Careers Corner

Week 6 and what a time it has been for so many families.  I hope that everyone is safe and well and on the road to recovery from the devastating floods over the past weeks. 

Catholic Schools Week this week – celebrating the very important part that Catholic Schools play in our children’s education. 

We are ensuring that the Year 12 students who wish to go to university next year, and are applying through UAC, are going to apply for EAS provisions (N01D:  Natural disasters).  There was a hard copy of the information given out last Friday (I have more copies if needed) which sets out the process to be followed and the documents to be uploaded.  This is also in our Careers Team OneNote.  This has to be done individually.  I am happy to assist whoever needs help with this process. 

I am going to include some information on the ATAR so that students and parents are aware of how this works. 

Part 1 

If you’re not entirely sure how the ATAR system works, why you might need one, and how they’re calculated, you’re definitely not alone.  The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (or ATAR) can seem confusing at first, but once you understand the basics, it all starts to make sense.  Here are some of the most common questions answered and misconceptions about the ATAR busted. 

What is an ATAR? 

Your ATAR is a number between 0 and 99.95 that represents your overall academic achievement at high school compared to the rest of your cohort. 

Here’s the important bit: it isn’t a “score” or a “mark”, and it doesn’t reflect your individual achievements in isolation – which is important to remember.  Instead, it shows where you sit compared to everyone else who completed Year 12 in your state or territory. 

Can you receive an ATAR of 100?

Nobody can receive an ATAR of 100, and that’s because the ATAR is a rank (not a percentage or mark), measured in increments of 0.05. 

The highest ATAR you could get is 99.95 – this signifies you performed better than 99.95% of students in your state, while an ATAR of 80.00 indicates that you sit in the top 20% of your cohort, and so on. 

In order to receive a rank of 100, you need to score higher than 100% of your cohort… including yourself! 

What’s the lowest ATAR that you can get? 

30.00 is the lowest ATAR reported.  If you rank lower than that, your results will just say “30.00 or less”. 

PART 2 – in Ch 6 

UAC has opened.  All students should have received a PIN from UAC – please check your junk mail if you have not received this yet.  Please email me if you do not receive a PIN even if you do not want to go to university post school. 

UAC (Universities Admission Centre) opened on Wednesday 2 April and students should have received information about this process.  This included information on SRS, EAS and Equity Scholarships. 

All students will have received a PIN to access this which is necessary if they want to go to university post school.  This is one of the pathways to do this. 

Another is Direct Entry and of course there are Early Entry options as well. 

If you have not received your PIN, there are steps to take to get this.  Please come and see me if you would any help with this. 

There is some very important information about UAC, including SRS, EAS and Equity Scholarships below.  There will be information on some of the University Early Entry pathways and scholarship options in the coming weeks and these will all be dealt with in more detail during our Friday Period 1 Career sessions. 

This information will be in our Careers Team OneNote. 

Schools Recommendation Scheme 

Applications opened on 2 April 2025. 

The Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) is one way institutions make early offers of undergraduate admission to Year 12 students.  They do this by using criteria other than (or in addition to) the ATAR. 

Who can apply? 

To apply for SRS you must be a Year 12 applicant who is attempting one of the following:

• an Australian Year 12 qualification in 2025
• an International Baccalaureate in Australia in 2025 

You must also be: 

• a UAC applicant for undergraduate admission in 2026
• an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident of Australia or the holder of an Australian permanent resident humanitarian visa 

How you are assessed 

Participating institutions may use one or more of the following criteria listed when considering your application: 

• your Year 11 studies (IB and interstate students will need to upload a PDF of their Year 11 school report)
• your school’s rating of your aptitudes
• your Educational Access Scheme (EAS) application (if applicable).
• Institutions will then make offers based:
• solely on SRS criteria
• on both SRS criteria and ATAR/selection rank
• on SRS criteria and ATAR and equity criteria. 

Each institution has its own policy for determining SRS eligibility and making offers.  For example, you may also have to submit an EAS application institution-defined dates or attend a school in a particular region. 

