You don’t want to impose. You don’t want to be any trouble. They will think you are stupid.
There are 1000 reasons NOT to get in touch with a mentor.
There are a 1000 mentors out there aching to help young people to succeed.
The kids who put themselves forward are the ones who get the help. It takes guts to ask for help. It takes guts to want to succeed.
For Mentors
There is nothing more frustrating than having knowledge and networks developed over a lifetime of work and study that is no longer being used or valued.
For Students
You can tap into this pot of wisdom and network to support your giant leap into a fantastic future.
Be prepared to share your knowledge of apps and technology.
Be prepared to listen.
Mentoring Programs
The Australian Business and Community Network
The Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN) is a not-for-profit organisation that connects business with students through mentoring and partnership programs. It aims to provide students with the skills and work experience they require to make sound personal, educational and vocational choices.
ABCN is supported by over 40 member companies and led by an experienced body of CEOs who participate in the programs and support their employees to do the same.
Together we work with a network of public schools across Australia to deliver a range of critical skills, employability and leadership programs that involve business professionals mentoring students. All programs are provided at no cost to the schools or the students.
The Beacon Foundation is another not-for- profit organisation that provides mentoring services. It works with schools, businesses and communities to inspire students to think about their future long before they leave school.
YMentoring is a community-based not-for-profit mentoring program operated by YMCA WA for youth living in the Perth Metropolitan area. It matches youth with a caring adult who can offer support, guidance and friendship for a minimum of 12 months. The service is offered to young people aged between 7 and 20 years. To find out more go HERE.
Pinnacle Foundation
The Pinnacle Foundation provides scholarships & mentorships to young LGBTIQ+ students to give them the chance to achieve their full potential, and Light The Spark within.
Search Mentor Programs Western Australia for more services that you can tap into.
Find your ideal career path and tap into all the support you need.
Get your professional career plan from Bev Johnson at In Focus Careers.
TISC applications for university in 2020 open on August 5. Students who want to go to university will be asked to identify their preferred courses and preferred university.
There are five main universities that Year 12s traditionally choose between in Western Australia (and a number of courses that you can do online).
If you know some of the key features of these universities it may be easier to make your choice.
Notre Dame
91.1% of Notre Dame undergraduate students were satisfied with the overall quality of their learning experience according to the Quality Indicators of Learning and Teaching (QILT).
EVERY UNIVERSITY WISHES THEY GOT THAT!!
Notre Dame is a Catholic University but you don’t need to be Catholic or Christian or even religious to go there, and the fees are comparable with other universities.
The point of difference is that Notre Dame does have a spiritual, values driven, caring approach to teaching and learning which underpins their interactions and decision making. That’s why they are topping the QILT ratings.
It is quite a small university with 10,000 students and the vast majority of them are domestic students.
The university is in beautiful renovated old buildings around Fremantle.
Pastoral care and support developed for international students has been made available to help regional and remote students to settle in. The only shortcoming is the lack of Notre Dame student accommodation but the student support services people will help students to find accommodation to meet their needs.
Curtin University
Curtin is by far our biggest university with over 50,000 students. It seems like a city with business centres, shops, gyms, accommodation and bands and food trucks, art galleries and theatres.
I think undergraduate students could have a ball at Curtin, but the sheer size of of the place can be daunting. You need to actively work at getting engaged with the Curtin community, both social and academic, to make the most of your Curtin experience.
Curtin knows this and has invested in providing plenty of help for new students and for students with special needs, but it is up to you to seek it out.
Because of the size of the university there are many opportunities available for students to extend their experience, in Australia and internationally.
Curtin is part of a knowledge precinct in Bently with CSIRO, Tech Park and the Pawsey supercomputer in the area. Staff and students actively seek to engage with industry to get knowledge and experience and do industry based research. It is number 2 in the world for Metals and Mining Engineering programs. This industry focus underpins the feel at Curtin.
Curtin seems exciting, dynamic and very cosmopolitan with lots of international students and with campuses in Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai as well as the one at Bentley and in Kalgoorlie.
ECU – Edith Cowan University
The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching ranks ECU as the top public university in Australia for undergraduates’ student experience. You can feel the quality of the experience when you contact ECU for information. They get back to you. They try to help.
