In this issue

As previously alerted, the UMAT will no longer exist after this year and is being replaced by the UCAT.  This new test for students wishing to apply for medicine or dentistry at many universities, is very different from the old UMAT.  As such, students will need to become familiar with the five sections as opposed to three, with the focus of some sections also being different.  Practicing old UMAT questions will not be helpful and past UMAT students will not be able to shed light on the new test.  Students are cautioned to become aware of the new requirements and not rely on hearsay.  As with anything new there will also be companies emerging making claims of expertise in preparing students for the UCAT; parents and students are equally cautioned to do their research before committing (to what can be) very expensive tutoring that may actually not have many, if any, benefit.

Whilst the School does not endorse any particular organisation, we do have information that can help to guide students and parents and I urge you to seek guidance if necessary.  In the events section at the end of this newsletter, there is a free workshop on understanding the five sections of the UCAT, to be held in Melbourne, for those current Years 10 and 11 students who may be interested.  The organisation is by all accounts reputable and works with many private schools in Melbourne and interstate.

Students will be familiarised with the changes to the process at school and the timeline for applications through the pastoral and careers programs.

Also in this newsletter is some ongoing discussion about pathways for students after Year 12 – this is a discussion that needs to take place between students, their families and school, to try and determine the best pathway for each student at this time in their working life.  No one can predict where we will end up working or what we will be doing in the future, just talk to anyone!  But we can assist in planning a pathway and also planning for alternatives if ‘plan A’ does not quite go to plan!  What students (and parents) can do, is do the research for opportunities and alternatives and in finding just what is the ‘right fit’ – and it may not be what you initially thought!  Armed with information can certainly enhance the decisions to be made.

For all other students, as always there is a plethora of information about other careers, events and research opportunities that can be explored!  And a reminder that I am available to have chats and answer questions, my favourite pastime!

Mrs Deb Cumming
Head of Careers

INCREASING THE CHANCE OF GAINING GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT AFTER UNI

Interested in going to university?  It is important you are aware that around thirty per cent of university graduates are without full-time employment within four months of graduation.

The following article appears on the Australian Careers Service website and has been adapted for the fortnightly Careers News, http://bit.ly/2zz56h5

“The 2018 edition of The Good Universities Guide reveals that while universities around the country are providing a high quality experience for students, it is not translating to graduate jobs.  Analysis from The Good Universities Guide, shows that across many courses and fields of study, Australian university students are overwhelmingly enjoying and excelling during their time at university.  Across all Australian universities the results for the six key measures of Student Experience – Learning Resources, Learner Engagement, Student Support, Skills Development, Teaching Quality and Overall Experience are all strong.  But, the news isn’t so rosy once students attempt to enter the workforce.  When it comes to life after university, the employment outcomes are not as positive.  The Good Universities Guide graduate outcome data shows that across the country, Australian university graduates struggle to secure a job and earn a reasonable salary, with around thirty per cent of graduates without full-time employment within four months of graduation.  The Good Universities Guide can also reveal that the average salary for graduates employed full-time is $56,000, the same post graduation income vocational graduates achieve, according to figures published by the National Centre for Vocational Education and Research”.

So what does this mean for students currently in secondary school?  The good news is that some fields of study have better graduate outcomes (for example health and rehabilitation).  The bad news is that some fields are harder to secure graduate employment.

What can you do to increase your chances of graduate employment?  It starts with you in secondary school.  It is critical that you develop skills in how to a) manage your career journey and also b) develop skills and attributes that are desirable to employers.

The following are tips to consider:

WHAT YOU CAN DO IN SECONDARY SCHOOL

Tip 1)  Build your resume by participating in career development activities
For example:
•  Secure casual or part-time employment;
•  Volunteer for community programs such as the Country Fire Authority, Young Lions, Scouts, Defence Force Cadets, St John Ambulance Cadets, State Emergency Service to name a few;
•  Play sport;
•  Participate in leadership and community service activities at school;
•  Participate in community based fundraising activities;
•  Complete an overseas exchange program; and/or
•  Participate in a leadership program such as The Young Endeavour.

Tip 2)  Meet with your Career Adviser regularly
The more you meet with your adviser, the better they will know you and the better advice they will be able to give.  Start in the junior years and work together in partnership with your family through regular meetings until you exit school.