SRS is not available for all courses.  The institution-specific SRS criteria detail any exceptions. 

Application dates 

2 April 2025
SRS: Applications open for 2025
SRS applications open at 9 am for 2025 Year 12 students.  You must complete an application for undergraduate admission before you can apply for SRS. 

5 September 2025
SRS: Applications close for 2025
Apply for the Schools Recommendation Scheme by 11.59 pm.  You must first complete a UAC application for undergraduate admission. 

6 November 2025
SRS: Course preference deadline for first SRS offers
Include your SRS course preferences in your UAC application by 11.59 pm.  First SRS offers will be released in November Round 1 on 13 November. 

13 November 2025
SRS: First offers released
SRS unconditional and conditional offers released.  Check your email or log in to your UAC undergraduate application. 

How the Educational Access Scheme works 

EAS applications open 2 April 2025. 

You can apply for EAS from your completed undergraduate application. 

The Educational Access Scheme (EAS) helps UAC applicants who have encountered significant educational challenges.  It gives them the opportunity to have their circumstances taken into account when institutions select applicants for courses. 

If you are eligible for consideration under the Educational Access Scheme and your ATAR (or equivalent) is below the required selection rank for a course, an institution can increase your selection rank for that course, making you more competitive for a place. 

Each institution has its own policy on when and how it increases selection ranks for eligible applicants. 

Being eligible for EAS consideration doesn’t guarantee you an offer to a course; you still need to meet any published lowest selection rank for that course and compete with all other applicants for a place.  If you successfully compete against other applicants, you will receive an offer as part of the standard undergraduate offer rounds. 

Application dates 

2 April 2025
EAS: Applications open for 2025 to 2026 admissions
EAS application and supporting documents must be received at least two weeks before the undergraduate offer round in which you wish to be considered. 

18 November 2025
EAS: Closing date for EAS applications for December Round 2
Apply and provide documents for EAS by midnight to have your application considered in December Round 2. 

18 December 2025
EAS: Eligibility letters released for December Round 2
EAS eligibility letters begin to be progressively released to applicants with finalised assessment for December Round 2. 

25 December 2025
EAS: Closing date for EAS applications for January Round 1
Apply and provide documents for EAS by midnight to have your application considered in January Round 1. 

As has been said previously, we are in the process of looking into EAS for our students – especially those who have been impacted by the recent floods.  We will be going through the process with the students in the next few weeks.  There is plenty of time to do this. 

Equity Scholarships

Equity Scholarships are awarded to tertiary students who demonstrate the greatest level of financial need.  Most applicants who are awarded a scholarship are receiving Centrelink income support payments such as ABSTUDY, Austudy, Youth Allowance, JobSeeker Payment, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment (Single) or the Carer Payment. 

There are two types of Equity Scholarships: 

• Institution Equity Scholarships: funded by individual institutions and their value, eligibility criteria and duration differ between institutions
• Indigenous Student Success Program scholarships: funded by the Australian Government
• Most institutions also offer merit scholarships: apply directly to the institution for these 

Who can apply? 

To apply for an Equity Scholarship, you must be enrolled at a UAC participating institution, or applying for admission to a UAC participating institution in one of the following ways: 

• through UAC (for undergraduate or postgraduate study: only a very limited number of Equity Scholarships are open to international applicants)
• directly to an institution
• through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) or the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) 

Most applicants who receive a scholarship are receiving Centrelink income support payments and/or can demonstrate that they meet additional types of eligibility criteria specified by the institution. 

Details of requirements for individual scholarships can be found on the institution websites. 

Being eligible doesn't guarantee a scholarship 

Meeting scholarship eligibility criteria doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be awarded a scholarship. There are more applicants than available scholarships.  As part of a competitive application process, you are ranked against the eligibility criteria, and institutions award scholarships to applicants who best meet the eligibility criteria. 

If you are unsuccessful, it doesn’t mean that you’re not in need; rather, it means that there are other applicants who’ve been assessed as being in greater need. 

