In my previous newsletter, I mentioned some of the practical things students can do to help get prepared for employment such as applying for a Tax File Number and updating their resume. Many students come to me to prepare their resume and think that they have nothing to put on there. There are so many things that are relevant as employability skills as well as showing off your personality.
Are you someone who wants to become the next MasterChef? Besides the obvious health benefits and learning a life skill, cooking helps you to follow instructions, develop patience, improve organisational skills and teaches you how to plan ahead. You need to ensure you have the right ingredients and maybe plan your meal prep for the week to save you time each evening.
Those of you who like to work outdoors, either in the garden or tending to animals, shows that you have a nurturing and caring side while also showing an interest in the environment and our environmental impact.
There are numerous ways to build your skills in the school environment as well. Participating in co-curricular events, clubs and societies shows teamwork, leadership, innovation and many other skills.
Putting your resume together can be quite a rewarding exercise as it really makes you stop and think about all the things that you do and acknowledge that you have been building employability skills without realising it. If you need assistance, book a time with me and I can help you to create a fantastic resume.
‘Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.’ – Jim Ryun
Sarah Luck
Head of Careers
sluck@stpaulsags.vic.edu.au
VTAC Personal Statement | Friday 1 December |
ATARs Released | Monday 11 December |
Change of Preference (CoP) closes | Wednesday 13 December |
December Round Offers | Thursday 21 December |
January Round International Offers | Friday 5 January |
January Round Domestic Offers | Friday 12 January |
February Round Offers | Tuesday 6 February onwards |
For a full list of cancelled, amended and new courses, visit VTAC Course Updates
Remember: Students who do best at university or TAFE are not necessarily those with the highest ATARs but those with persistence, determination, organisational and self-management skills who are also assertive in asking for help. Make sure you choose a course you will enjoy and are interested in; otherwise, you may experience problems with motivation. Form friendship groups with other students so you can be active in groups that discuss work and share ideas. Students who are engaged in learning communities and networks have a more positive university experience.
Camp America Webinar
Camp America is a truly unique, immersive cultural exchange, excellent work experience opportunity and the perfect way to spend a gap year. Work alongside American and international counsellors and directly with children, instructing or assisting them in a variety of different activities. Register for the upcoming information session and find out why almost 8,000 people worldwide choose Camp America every year. Camp America counsellors are placed in a camp before they leave Australia so everything is taken care of. Once at camp, pocket money, meals and accommodation are all provided so all the counsellor has to do is enjoy their experience. Learn how Camp America works, finding the right camp for you and the application process. You will get tips to make your application stand out and a full rundown of what your Camp America Experience could look like. Join with mum, dad or your friends – all are welcome!
Online Tuesday 14 November, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
For further details and to register visit Camp America
Studying At Melbourne Polytechnic
Melbourne Polytechnic offers a different way to learn. They offer a wide range of innovative TAFE and Higher Education degrees that prepare students for the workplace. Study areas include Agriculture and Conservation, Animal Studies, Architecture, Building Design and Construction, Auslan, Business Management, Education, Music, Horticulture, Hospitality, Human Services, Information Technology, Theatre, Production, Make-Up, Screen and Media. With courses that focus on practical skills and hands-on experience, students graduate with the knowledge they need to thrive in their careers.
To browse courses visit: Melbourne Polytechnic Courses
For information sessions visit: Melbourne Polytechnic Information Sessions
AIE Open Day
Discover the courses designed to get you started in game development, 3D animation, film and visual effects at the AIE open day on Saturday 18 November. AIE’s Open Day is a great opportunity to meet the teachers, staff and students. The day will cover everything you need to know about:
The open day will also include presentations on entry requirements and how to apply. Find out how AIE can get you into a creative career.
Saturday 18 November, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Find out more
Tips To Have a Successful First Year At University
Lost On Campus
Download this useful app for a campus map of many universities. You will be able to find every tutorial room, lab, lecture theatre, coffee shop, carpark, bus stop, even your nearest vending machines and free microwaves on campus!