Tip 3)  Plan your university program carefully
Studying at university is not cheap.  Aside from the course costs, you will need to invest in textbooks, printing credit, transport, a computer, internet data and for students who have to move away to study, you will be investing roughly $20,000 to $30,000 per year on accommodation and living expenses.
For courses that have a lot of unpaid work placement requirements, it will be difficult to maintain consistent employment and thus, consistent income.  Some courses will require you to be at university for five to six years, which will place a greater strain on you financially.
It is important that you plan out what you would like to study carefully to start with and then to find an undergraduate degree that is going to give you the best chance of graduate employment.
The first step is to identify what you would like to study.  Remember, that in a time of rapid change with the world of work and technology, the occupations you can imagine yourself doing now may not exist in five to six years time, or there may be new ones you would be suited to.
Your career adviser will be able to assist you to explore courses based on your interests.  There are many courses available and ones that you may not have considered yet.
Once you have identified the type of course you would like to study, you will then need to find the right undergraduate degree at the right university.

Look for courses that offer work experience, career development programs, overseas exchange opportunities, and (if relevant) are accredited.

Example 1
If you want to study a degree like the Bachelor of Criminology, think carefully.  There are many criminology degrees in Victoria, Canberra and NSW and this means there will be many graduates. How can you be competitive for graduate jobs?

Consider the following option:
Combine the degree with another field of study that has strong graduate employment outcomes such as cybersecurity and Asian languages.

The following are courses to consider:
Deakin University:  Bachelor of Cyber Security/Bachelor of Criminology, http://bit.ly/2n1viHZ
Australian National University:  Bachelor of Criminology/Bachelor of Asian Studies (majoring in an Asian language), http://bit.ly/2h9laLj

Example 2
You would like to study a course focused on marketing.  This is a very popular course for people to study, so what will make you stand out?  Choose a course that will give you substantial industry experience.

You could consider the following options:
Swinburne University:  Bachelor of Business (Professional) with a major in marketing.  You will be guaranteed a year of paid industry experience, http://bit.ly/2AjXf3T
RMIT:  Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (Applied).  You can undertake a year of industry experience, http://bit.ly/2zhCyYB

Develop a plan with your career adviser and attend university open days and experience days throughout the year.

Tip 4)  Consider taking a gap year
During this year you could undertake a twelve month traineeship in the industry you are interested in or complete a Certificate IV or Diploma level course.
This will give you twelve months to mature, save money, gain experience in the industry you are interested in and give you time to consider if you are happy with the course you have deferred.
Employers also love VET qualifications and industry experience, so this year could boost your graduate employment chances.

Example 1
Amy would like to study a law degree.  She is aware that more law graduates are being produced than ever before and that this may place pressure on the job market.  She decides to complete a traineeship in legal administration in a law firm during her gap year.

Example 2
Steve would like to be a secondary teacher.  He knows that supporting diverse learners in the classroom will be an important element of his future job.  He also knows that based on the teaching speciality he goes into, he may find it difficult to gain graduate employment.  He decides to complete a Certificate IV in Disability Studies or Education Support during his gap year at his local TAFE.

Example 3
Sarah would like to study a degree focused on rehabilitation but isn’t sure what course she would be suited to.  She receives an offer for Occupational Therapy, but to give herself more time to be sure of her course choice, she decides to complete the Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance at TAFE.  She knows that this course will provide her with a qualification, which will enable her to work as an allied health assistant whilst she is at university.

Example 4
Will would like to join the Police Force but is aware that he may not be competitive with a Year 12 qualification and little life experience.  He decides to apply for the Airbase Security Gap Year program in the Air Force.  During this year he will undertake combat training, weapons instruction, dog handling and simulated terror attacks.  This will give him more time to consider his future direction and may open up other career opportunities for him if he does not receive a place in the Police Force.

WHAT YOU CAN DO AT UNIVERSITY

You can increase your chances of gaining graduate employment through the following tips:

Tip 1)  Meet with the career adviser at university
Did you know that only thirty per cent of students meet with a career adviser at university?  It is advisable to set up regular meetings to discuss career development opportunities, ways to gain industry experience and to assist you with applying for graduate employment.

Tip 2)  Build your resume by participating in career development activities
For example:
•  Secure casual or part-time employment;
•  Volunteer for community programs;
•  Play sport;
•  Participate in leadership and community service activities at university;
•  Participate in community based fundraising activities;
•  Complete an overseas exchange program; and/or
•  Participate in leadership programs.

What to do next
If you are still reading this – great!  It means that you are at least thinking about your career pathways.  Make a time to meet with your career adviser and set some short and long term career development goals.  Now is the perfect time heading into a new year level.