ECU started as a college for teacher training and gradually expanded its courses with WAAPA being one of the first ventures into new areas. Now WAAPA has a reputation as one of the BEST performing arts learning academies in the world.
ECU’s more recent expansion has been into engineering with significant investment into new facilities, international learning opportunities and strong demand for graduates.
ECU is pretty big but students are on the Mt Lawley and Joondalup campuses so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
The buildings are great examples of design with some of the coolest architecture in Western Australia.
ECU is manageable and there is a strong student centric management focus which means students get help to succeed. There are many alternate pathways into ECU including the UniPrep program and experienced based entry.
People who didn’t think they could get into uni and succeed can are supported to thrive at ECU.
Murdoch University
Murdoch has recognised that the world is changing and that there is a disconnect between education and where jobs are emerging. It has introduced “adaptive expertise” as a learning spine being introduced across the university.
They are focusing on adapting traditional courses with the application of technologies. So History + STEM could result in machine learning that unearths previously unknown information about cultures. Journalism + STEM, as seen in the use of drones, is revealing what is happening in emergency or war environments.
Murdoch has a strong focus on getting girls into engineering. They have engaged with schools and support in industry to lift the number of girls entering this field which delivers 25% of the world’s CEOs.
Murdoch has the biggest percentage of international students in WA.
They are teaching students to think globally, to seek ways to apply technology to their work and to work collaboratively.
UWA – University of Western Australia
This is our oldest university. Many industry, political and community leaders in Western Australia went to UWA which gives strong links between UWA and leadership across the State.
The UWA campus is beautiful with Winthrop Hall being the most recognised symbol of “a university” in WA. The gardens, theatres and art gallery and its role as the initiator of the Festival of Perth make UWA a hub of culture.
UWA has positioned itself as the university for high academic performers and many high achieving school leavers identify UWA as their first preference.
It is aware of its low QILT satisfaction results and is supporting strategies like the Fogarty Foundation Edfutures initiative and consulting with experts in an effort to become more student centric in its approach.
CQU – Central Queensland University
This is a new comer to Western Australia and it is working hard to attract students from their traditional university pathways with courses in sonography and echocardiography which are new to WA.
The main campus is located near the bottom of William Street near Elizabeth Quay and they have set up study hubs in Busselton, Broome, Geraldton and Karratha. These are often on TAFE campuses.
Many of the students are mature aged, external students who make use of online learning, occasional face to face contact and phone calls to fit their learning around their work and other demands.
Although there are 20,000 students at CQU, they are spread across Australia and numbers in WA are still quite small.
Comparison
The comparison of student experience outcomes puts Notre Dame as a clear leader with
ECU also doing well.
Each university has different features that will impact on your choices.
What possibilities are open to you?
Subscribe to the insanely great In Focus Careers Newsletter to find out.
You can quickly develop skills to succeed at uni via a university preparation course. These are short courses, run by universities, to help those who didn’t get the ATAR score needed to get an offer.
They are generally a semester long which means you could do the preparation course and start your university degree in semester 2.
Apply Early
These courses are free. There are limits on numbers but applying early should easily secure you a free place.
What Do I Get?
These courses can lead to an offer of a place in a range of degree courses.
You will gain an understanding of university life and you will learn more about the range of degree opportunities that are available to you. This often leads to students changing their minds about what degree course they want to enrol in.
By doing this free course students can save themselves the money it would cost them if they enrolled in the wrong course straight out of school.
Although each course is different there are usually 4 subject like….
Academic Writing
Communication Skills
Essential Maths
Research Skills and Information Literacy
Adjustment Bonus Points
If you did not achieve the required ATAR cut off point you can check to see if you can boost your score via Adjustment (Bonus) Points.
Warning
If you didn’t like studying at school… that is probably not going to change if you go to university.
If you don’t have good English and communication skills you are going to have trouble writing assignments and exams.
University courses are expensive and they don’t necessarily lead to better pay and conditions. Check these facts HERE.
School leavers must be able to demonstrate that they have achieved their WACE and meet ECU’s English Competency Requirements.
School leavers who wait until semester 2 to apply will be classified as Non School Leavers and will need to demonstrate how they meet ECU’s English Competency Requirements.