Application and offer dates 

2 April 2025
Equity Scholarships: Applications open for 2025 to 2026
Applications open at 9 am 

4 April 2025
Equity Scholarships: April Round 1 application deadline
Apply and upload PDF documents by 11:59 pm for consideration in April Round 1 

18 April 2025
Equity Scholarships: April Round 1 outcomes released
Equity Scholarship April Round 1 outcomes released at 9 am

25 April 2025
Equity Scholarships: May Round 1 application deadline
Apply and upload PDF documents by 11:59 pm for consideration in May Round 1 

Undergraduate fact sheet Key dates for 2025 to 2026

Times indicated are based on Sydney time. 

Application dates Tuesday 30 September 2025 Early bird processing charge deadline (pay for and submit your application by this date to avoid the higher processing charge.)  Friday 6 February 2026 Applications close for semester 1, 2026. 

Some courses have early closing dates set by the institutions. 

Check the course descriptions on UAC’s website at uac.edu.au/search. 

Processing charges Early bird Standard Wednesday 2 April to 11:59 pm Tuesday 30 September 2025 - $82.00 

Wednesday 1 October 2025 to 11:59 pm Friday 6 February 2026 - $215

All fees and charges are in Australian dollars (except as required by law) and subject to change after 30 June 2025. 

Year 12 results and ATAR dates

All dates determined by external organisations are subject to change. 

2025 NSW HSC students 2025 ACT Year 12 students: 

Thursday 18 December 2025 HSC results released by NESA from 6am
ATARs released on UAC website from 9 am

Mid-December 2025 Statement (including ATAR) issued by ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies.

Thursday 18 December 2025 ATARs released on UAC website from 9 am 

Undergraduate Institutions decide when they will make offers to their courses.  There may be a significant amount of time between when you apply for a course and when the institution makes offers to that course.  Most offers to 2026 Semester 1 courses will be made in December and January. 

Each university has its own pathway and it is important to look at the website for each university to know what should be done with regard to this. 

Some information about the UTS Early Entry Program follows: 

2026 UTS Early Entry Program 

The UTS Early Entry Program is a direct application pathway for students to receive a provisional offer before ATARs are released.  Encourage your students to register for our upcoming info session to learn how it works, how it differs from applying through UAC, and what they need to do next. 

Date:  Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Time:  5 pm to 6 pm
Where:  Online 

Wednesday 4 June 2025 - Applications open
Monday 8 September 2025 - Applications close
Wednesday 24 September 2025 - Provisional offers released
Thursday 16 October 2025 - HSC written exams commence
Thursday 18 December 2025 - ATARs released (NSW/ACT) 

If you have any questions about the information in this update, please get in touch with us!

UTS Outreach Team 

On 3 July we are travelling to the University of Newcastle for their School’s Open Day.  This is an excellent opportunity for the students to find out about what courses are on offer, accommodation possibilities and scholarship opportunities. So far 38 Year 12 students have expressed an interest.  There is room for a couple more on the bus, so please let me know if you wish to go.  Permission notes will be handed out soon. 

We receive quite a bit of information about a platform called “Beyond” and we have free access to this.  One of the areas which it is currently giving information on is “subject selection” for Year 10. 

Please see the details below regarding information and access to “Beyond” with regard to this. 

Beyond 

We know how demanding subject selection season can be - especially when students are unsure of their direction and parents are looking for answers. 

That’s where BEYOND can help. 

We’ve created a free suite of tools designed to take the pressure off and support students, and their families: 

AI Virtual Careers Assistant 

• An always-on chatbot that guides students to subject suggestions based on their strengths, interests, & future career goals, giving them personalised, pathway-aligned advice in seconds 

Subject Selection Tool 

• A visual tool that helps students compare subjects side-by-side
• Includes information about content they will learn, ATAR/Non-ATAR options & types of assessments they will complete
• This tool also links to the relevant subject bullseye so that they can see pathways into various occupations 

Watch this short video to see these tools in action:

For Parents 

• As we know, parents are significant influences in the decisions of their children.
• By empowering them with knowledge and skills, it allows everyone to be on the same page.
• Share this short video to help them understand their role in the process and how to guide without taking over.