VOCATIONAL AND HIGHER EDUCATION NEWS

Resources for parents and students

Writing resumes and cover letters:  Youth Central has free resources designed to assist young people in developing resumes, cover letters and cold calling letters.  Students can also get tips and information on where to find work, how to get a job, the job interview process and starting and/or finishing a job, https://bit.ly/2RGiViP

Get a Tax File Number (TFN):  Apply for a TFN through the Australian Tax Office.  Follow the steps at this link, https://bit.ly/1HCzGOv

Your rights at work:  Find out about your rights and responsibilities as a young worker, rules about unpaid work, junior pay rates, hours of work, probation, the age you can start work and how to resolve issues in the workplace at this link, https://bit.ly/1Svl7DP

Accounting career articles from ‘The Footnotes’
•  Forensic accounting: A look into the life of crime.
•  There is something you need to know about accounting.
•  How to become a Chartered Accountant.
•  How much Maths do accountants really do?
•  What do accountants that work in audit do?
•  Finance degrees and accounting degrees are different – here’s how.
•  Creative?  Why you should consider accounting.
You can access all articles at this link, http://bit.ly/2yxxLD3

Have you considered studying neuroscience?  Neuroscience is the study of how the brain and nervous system impact behaviour, actions and cognitive thinking.
Students can specialise in areas such as behavioural neuroscience, neuroimaging, social neuroscience, molecular neuroscience and neuro-linguistics to name a few.
Research is undertaken in areas such as music, sport, schizophrenia, epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease and Huntington’s Disease.
Studying neuroscience would suit students who are interested in science, research and lab work.  It is advisable to study subjects such as advanced mathematics, biology, chemistry, psychology and physics at school.  To become a neurologist or neurosurgeon, you will need to study a medical degree first.  Victorian universities are leaders in the fields of neuroscience and neuropsychology research.

The following are two universities that offer neuroscience as a major at the undergraduate level:
Swinburne University:  Major in Neuroscience through the Bachelor of Health Science and Bachelor of Health Science (Professional), http://bit.ly/2hrMt42
The University of Melbourne:  Major in Neuroscience through the Bachelor of Biomedicine or the Bachelor of Science, http://bit.ly/2rWjXhe

Work Experience:  Years 9 and 10 students can apply to undertake a week of work experience at the Melbourne Neuroscience Institute.  Students need to apply between December and January and successful applicants will complete the work experience in 2019, http://bit.ly/2yhXxem

Resource Engineering degree programs at Monash University:  Monash offers the following resource engineering degrees at the Clayton Campus:
•  Bachelor of Geological Engineering (Honours)
•  Bachelor of Renewable Energy Engineering (Honours)
•  Bachelor of Oil and Gas Engineering (Honours)
•  Bachelor of Mining Engineering
To explore these exciting courses go to, http://bit.ly/2dh4PTt

Monash Maths Bridging course:  This program is available to domestic students who narrowly miss the required study score in the Mathematics prerequisite subjects for a Monash Engineering, Science or Business and Economics undergraduate degree.  Students will undertake face-to-face study in January 2019.  Eligibility – VCE Students who receive a study score of 20 to 24 in VCE Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4.  The program is only available for Monash courses and will be held at the Monash College, City Campus.  For information go to, http://bit.ly/2wLiMAc

Looking for casual or part-time employment?  Join the newsletter email list at ‘Explore Careers’ to receive updates from employers such as Coles, Supre and McDonald’s, http://bit.ly/2yhOJ88

Victoria University (VU) a global leader in sports:  VU has been ranked twelfth in the world for sport in the latest Shanghai rankings.  As the largest provider of teaching programs in sports and exercise science, VU students benefit from industry partnerships with leading sporting bodies.  They also have access to world-class $68 million sport and exercise science facilities.  To explore the vocational and higher education courses at VU go to, https://bit.ly/2Q1iwXx

Applying for Engineering or IT at University of Technology Sydney?  Did you know you can support your UAC application with the Engineering and IT Questionnaire?  If you fall short of the ATAR by one to three points, UTS will still consider your application if you complete the questionnaire and demonstrate a strong motivation to study engineering or IT.  The questionnaire closes on Sunday 16 December 2018.  For more information and to complete the questionnaire go to, https://bit.ly/2AxudQw

Have you considered spending your gap year overseas?  Lattitude Global Volunteering still has places left for Europe, Canada and United Kingdom.  Volunteering overseas looks great on your resume, helps you to meet new people and determine your career goals, allows you to refine and develop new skills and builds your confidence, https://muse.cm/1XlFDrN  to research your options and apply go to, https://bit.ly/2o4BK3Q