Deakin University Pathways Finder
There is no need to reduce your dreams just because you did not get the ATAR you wanted, or you do not meet the entry requirements for your chosen course. There are more pathways to university than you might think. Deakin’s Pathways Finder is an interactive online tool for students highlighting the recommended pathways to every bachelor degree at Deakin University. Students can search by course or area of study and they can learn about TAFE pathways to Deakin, as well as alternative courses that pathway internally to the university.
Explore Pathways Finder at Deakin
CASper Test Reimbursement
If you have sat the CASper test and receive an offer to Deakin, you will be eligible for a reimbursement of the cost ($80) of the test. You will be reimbursed after you commence at Deakin in Trimester 1, 2024.
Eligibility – The payment is open to Deakin education students who have accepted their offer into an initial teacher education degree and enrolled to start studies in 2024 in a course that requires the CASper test as an entry requirement. Deakin will identify and communicate directly with students at the point of admission.
Find out more: The CASper test
New Bachelor Of Occupational Therapy
ACU is delighted to announce that the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy will be offered at the Ballarat campus from 2024. Students will undertake 1,000 hours of professional practice education, starting in the first year, working with people across the lifespan to help them overcome physical, cognitive or societal barriers to participation. The ACU Bachelor of Occupational Therapy has been developed to ensure new graduates will meet the competency standards of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) and Occupational Therapy Council (OTC).
New Aptitude Test as an Alternative To The CASper
If you want to study an initial teacher education program at La Trobe, the AFTA is a free and on-demand alternative to the CASPer test.
La Trobe University has developed the Aptitude for Teaching Assessment (AFTA). Approved by the Victorian Institute of Teaching, it is a non-cognitive scenario-based aptitude test that students can use as an alternative to the CASPer test.
Please note the test can only be used for entry into initial teaching education programs at La Trobe.
The University of Melbourne – VCE Summer School
The University of Melbourne will run a two-week summer school in January for students entering Year 12 in 2024. Applications have not opened yet, but students can read about the program and complete an expression of interest for the program via Summer School.
Current Year 11 students who are considering applying for undergraduate medicine and/or dentistry courses in the future may need to sit the Undergraduate Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) in Year 12 for the 2025 intake. For further details visit: www.ucat.edu.au
NIE is running a free webinar on 15 November, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm that will cover questions about the UCAT.
Students and their families can register for the webinar via www.nie.edu.au
Schoolies is a rite of passage for many Year 12 students. If you would like to do something different than the traditional week of partying or camping, you may consider looking into alternative schoolies programs. Rather than a focus on partying, alternative schoolies programs enable you to volunteer, travel, and help communities. The following are two examples of alternative schoolies companies:
Alternative Schoolies
Programs offered include:
For further information visit: Alternative Schoolies
World Expedition Schools
Examples of programs include:
For further information visit: World Expeditions
Students who choose to take up an opportunity to complete 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. A bonus of many study-abroad programs is that students get to study for one or two semesters at 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 | Study overseas with ACU |
Deakin University | Study abroad | Students Deakin |
Federation University | Study abroad – Federation University |
La Trobe University | Studying overseas, La Trobe University |
Monash University | Monash Abroad – Study Abroad |
RMIT University | Global experiences – RMIT University |
Swinburne University | Study Abroad and Exchange | Swinburne |
University of Melbourne | Study overseas: The University of Melbourne |
Victoria University | Study overseas | Victoria University |
Music Careers
The Australian Institute of Music (AIM) has developed a career guide for people passionate about pursuing a career in the music industry. The guide features over 75 occupations! You can access the guide via: AIM Careers Guide
To get the full experience of AIM you should attend an open day to find out about courses, see the campus, experience live performances, talk to teachers and get a taste of student life.
Open days are held at AIM, 120 King Street, Melbourne.
Sunday 15 December, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Thursday 18 January, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
To register or find out further information visit: AIM
STEM Careers
Have you explored the exciting range of job kits developed by Careers with STEM? The kits are free downloadable eight-page e-mags that offer a complete introduction to individual STEM careers.
You will discover what a specific STEM job is all about, meet real people working in that job and find out what you can do right now to set your career on the right path. From software developer to STEM educator, Careers with STEM has 27 job kits ready for you to download. Happy career planning!