Edith Cowan College offers courses that can result in entry to second year of ECU’s Bachelor Degree program
Curtin College offers courses that can result in entry to second year of Curtin’s Bachelor Degree program.
Portfolio Entry is not only for the creative courses; it is applicable to courses like Education, Science, Commerce and Health.
Thanks for the update from: Christine Lim Future Student Advisor | Curtin University and Kathy Lawson UniReady Program Manager
Murdoch University
On Track is a 14 week course that prepares students for entry to a course with a minimum ATAR requirement of 70.
On Track Sprint is a 4 week course run over the Christmas holidays that may prepare you for entry to a course with a minimum ATAR requirement of 70.
TLC10 – prepares students to apply for Murdoch through a 1 day per week course that runs all year in Mandurah and Rockingham.
Portfolio Entry – you can gain entry to courses that rely on creative talent in media, games art and design and creative writing, photography and web communication via a portfolio demonstrating your work + a number of hoops like WACE and English competence. For Portfolio entry try the Domestic Admissions Team on 9360 7458 or send an email by following this link
UWAY – This is an alternative entry pathway and comprehensive support program for students completing Year 12 under challenging circumstances.
The program provides academic, financial and personal support, and it is responsive to individual student needs, throughout their final year of secondary school and during their university studies. You can apply for alternative entry to an undergraduate degree course through UWay if your academic achievements have been adversely affected by certain disadvantages.
Thanks Philip Sharpe, Future Students Centre, University of Western Australia
The open days are brilliant. They are run from 21 July to 25 August and all unis bring out their finest toys and best stories in their efforts to get you to buy into their courses.
Jan Owen blasts out a tune that is urgent and passionate and inspirational.
She heads up the Foundation for Young Australians (FYA) which she has spent the past 8 years driving to the forefront to influence government policy, drive world class careers research and become a conduit for 21st century success strategies.
Young people want ethical work where they are making a difference. Saving the planet is their number one concern and they are becoming more focused in doing work that will make the world a better place.
To emphasize her point Jan had with her two young West Australian social entrepreneurs who are making a difference:
Nat Foo
Nat Foo from threeonesix who identified a link between poverty and exploitation of tea farmers and now manages an ethical tea retail business… a giant leap for an occupational therapist.
Darren Looman
Darren is developing Greenbatch which is partnering with schools to collect plastic waste and turn it into filament for 3D printing. Find out how you can get involved HERE.
Tips:
Both said that you need to pick a problem – research a solution – get people involved.
Resilience comes from knowing its the right thing to do.
Don’t do you degree at one university. Do units at universities around the world.
Both quickly and consciously used their degrees as a springboard to challenging lived experiences and to formal study which overcame barriers to them undertaking their projects.
2. The Future of Degrees
Degrees have a two-year shelf life. You can no longer get a degree and know that you have the in depth knowledge you need to succeed for a lifetime.
Employers are recruiting workers who have a lifelong learning mindset, then investing in them through ongoing training.
3. Flexibility is Key
While people still choose to gather in workplaces to engage in joined up problem solving, the nature of the workplace is changing.
Health professionals call in a range of experts to work together to develop a collaborative solution to a problem. This model is being adopted across all industries.
Building the personal capacity, physical infrastructure and communication networks to operate in an ecosystem of agile experts, is the key to successful 21st century problem solving.
Bosses now manage staff who are also working on their own gigs. It used to be that workers went home to family responsibilities. Now they go home to Uber driving, AirBnB businesses and AirTasker jobs.
The next FYA research report is being done on the Flexible Economy.
If you look up pre apprenticeships you will find a truckload being advertised for Semester 2.
All of the TAFE colleges and lots of other colleges seem to be advertising them so the level of competition for each place may be down.
Most of the pre-apprenticeship programs offered are Certificate II’s.
Students can meet entry with OLNA, NAPLAN, or by completing a Certificate I or II program at school. They can also complete a Certificate I or II in General Education or a similar bridging program at a number of TAFE campuses.
TAFE colleges generally require that students are at least 15 years old. It is an adult learning environment and they will be mixing with adults.
If you get a place you need to work like crazy to impress through any contact with either lecturers or potential employers. There aren’t many apprenticeships going so you need to make a good impression while you have the chance.