Pathways to a Design degree at Monash University:  The Monash College Diploma of Art and Design is an alternative pathway into Architecture, Design and Fine Arts degrees at Monash.  To align with the new Bachelor of Design specialisations, the diploma has been updated with extra pathways into the second year of the degree.  These degrees and specialisations are now available via the Diploma of Art and Design:
•  Bachelor of Architectural Design
•  Bachelor of Design (collaborative design, communication design, industrial design, spatial design)
•  Bachelor of Fine Art (Art History and Curation)
For information go to, https://bit.ly/2Suzteu

Interesting Article: “After the ATAR.  Understanding how Gen Z transition into further education and employment”, https://bit.ly/2v1l3Yg

RMIT student wins Melbourne Fashion Week award:  An RMIT student has won the prestigious student award at Melbourne Fashion Week (MFW) for her ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ inspired project.  Bachelor of Fashion (Design) (Honours) student Helena Dong was announced as the winner during the MFW student runway at Melbourne Town Hall on 5 September.  To read about the course go to, https://bit.ly/2KpgrkG

Amazing careers in health.  The team at ‘Careers With STEM’ have profiled several people working in exciting health careers:
•  Anastasia is helping the hearing impaired.
•  Parisa is making portable paper sunburn sensors to prevent skin cancer in Australia.
•  Trina is engineering a better way for bones to heal.
You can read their stories at this link, http://bit.ly/2gQXMlg

Amazing careers in Maths.  The team at ‘Careers With STEM’ have profiled several people working in exciting Maths careers:
•  Sam is using Maths to save animals in amazing places such as the Great Barrier Reef and the Amazon.
•  Daniel is using Maths to discover who will be the next big football star.
•  Sara uses software engineering at Google Maps to help you find your way around.
You can read their stories at this link, https://bit.ly/2OhVr1m

Tuckwell Scholarships:  Every year, Australian National University (ANU) offers twenty-five students from across the country a Tuckwell Scholarship – Australia’s most transformational undergraduate scholarship.  The application process for the 2020 intake opens for Year 12 students in early March 2019, so Year 11 students are encouraged to look into this opportunity now by using the following communication mediums:
•  Visit and bookmark the scholarship webpage, https://bit.ly/2CMzi96
•  Sign up to the mailing list for updates, https://bit.ly/2JnjjQb

New admissions process for Australian National University (ANU):   The new Admissions, Scholarships and Accommodation model will result in an earlier-than-standard admissions process, meaning school leavers will apply to ANU in March when they are in Year 12 and ANU will make them offers in August.  To read about the new process and the new admission criteria go to, https://bit.ly/2AywKtI

Interesting articles from Deakin ‘this’:
•  Career interests:  What to do when your career interests change, http://bit.ly/2A30s7N
•  Business analytics:  What is it really like to be a business analyst, http://bit.ly/2zkkfCK
•  Clinical exercise physiology:  What is it really like to be a clinical exercise physiologist, http://bit.ly/2z1TDUa
•  Do you love history?  Four reasons why you should consider studying history, http://bit.ly/2hqkH7G
•  Passionate about science?  How DNA analysis has revolutionised criminal justice, http://bit.ly/2hqGiwT

Interesting articles from ‘The Footnotes’:
Marketing, Public Relations and Events careers, https://bit.ly/2PZvWmZ
•  The real world of advertising and media
•  What does a marketing and events manager do?
•  ‘I want to work in media’ means you will be doing one of these five jobs
•  TV publicist’s career ladder from 18 to 34
•  Working in social media is not all hashtags and memes (sort of)

Engineering careers, https://bit.ly/2yGD3di
•  Inside an environmental engineering office
•  A day in the life of a chemical engineer
•  Why I picked fitting and turning
•  What is a career in engineering?
•  The career you are probably not considering (and should be)

MADA Now Graduate Exhibition:  “Discover original work from over six hundred emerging Monash University artists, designers and architectural graduates as we celebrate our students in the 2018 MADA Now graduate exhibition.  Wander through our studios and galleries, meet our graduates and discover an incredible variety of work – everything from paintings, sculptures and sound pieces, to architectural models, animations, books and other printed material.”  The exhibition will run between 16 and 30 November and entry is free, https://bit.ly/2OT3I0N