P.S. - We are running two parent webinars for the Council for Catholic School Parents (CCSP) next week. Please feel free to send this to your parent community in case they would like to join: 

• A Parent’s Roadmap to Careers and Pathways (Year 7-12)
• Supporting Your Child Through the HSC (Year 10-12) 

On Tuesday 20 May we were supposed to be visited by Jonathan Billingham who is the Dean of Residents at “New College”.  This was to present information about New College at UNSW, and other university residential colleges which have an open admissions policy but share a similar Christian ethos and where the consumption of alcohol is not permitted within the student colleges.  As you know the school was shut on this day. 

New College is a residential college on UNSW campus.  They are part of Living At University which represents several residential colleges based at universities across NSW. University colleges are very different to other large-scale accommodation options.  Their primary purpose is not to merely provide a convenient place to live, but to foster an immersive community, built on academic excellence, social connection and pastoral care.  There is also a link for the Living At University Brochure,

This is open to all students who will be living away from home post school, including Trainees and Apprentices and of course University students. Jonathan grew up in Taree and has informed me that more information will be forthcoming.  Please see below. 

I would like to update that application for students to live on campus at New College Communities UNSW opens on 1 June 2025! 

Please let any interested students know places will fill very quickly and they should apply ASAP. Last year all places were taken by end of October. 

If any of your students are interested in our membership for 2026, they can visit this link and submit an application:

In general, we require an online application form, $100 application fee (We would like to offer our promo code to your interested students to waive their application fees: STAY2026), 1 personal reference and 1 academic reference, and an interview (online or in-person) with Dean of Residents. 

If your students have any question, please pass my contact details on: Sally Chen, s.chen@newcollege.unsw.edu.au, 02 9381 1999.

Careers Advisers Association 

The latest information from the CAA is as follows: 

Information Sessions for Students & Parents, Open Days, Expos for Students 

Financial Advice Association Australia is attending the Kingsgrove Future Links Expo The Financial Advice Association Australia (FAAA) is excited to be at the Kingsgrove Future Links Expo on 6 June. Held at Kingsgrove High School, the event will host students from four other schools in the surrounding areas. FAAA will be there sharing career pathways and resources to help students explore the world of financial advice. For more information about FAAA visit:

The University of Sydney’s June Information Evenings 11 June: Online Year 12 Information Evening - hear from UAC and Sydney Future Students staff about university entry, scholarships, admission pathways and more. To register:

CQUniversity | Year 12s, Parents and Supporters Webinar – Tuesday 10 June Join CQU for this information packed webinar that will help students navigate every step of the high school to further study transition. Gain valuable insights and resources to make informed career choices. Learn where to look for course information, find entry requirements and the essentials on how to apply. For more information, visit:

TAFE NSW | Bradfield Senior College Open Day - 11 June 2025 For students looking to take greater responsibility for their own learning in their HSC years, Bradfield Senior College offers a wide range of traditional and creative ATAR and VET courses. Pathways options available. Enrolling for February 2026 Year 11 and Oct 2025 Year 12. Find out more at TAFE NSW’s upcoming Open Day on 11 June. To register:

CQUniversity | STEPS Information Session – Wednesday 11 June, 12.00pm-1.00pm AEST If students are not sure if they will meet entry requirements, or need to complete a prerequisite subject to gain entry into their dream career, then CQU’s Skills For Tertiary Education Preparatory Studies (STEPS) course is the perfect option to help them succeed at university. Join the info session to find out more about how STEPS can help. For more information visit:

Arrive & Thrive Webinar | Career Conversations @ Home | 12 June, 6.30pm Arrive & Thrive is running a public webinar on 12 June at 6.30pm (AEST) to support parents around Australia in having more positive career conversations at home. The webinar will share insights for parents to better support their young people in career decisions. Participants will receive a Career Conversation Kit. To register:

The University of Sydney’s Gadigal Open Nights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Years 11–12 are invited to bring their families for a yarn, a feed, and a warm welcome to university life. Join USYD in-person at one of their Gadigal Open Nights: 12 June at Camperdown/Darlington campus, or at the Dubbo campus on 19 June. For more information visit:

Master Builders at the Northern Beaches Career Expo This is the perfect opportunity for students, parents, and job seekers to speak with Master Builders about career pathways and apprenticeships in the building and construction industry. Date: Thursday 12 June from 9.00am to 2.00pm. Venue: Miramare Gardens, Terrey Hills. This is a free event by Youth Up Front. For more information, visit:

Princeton Review | US College Admissions Webinar Join Princeton Review’s free webinar to meet expert Devery Doran, Harvard University Undergraduate Admission Officer on Sunday 22 June 2025 from 9.15am to 10.15am (AEDT). To register:

For more information, email: hello@princetonreview.com.au.

Science Week - Decoding the Ocean at the Australian National Maritime Museum As part of Science Week, High School students are invited to a special event at the Australian National Maritime Museum where students will hear from ocean scientists and Royal Australian Navy representatives about careers and research in oceanography, climate science, and meteorology. For more information, visit:

UC Sydney Hills | Nursing or Early Childhood Education Book a campus tour or taster session at UC Sydney Hills – or let UC bring the experience to your school. Early offers are now open for 2026. For more information, contact Kartina Ayoob at kartina.ayoob@canberra.edu.au.

Courses & Workshops for Students 

HSC Help @ Macquarie University - July Holidays This July holidays, Macquarie University is the home of HSC Trial Preparation Workshops. Gain the exam edge with expert teachers in English (Advanced & Standard), Mathematics (Advanced & Standard 2), Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry and PDHPE. For more information, visit:

ACE the HSC Workshop - Year 11 & 12 (July Holidays) Macquarie University is hosting a workshop for Year 11 and 12 students on Monday 7 July, 10.00am-12.00pm. Learn strategies to boost marks in exams, access tips from high achieving students and understand how to maintain motivation throughout the year. Tickets are $10. For more information visit:

Holiday Workshop at The Fashion Institute The Fashion Institute is hosting a 3-day holiday workshop in Sydney from 9 - 11 July. Students will get hands on experience in fashion styling, journalism, content creation and sustainable fashion. This is perfect starting point for students wishing to get a taster of the fashion industry and explore their passions. To register:

The College | Aviation Operations (Micro-Credential) The College has developed the Introduction to Aviation Operations (Micro-Credential) in collaboration with Western Sydney International Airport. A 6-week, self-paced learning course, face to face or virtual workshops, with practical activities designed to give students an introduction to Aviation operations. For more information, visit:

Introducing SafeStart Education SafeStart Education offers engaging WHS workshops to prepare High School, TAFE and University students for safe entry into the workforce. Sessions cover workplace hazards, risk assessment and legal rights, tailored to student needs and career interests. Flexible delivery options available. For more information, visit:

email: imcclung.safestarteducation@gmail.com or call 0418 610 780.

Macquarie University | New Bachelor of Health Sciences The Bachelor of Health Sciences builds core skills in human health and explores social influences on wellbeing. Choose from majors in Coaching, Counselling, Digital Health or Health Administration. For more information visit:

Princeton Review | Free SAT Practice Test SAT is an excellent pathway for students seeking early admission to universities. With a strong SAT score, students can secure an equivalent ATAR ranking and early admission. Taking the SAT can give students a confident head start on their higher education journey. To register:

For more information, email: hello@princetonreview.com.au.

Princeton Review | Succeed with AP® Prep Courses AP® courses complement students' HSC/IB study by reinforcing key concepts while earning students US college credit. Subject courses (History, Precalculus, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Physics, Statistics, English etc) start 21 July. To register:

For more information, email: hello@princetonreview.com.au.