In Focus Careers Newsletter
You can find a monthly feast of insanely great careers ideas and support through my In Focus Careers newsletter.
Send for a complimentary copy:
My Commitment to West Australian Careers Education
I want In Focus Careers to be the conduit to Insanely Great Careers Information for West Australian students. I undertake to:
Write 10 insanely great issues of In Focus Careers newsletter each year that focus on the needs of West Australian students and careers teachers.
Search for local, national and international information that could impact on the careers of West Australian students.
Connect you with insanely great careers teachers and industry experts across the In Focus Careers network.
Listen to and support West Australian careers teachers.
Leaving school early IS AN OPTION. It does NOT mean you will never get a job, or that you will live on the streets for the rest of your life.
School isn’t for everyone. It makes some people’s lives a total misery.
In Western Australia the government requires students to get special permission to leave school early by applying for a Notice of Arrangement. You can find details of that HERE.
Don’t Jump Too Soon
Once you have made up your mind to leave it is difficult to change your mind. As soon as you start thinking of leaving talk to a career advisor. There may be alternatives that they can offer through the school or they may be able to organise a smooth transition from school for you.
Once you leave school people who can help you get limited funding so their capacity to help is limited. Stick with your school and get as much FREE help as possible before you leave.
Getting help with your resume is a good start.
Decide What You Are Going to Do When You Leave
If you haven’t got a job lined up or a course to go into you may need help to get that sorted.
Many schools have the Career Voyage program that will help you to nail down a career direction for the near future. If you don’t have access to Career Voyage at school you can do the quiz at one of the Careers Centres in Perth or regional centres or contact them online.
I have done this Coggle brainstorm of a bunch of places you can check out to narrow down what you like.
Email me Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au if you would like access to the Coggle map so that you can just click on the links.
Study Year 12 at an Alternative College
Look at the available options for completing Year 12 in another setting like Cyril Jackson, Canning,North Lake and Seven Oaks Colleges. There are adult students at these colleges and you may find that suits your style.
There are three levels, certificates I – III. Choose the one that suits your needs.
This certificate often has literacy and numeracy support which can kick start your study in another area. Different colleges will allow you to explore different subject opportunities as part of your study.
TAFE colleges give you access to ongoing support from careers advisors.
Study something else at TAFE
You can build your employability skills and explore career options through Foundation Skills Course. Check out the list of Foundation Skills courses HERE.
Equity Course
There are equity courses that support people with disability and people seeking courses that are aligned with their culture; for example, a qualification specialising in Indigenous Australian tourism. Check the list of courses HERE and ask about opportunities at one of the Jobs and Skills Centres – scroll down this page to find the one nearest to you.
Apprenticeships and Traineeships
If you can find someone who is willing to take you on as an apprentice or trainee, you are on a great path.
You can find apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities through Seek and Indeed. Getting an apprenticeship or traineeship is just like looking for any other job. You need to find the opportunity first, then convince the employer that you would be a great employee. You will need a good resume as a starting point.
When you do an apprenticeship or traineeship qualification you need to sign up so that your training is recognized. You sign up at an Australian Apprentice Support provider. You can find one HERE.
The help that they give will not be as good as the help you can get at school so it is best to try to find an apprenticeship and to contact a provider through your careers advisor.
Government Support
You may be eligible for Youth Allowance. This is hard to get but it is worth checking to see if you qualify HERE.
Leaving school early IS AN OPTION. Leaving school is however risky, and there is a chance you could fall into a hole without a safety net.
The suggestions to help you to leave school early are easier to do with the help of a careers advisor.
If you can’t get help at school, go to one of the alternative schools or TAFE colleges or even a uni, to get free advice or pay a professional career advisor to help to set you onto the right path. That help could put you onto the perfect path to your school free future.
In Focus Careers Newsletter
You can find a monthly feast of insanely great careers ideas and support through my In Focus Careers newsletter.
Testimonial:
I loved this month’s newsletter! There were so many useful links that I’m going to use, like the Logistics Training Council publications and the Future skills Framework infographic on our demographic. So much handy information – I even signed up for the Public Sector Commissions job search so that I can pass opportunities for traineeships onto students. (Northern regional Catholic Education School)
My Commitment to West Australian Careers Education
I want In Focus Careers to be the conduit to Insanely Great Careers Information for West Australian students. I undertake to:
Write 10 insanely great issues of In Focus Careers newsletter each year that focus on the needs of West Australian students and careers teachers.
