Careers Corner

The end of Term 2 is fast approaching and there is a great deal of information available on the many different post school pathways.  The Year 12 students are looking at their post school options and are being urged to complete resumes and cover letters as well as applying for as many different courses as possible.

Over the coming weeks I will be attending information days on industry pathways and tertiary education pathways.  I am looking forward to passing on this information to the students.

I would like to encourage students and parents to check the Careers section of the St Clare’s School Website each week for updated information on Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Scholarships and University Open days.  The Job Jump section has a wealth of information about all things Careers as well.  Please make it a regular weekly occurrence to check the information here.

There is a Careers OneNote for students in Years 10, 11 and 12.  Have a look at this as there may be information about something you would like to do and have not considered.

I will be bombarding students with emails.  So PLEASE check your emails carefully so that you don’t miss out on an opportunity if and when it becomes available.

On Tuesday, 8 June, Mr Curtis and myself will be accompanying 28 students to Newcastle University for the Newcastle University Open Day for the schools in our area.  This will be a great opportunity for the students to find out more regarding course options, scholarships, accommodation and the various entry pathways.

Many universities are now open for early entry and several of these universities have their early entry separate from UAC.  University of New England, Southern Cross and Charles Sturt have various pathways and are worth considering (if not your first choice) as a back-up if you don’t get your first choice.  There is a PowerPoint with information about this in the Year 12 Careers OneNote with a summary of Early Entry 2022 for Year 12 2021 students.

University scholarships will begin to open up over the coming months and some have already so if you want to choose that pathway, it is very important to keep checking university websites.

APPLY, APPLY APPLY!

Many scholarships go “untaken”.  You have to be in it to win it and have nothing to lose by applying.

There are also quite a few TAFE scholarships available in different areas.  I can’t stress enough the importance of looking on the appropriate websites.

Those who have registered for the UCAT can access practice papers either on the UCAT website or other websites such as NIE.  Be aware that most of these other websites charge money for the papers and workshops.  If anyone needs assistance with this, please come and see me.

I would also like to encourage those Year 12 students who are applying for University to register on UAC ($70 before 30 September and $200 after this date).  Once you have done this you can apply for SRS (Schools Recommendation Scheme).  As students of St Clare’s, you automatically get the EAS consideration for being a student at a disadvantaged school and don’t have to apply for this.  There are also various other forms of disadvantage, so if you think you qualify for any of these come and see me and we will go through the application process.

Year 10 students are beginning their subject selection process and have been given access to their Year 10 Careers OneNote through their Year 10 Team.  It is very important that each student look at their strengths, passions and what they like when considering subject choices and to this end, work through the booklet (they have been given a hard copy) during some of their Period 3 sessions each week.  It is also in the Content Library of the OneNote.  Students can copy this into their own section of the OneNote and fill it in or keep using the hard copy.  There is also a UAC guide in the Content Library which shows various university courses and their requirements as well as a link to a “subject compass” to help in making choices for Year 11.  Information about TAFE and other pathways will also be provided.  If any student is unable to access this OneNote, please come and see me.

The mentoring sessions will begin this week and, of course, there will be an information evening for the students and parents regarding 2022 and beyond.  The date and time will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

If any Year 10 student would like to do a “TVET” course throughout 2022 and 2023, they will need to come and see me to get an expression of interest form once I have received these from TAFE.  This should happen within the next couple of weeks.  Next year TAFE are offering several online TVET subjects and I will be providing more information regarding this in the coming weeks.  I will put a booklet in the Team OneNote which outlines the courses available for next year.  Students attend TAFE one day a week and school four days a week.  This usually occurs on a Friday, however over the past couple of years Electrotechnology has run on a Wednesday.

There is a cost associated with these courses.  Most of the courses cost up to $3500, depending on the course.  The Catholic Schools Office will subsidise these courses, however parents are expected to contribute $300 per unit per year.

Most of the courses are 2 units per year which means parent contribution is $600 per year.

Things to remember when thinking about TVET/VET

1. 
   Some EVET courses are 4 units x 1 year. This means there is a bigger workload over the year and a parent contribution of $1,200 for the year.
2. Some courses have the option of an HSC Exam, others don’t. This is written on the information sheets available for each course.
3. If a student wishes to gain an ATAR, then only 2 units can be Category B Board Developed. Only one subject can be done in this area (EVET/VET).
4. If a student does not wish to gain an ATAR, then more than one Category B (Board Developed) or Board Endorsed subject can be done.
5. Work missed at school has to be caught up.
6. Compulsory Work Placement means a week out of school (35 hours per year) each year for each 2 units. If the first year is missed, then the 70 hours have to be made up in the second year.  If the course is 4 units x 1 Year, then 70 hours of Work Placement is necessary.
7. If a student does an EVET course and a VET course that means 70 hours per year Work Placement.

A reminder to those students who might be interested in Work Experience to come and see me and collect the necessary paperwork.

I am happy to meet with anyone who has questions regarding Careers and/or TVET.  The students can write their names in one of the “white spaces” on the timetable on my office door and I can be contacted by phone (6552 3300) or email karen.mccann@mn.catholic.edu.au.

Karen McCann
Careers/VET Adviser