Visit: Job Kits
Orthoptics and Optometry Careers
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:
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 experiencing eye troubles. They are healthcare professionals who can diagnose eye diseases, detect changes in the visual system and prescribe corrective lenses and they can make referrals to orthoptists. In Victoria, you can study optometry at Deakin University and The University of Melbourne.
For key information about this occupation, visit the Optometry Australia website: Optometry Australia
Download a course guide for Orthoptics and Optometry via SLM Career Resources
A Career as a Flight Attendant
Flight attendants (also known as cabin crew) ensure the check-in and out of passengers on domestic and international airlines. They provide exceptional customer service and give clear guidelines to passengers about safety processes. They also provide food and beverage services to passengers and work closely with the pilots. Interesting information about flight attendants in Australia:
Source: https://labourmarketinsights.gov.au/
To become a flight attendant, you do not need formal qualifications, however, some workers have completed the Certificate III in Aviation (Cabin Crew). William Angliss Institute offers the Certificate III in Aviation (Cabin Crew). To find out about the course, go to www.angliss.edu.au
Common requirements include:
Did you know, you can work as a cabin crew professional in the Air Force? You can also apply to complete a gap year in the Cabin Crew role.
For further information visit: Defence Jobs
Study Climate Change
Turn your passion for the environment into a career. The following are examples of three universities that offer excellent undergraduate courses in climate change:
Explore climate change careers by reading this fantastic article written by Louise Meers at Careers with STEM, Climate Change Careers
Forensic Science
Forensic scientists are the real clue seekers of our world, using their keen eye for detail to crack cases wide open. These ingenious investigators gather evidence like fingerprints, DNA and bloodstains, all while staying one step ahead of criminals.
Armed with state-of-the-art tools, they unearth hidden truths and piece together the puzzle of crime scenes. When it is time for justice, these experts don their metaphorical white coats and present their findings in court, making sure that the scales of justice are tipped in the right direction. But their talents do not stop there! Forensic scientists also venture into the realms of anthropology, toxicology and digital forensics, where they become the bone of contention, sniff out toxic substances and crack the code of digital mysteries.
So, for secondary school students with a knack for science and an appetite for solving riddles, a career in forensic science is the perfect way to leave no stone unturned in the quest for truth and justice.
Victoria Police Careers
Victoria Police has released an informative guide called ‘Navigating Your Path to a Career with Victoria Police’. In the guide you will find:
There are many career opportunities in Victoria Police and there is no limit to what you can achieve! Download the guide via Victoria Police Careers
Scholarships Closing NEXT WEEK
Australian Property and Research Fund, Rural and Regional Education Scholarship
The scholarship fund spans the duration of an Australian Property Institute (API) accredited property valuation degree, totalling a maximum term of three years, awarded yearly at $10,000. The fund supports the awardee to relocate to a university of their choosing and assists with payment of books and materials as well as tuition. Together with financial support, the awardee of the scholarship will also be supported by a senior API-certified property professional who will act as a mentor during their studies.
Applications close: 30 October
Visit: API Scholarships
Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust (AVCAT)
AVCAT scholarships include Long Tan Bursaries and sponsored scholarships. Sponsored scholarships are for the children and grandchildren of ex-serving veterans. Long Tan Bursaries are for the children and grandchildren of Vietnam Veterans and are available in each state and territory.
Applications close: 31 October
Visit: AVCAT Scholarships
Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS): Donald E Napier Scholarships
AIQS offers a number of scholarships each year for Year 12 students who qualify for entry into a Quantity Surveying, Construction Economics, Construction Management (Economics) or other appropriate courses at an AIQS accredited university in Australia.
Applications close: 31 October
Visit: AIQS Scholarships
The Trustees of the Francis Gregory Foundation are pleased to be offering two scholarships for 2024.
The Francis Gregory Foundation was established in 2012 to provide financial support to children of primary producers to assist them in undertaking university undergraduate education by reducing financial barriers.
The Foundation will provide two scholarships of $6,000 per annum (for the duration of the undergraduate degree) to students whose main family income is derived from primary production. The scholarships are for current Year 12 students who intend to study an undergraduate course at university in 2024.
Applications are open until 5 January 2024.
