and 22:  Traineeship/Apprenticeship Information Evening – Morwell, Warragul – see flyer following

• 16:  Discover where engineering at Deakin can take you, Deakin University, online webinar, 5:00 pm, https://bit.ly/335o8Gu

• 16, 22:  Course Information Sessions, Deakin University, Architecture and Construction Management (16), STEM courses (22), https://bit.ly/2maZaW0

•  20:  Werribee Open Day, The University of Melbourne, Werribee Campus.  For students interested in studying Veterinary Science, https://bit.ly/2KUusu0

• 23:  Spark Night, Monash University, Clayton Campus.  Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering (ECSE) industry event, www.ecsespark.com

NOVEMBER

• 12:  Deakin Accelerate Information Webinar, Deakin University, online, https://bit.ly/2p0912o