UPCOMING EVENTS

Open Days at Holmesglen Institute:  Open days will be held at Holmesglen on Thursday 29 November.  They will showcase the TAFE and university courses on offer in the following departments:
•  Arts and Design
•  Business and Finance
•  Building and Construction
•  Community and Health Sciences
•  Computing and IT
•  Education and Training
•  Hospitality, Tourism and Events
•  Horticulture and Environment
•  Sport, Fitness and Wellbeing
For information on locations, courses within each department and to register go to, http://bit.ly/1vxdZMy

Residential Indigenous Science Experience (RISE) Program:  The University of Melbourne and GTAC are proud to present the seventh annual RISE program: a week long residential program to provide indigenous middle-years students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
The program will run between Monday 26 November and Saturday 1 December at no cost to the participant.  For information and to register your place go to, https://bit.ly/2AyeT6a

Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) Open Day:  AIE Is a private college in Melbourne offering courses in the following study areas:
•  Game Art and Animation
•  Game Programming
•  Game Design and Production
•  3D Animation and VFX for Film
•  Games and Virtual Worlds
The next open day for prospective students will be held on Saturday 17 November.  For information and to register go to, https://bit.ly/2D9oIdg

Interested in finding out more about TAFE and university courses at Swinburne?  The Institute is hosting the following two information evenings:
•  Wantirna, 13 November:  Thinking about a career in early education, horticulture, business, design, nursing or trades?  Chat to academics, tour the facilities and ask any questions.
•  Hawthorn, 20 November:  Want to know more about certificates, diplomas and bachelor degrees at the Hawthorn Campus?  Get course advice, chat to specialist staff and have all your questions answered.
For information and to RSVP your place go to, https://bit.ly/2EOMUDt

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

NOVEMBER

PaperSpace Student Exhibition, School of Architecture and Built Environment, Deakin University Geelong, 13 to 23 November, https://bit.ly/2znXzO2

13 and 20:  Information Evenings, Swinburne University.  Wantirna (13) and Hawthorn (20) Campuses, https://bit.ly/2EOMUDt

15:  Experience Surveying, RMIT, Yarra Bend, https://bit.ly/2IXItEQ

16:  Deadly Day of Science, RMIT, Bundoora, https://bit.ly/2PAh923

16 to 30:  MADA Now Graduate Exhibition, Monash University, Caulfield Campus, https://bit.ly/2yCsIiM

17:  Open Day, Academy of Interactive Entertainment, Melbourne, https://bit.ly/2D9oIdg

20:  UMAT Medical Interviews Workshop, NIE, Adara, https://bit.ly/2lwOgJt

25:  UCAT Free workshop, Melbourne
Registration essential:  https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/free-melb-ucat-workshop-how-to-correctly-solve-section-1-2-3-4-5-qs-tickets-51503960733

26 November to 2 December:  The Young Leaders Program, Trinity College, The University of Melbourne, Week 1, https://bit.ly/2OoyQ8f

26 November to 1 December:  Residential Indigenous Science Experience (RISE) Program, The University of Melbourne, https://bit.ly/2AyeT6a

27:  Peninsula Experience Day, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, https://bit.ly/2EFK6Zd

28 to 30:  The ConocoPhillips Science Experience, The University of Melbourne, Dookie Campus.  Register before 15 November, https://bit.ly/2ap3Cau

29:  Open Days, Holmesglen Institute, various campuses, http://bit.ly/1vxdZMy

30:  Graduate Exhibition and Fashion Runway, Whitehouse College of Design, Melbourne, https://bit.ly/2E81RAj

DECEMBER

2 to 17:  The Young Leaders Program, Trinity College, The University of Melbourne, Weeks 2 and 3, https://bit.ly/2OoyQ8f

4 to 8:  Experience Monash Indigenous Summer Camp, Monash University, https://bit.ly/2z6KGt0

13:  Information Night, SAE Institute, Melbourne, https://bit.ly/2DTkqIc

15 and 22:  UMAT Medical Interviews Workshop, NIE, Adara, https://bit.ly/2lwOgJt

JANUARY 2019

4 to 13:  Filmmaking Summer School, The University of Melbourne, https://www.summerfilmschool.com/

9:  Open Day, JMC Academy, Melbourne, https://bit.ly/2nRkDB4

14 to 16:  The ConocoPhillips Science Experience, The University of Melbourne, Dookie Campus, https://bit.ly/2ap3Cau

20 to 23:  Melbourne Computing Summer Camp, The University of Melbourne and RMIT, https://bit.ly/2IUQ3jr