Further information can be found at: Francis Gregory Scholarship
Women of STEM
To help provide opportunities for young women, the Women of STEM Scholarship is for women aged between 18-20 years old who are entering their first year of a STEM degree at university. The Women of STEM Scholarship is a national program and provides women with financial grants of $5,000 per year for the life of their degree, up to a maximum of five years.
Applications close: 16 February 2024
Visit: Women of Stem
International Scholarships
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.
According to the Dietitian Association of Australia (DAA) – Dietitian or nutritionist, there is a distinction made between dietitians and other occupations in the nutrition and food science field, including that of nutritionist. The key difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist is that, in addition to or as part of their qualification in human nutrition, a dietitian has undertaken a course of study that included substantial theory and supervised and assessed professional practice in clinical nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and food service management.
So, in Australia, all dietitians are nutritionists, however, nutritionists without a dietetics qualification cannot take on the expert role of a dietitian.
Victorian universities offering undergraduate courses in nutrition, food science and/or dietetics include:
UNIVERSITY | COURSE | VCE PREREQ’ SUBJECTS | ATAR 2023 |
ACU
(M) – Melbourne |
Nutrition Science | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL. | 60.70 (M) |
Deakin (M) – Melbourne |
Nutrition Science | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL. | 65.25 (M) |
Nutrition Science (Dietetics Pathway) | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL. | 89.10 (M) | |
La Trobe
(M) – Melbourne |
Nutrition Science | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or at least 20 in English other than EAL. | 70.10 (M) |
Nutrition Science/Master Dietetic Practice | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or at least 20 in English other than EAL. | 90.00 (M) | |
Monash
(C) – Clayton |
Nutrition Science | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 27 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL; Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in one of Biology or Chemistry. | 70.35 (C) |
Nutrition Science – Scholars Program (Dietetics Pathway) | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 27 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL; Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in one of Biology or Chemistry. | 90.10 (C) | |
RMIT
(C/B) – City/Bundoora |
Food Technology and Nutrition | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL; Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any Mathematics. | 66.65 (C/B) |
SWINBURNE (H) – Hawthorn |
Health Science (Nutrition major) and a Master of Dietetics | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English other than EAL or at least 30 in English (EAL). | 57.55 (H) |
Victoria
(F) – Footscray
**Not Foundation |
Human Nutrition | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or at least 20 in English other than EAL; Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in one of Biology, Chemistry, Health And Human Development, any Mathematics** or Physical Education. | n/p (F)
|
Nutritional Science/Master of Dietetics | Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL; Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in two of Biology, Chemistry, Health And Human Development, any Mathematics**, Physical Education or Physics. | 88.45 (F) |
Note: Food Science and Nutrition are often offered as majors in courses in health, exercise science and science degrees, etc. Students are encouraged to browse VTAC for a comprehensive list, including double degrees.
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.
STEM Hub
Stem Hub is a digital platform connecting students and industry. The hub is open to all university students and graduates from any university. Students who sign up get access to leading industries and potential future employers.
Current senior students planning to study science, technology, engineering, and/or mathematics are encouraged to browse this link and flag this platform as a valuable resource once at university.
Good Universities Guide
Students can search over 400 different occupations narrowed down by the field or type of work they would like to do in the future, explore university courses and compare ratings for undergraduate degrees, www.gooduniversitiesguide.com.au
Course Seeker
Students can explore university courses for each state on the one website and can research courses, prerequisites, selection criteria and ATAR profiles for the 2024 intake, www.courseseeker.edu.au/
Australian Apprenticeship Pathways
You will be able to undertake apprenticeship aptitude tests, find local apprenticeship and group training centres, and learn about different trade occupations, www.aapathways.com.au
Four steps to finding an apprenticeship or traineeship
Australian Apprenticeships Pathways has developed a fantastic four-step process for students to follow when seeking an apprenticeship or traineeship, www.aapathways.com.au
My Skills
You can search for and explore vocational courses across Australia, learn about in-demand jobs and watch videos of young people who have completed vocational training, www.myskills.gov.au
Find out about your rights at work
Learn about your rights, responsibilities, how to resolve issues in the workplace and rules about unpaid work, www.fairwork.gov.au
Learn about safety in the workplace
For your rights and responsibilities, visit www.safe-t1.net.au
How to stay safe – www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/young-workers
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