Search for local, national and international information that could impact on the careers of West Australian students.
Connect you with insanely great careers teachers and industry experts across the In Focus Careers network.
Listen to and support West Australian careers teachers.
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCASA) is THE mob that makes up the rules about WACE. The first place to find information about Year 11 and 12 is in the official Year 10 Information Handbook which SCASA puts out.
If you can’t find the information you need or if you are unclear on anything contact them at info@scsa.wa.edu.au.
STEP 2 Hear Your Dream
You need to have some idea about what career direction you would like to take.
Many schools have the Career Voyage program that will help you to nail down a career direction for the near future. If you don’t have access to Career Voyage at school you can do the quiz at a Jobs and Skills Centre.
I have done this Coggle brain storm of a bunch of places you can check out to narrow down what you like.
Email me Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au if you would like access to the Coggle map so that you can just click on the links.
STEP 3 Do You Want to do ATAR??
For years ATAR results were the short cut that universities used to choose their students. Things are changing. Competition between universities has heated up and they are looking at many alternative pathways that:
enable more students to go to university
ensure students don’t fail when they get there.
Universities are looking for alternative pathways more than schools and parents.
TAFE has always been flexible with its pathways to learning than universities and there is a huge range of possible pathways offered.
Job Prospects for Young Job Seekers
Last year the Career Development Association put on a webinar delivered by Ivan Neville, from the Commonwealth Department of Employment. He said….you really need to get a year 12 qualification, or equivalent, to get a job…..
But there isn’t much difference in employment outcomes between a degree (3.6%) and a Cert III (4.1%).
The opening of university entry to a wider audience had resulted in a shift towards degrees and away from vocational education since 2008.
There are now stronger job outcomes for apprentices and trainees than people with degrees.
Step 4 Check Course PRE-REQUISITES
There are lots of courses that have RECOMMENDED subjects, but not so many have definite PRE-REQUISITES that MUST be done as a WACE subject in order to get into a course.
There are lots of pathways into further study and your WACE pathway is just one of them.
The most direct pathway is however, to take subjects that the universities are looking for. So, once you have narrowed down a career direction to take, check out the TISC University Admissions Handbook. It identifies what WACE subjects you should take to keep your options open.
OLNA
The Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) is the minimum WACE requirement reading, writing and numeracy. It is usually done in 10 but there are more opportunities to sit the Assessment in Year 11 and 12 and even AFTER Year 12.
Prospective TAFE students who do not meet these standards can:
sit a TAFE Admissions literacy and/or numeracy test administered by Training Sector Services;
be referred to a TAFE college for a Learning Area Assessment; or
enrol in a course that does not have literacy or numeracy requirements, including foundation skills, equity courses and Certificate I
Step 5 Contact Your Career Advisor
Tap into the knowledge and experience of your career advisor.
If you don’t have access to a specialist career advisor at your school, go to a TAFE college Jobs and Skills Centre or private careers consultant to be sure your next step is the right one.
For your monthly does of inspiration and insanely great career information subscribe to my newsletter:
Testimonial
I have found your material invaluable. The information you have put together is thorough – a one-stop-shop in a sea of information that is out there. I have utilised this information on a regular basis with others throughout the school.
(South Metropolitan Government High School.)
My Commitment to West Australian Careers Education
For In Focus Careers to be the conduit to Insanely Great Careers Information for West Australian students I undertake to:
Write 10 insanely great issues of In Focus Careers newsletter each year that focus on the needs of West Australian students and careers teachers.
Search for local, national and international information that could impact on the careers of West Australian students.
Connect you with insanely great careers teachers across the In Focus Careers network.
Listen to and support West Australian careers teachers.
The 
UniPrep & UniPrep (Education Assistant Program
Check out UWA courses 
The July issue of my insanely great newsletter went out to West Australian high schools today.
Many schools have the Career Voyage program that will help you to nail down a career direction for the near future. If you don’t have access to Career Voyage at school you can do the quiz at a 