English HSC Workshops & Mock HSC Trial Examination: English Papers 1 & 2 Designed and delivered by Dr Judith Amed, from Emeritus Education. These school holiday workshops are for HSC students. For more information:

Scholarships, Early Entry, Alternate Pathways 

Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry Scheme Macquarie Leaders and Achievers Early Entry applications open on Monday 16 June. Details including key dates, eligibility and how to apply can be found at

Students can register for an information session on Tuesday 17 June here:

The University of Sydney’s MySydney Entry and Scholarship Scheme Webinar Join online on 24 June to learn about The University of Sydney’s MySydney Entry and Scholarship Scheme for students from low socio-economic areas. Learn about the benefits including reduced ATAR entry, an $8,500 annual scholarship, and ongoing support. The University of Sydney will cover eligibility, how to apply, FAQs, and more. To register:

The University of Sydney’s Regional and Remote Entry Scheme Webinar Join online on 24 June to hear about University of Sydney’s Regional and Remote Entry Scheme for students in regional or remote areas. Learn about all the benefits including reduced ATAR entry and ongoing support. Discover eligibility, how to apply, scholarship options for regional students, and more. To register:

Western Sydney University Scholarships Western Sydney University offers $20 million in scholarships every year, including a generous range of university and donor-funded opportunities. There are a range of scholarships currently open for Semester 2 2025 from Equity, High Potential and Indigenous categories. Applications close 2 July. For more information visit:

Discover Western Webinar Series 2025 | Pathways, Alternative Entry and Early Offers The Discover Western - Pathways, Alternative Entry and Early Offers webinar is aimed at students in Years 10-12, where the HSC True Reward Early Offer Program, Alternative Entry Pathways and more will be explored and explained. Tuesday 29 July at 5.00pm. To register:

Discover Western Webinar - Watch On-Demand Throughout 2025, Western will host the Discover Western webinar series where you are invited to hear all about Western's early offer program, alternative entry options, and scholarships.  If you missed the live webinars, all webinars are recorded and are available to watch on-demand. To view:

Jobs & Work Experiences for Students 

eeger | A New Pathway for Tourism, Hospitality, and Travel Careers Launching in July, eeger is a national platform designed to support students and job seekers interested in careers in Tourism, Hospitality, and Travel. It brings together education, training and employment opportunities in one place, helping young people turn everyday jobs into long-term careers. For more information visit:

Resources for Students

myfuture Resource - Student Motivation Framework and Worksheet Demotivated students present a challenge to even the most optimistic career educator. This resource describes a simple framework for motivation and includes a worksheet designed to help pinpoint gaps in students’ motivation.

Mastering the Interview Process: Expert Tips for Apprenticeship and Traineeship Candidates Interviews can be daunting. That is why the expert team at 1300apprentice has created a practical, step-by-step guide to help boost confidence and preparation. Designed for all ages, this guide offers valuable tips to help students succeed. For more information visit:

Arrive & Thrive | Free Elevator Pitch Module for High School Students Communicating skills, experience, and future focus is vital for high school students moving into casual work and pathways. Use Arrive & Thrive’s free elevator pitch module to help students create an elevator pitch that lands them opportunities. For more information visit:

CQUniversity | Career Decision Making: Explore your Options with CQU Check out CQU’s Choosing a Career page to explore careers, job insights, and the CQU courses that will help students reach their dream career. Students can consider their interests and strengths, the lifestyle they would like to live, and how they would like to spend their time. Then they can take the Career Voyager quiz and identify types of work that suit them. For more information, visit:

I would also like to keep encouraging all students to have a draft ‘Cover Letter’ and resume which can be tailored for job applications both part time and full time.  This can be saved in the OneNote and accessed/changed at any time. 

If any student is interested in doing Work Experience, please see Mrs Lovern and collect the necessary paperwork from her.  Catholic Schools has set guidelines for Work Experience.  Year 9 and Year 10 students have to complete this during school hours, however Year 11 and Year 12 students can do Work Experience during holiday time or on the weekend. 

Karen McCann
Careers/VET Adviser