Author: Bev Johnson

I started my career as a teacher in West Australian high schools. I believe that knowing what you want to do has power that can drive a successful life. I have now been researching and collating information for career professionals in In Focus Careers News for the past eight years. Together we are building our capacity to help students to find their power and create satisfying lives. If you would like to know about careers opportunities in Western Australia contact me at Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au or M: 0434056412
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Your ATAR Game Plan: Simple Steps to Achieve Your Best

Your big dream might be something as broad as “I want to have an amazing life.” And that’s a great place to start.

No matter how ambitious your vision is, turning it into reality takes a clear, step-by-step plan. If you’re working towards a strong ATAR score, that plan becomes even more important—it’s the bridge between where you are now and where you want to go.

SMART Goals

While big-picture dreams give you direction, SMART goals help you focus. SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. They break your vision into practical, manageable steps—so instead of just dreaming big, you’re taking real action to get there.

Example of a SMART goal: I will improve my English result by 10% next term by asking my teacher, each week, for feedback and advice about what to work on next.

You can do SMART goals for each subject. 

SWOT Analysis

Once you have your SMART goals, do a SWOT analysis. The SWOT will help you to understand your capacity to improve your score.

Brainstorm your ideas. Have a friend help you for more ideas, or you can just do it alone.

 

Turn Ideas into Action: A USED Analysis is your plan for ATAR success

Once you’ve completed your SWOT analysis you’re ready to take the next step: turning insight into action.

How to Do a USED Analysis

Set aside 10 focused minutes. Look at each point in your SWOT and ask yourself:

  • How can I Use my strengths to support my ATAR goals?
    Maybe you’re naturally organised or confident in a particular subject—how can you build on that?

  • What do I need to Stop doing that’s holding me back?
    Are procrastination or poor time management dragging your results down?

  • What opportunities can I Exploit?
    Are there extra tutorials, mentoring, study groups, or resources available that you haven’t tapped into yet?

  • How can I Deny or reduce the impact of threats?
    Is stress, burnout, or a lack of support threatening your progress? What strategies or supports can help?

Example USED Analysis for an ATAR Student

At the end of your USED analysis, your ideas are a list of actions. These actions are your key to success. By undertaking these actions, you will achieve your goal.

Success Planning

Your USED analysis has given you a list of tasks that will lead you to your goal. Work with your list:

  1. Choose the task that you want to do first. 

  2. Figure out WHEN you are going to do the first task.

  3. When will it be finished?

  4. How will you know you have done it successfully?

  5. Create your plan for four actions that you want to do first.

Congratulations – you have your plan

You are now well on the way to achieving your best possible ATAR score. You have your plan. You know what to do.

Subscribe to In Focus Careers to find where to focus your efforts. 

Bev doing research for 2025

 

 

 

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They stole our Ugg Boot name. Trademarks, tariffs and other dirty tricks. Buy Australian-Made!

Make sure our kids have careers in a strong economy:

✔ Check the label – Look for Australian-made and owned products whenever you shop. You can find a list of those with the Australian-made logo HERE.

✔Hassle Bunnings/Office Works/Big W –  Make some noise. Be a nuisance by asking big retailers for their Australian made products.

✔ Support local businesses – Whether it’s boots, clothing, food, or wine, choosing Australian-made keeps profits here.

✔ Spread the word – Share this story and encourage others to support local.

An Ugg Boot Story

Oranges in orchardAbout 20 years ago a friend’s parents were building their ugg boot business from their shed on their orchard near Bullsbrook. They were making a steady income by selling their boots at markets and through a few retail outlets.

The Bombshell

One day they got a letter from a copyright lawyer in the USA. The letter said they couldn’t call their ugg boots “ugg” boots anymore as it is a trademark name owned by a multi billion dollar US company. 

They were devastated. They had built a shed on their property, invested in machinery and were establishing a network of suppliers and buyers. 

The Power of Trademarks to Kill a Business

My friend and I worked for the WA Department of Commerce and Trade so we went downstairs and talked to our copyright lawyers. That started what became an Australia-wide fight by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and lots of small businesses, to prove that “ugg” is a regular Australian word, not a trademark.

Small Wins

After 2 decades of fighting, Australian businesses can only use “ugg” in Australia and New Zealand. 

In other countries “ugg” is a brand name. Australian ugg boot manufacturers have been sued for letting people in the US buy their ugg boots online. 

This is just one way that the USA has used trademarks and legal action to stop Australian businesses. Now they are threatening tariffs on Australian products. 

The Good News

The good news is that there are only 340 million people in the USA in a world of over 8 billion and there are lots of markets for iron ore, coal and education related services.

It’s small businesses that will need our help. 

Buy Australian-Made!

Many of the products on the Australian Made site are made by small businesses, like the ugg boot makers. Their capacity to sell online to the USA will be restricted by tariffs or by unfair copyright laws. 

We can stand up for Australian businesses and jobs for our kids:

✔ Check the label – Look for Australian-made and owned products whenever you shop. You can find a list of those with the Australian-made logo HERE.

✔Hassle Bunnings/Office Works/Big W –  Make some noise. Be a nuisance by asking big retailers for their Australian made products.

✔ Support local businesses – Whether it’s boots, clothing, food, or wine, choosing Australian-made keeps profits here.

✔ Spread the word – Share this story and encourage others to support local.

We need to be in this together to make sure our kids have careers in a strong Australian economy. It’s time to buy Australian. 

Subscribe to In Focus Careers News

Keep up to date with  West Australian careers information. Subscribe to In  Focus Careers News.

Bev doing research for 2025

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Out Now – In Focus Careers News April 2025. Discover your path to careers for tomorrow.

Discover your path to careers for tomorrow in the April issue of In Focus Careers News. 

Unearth future possibilities in the evolving landscape of work. Identify innovative pathways to a career you love. 

The April issue leads you through new courses, support programs, scholarships and career events available to you in Western Australia now.

In Focus Careers inspires dreams and empowers you take action to shape your tomorrow. 

Subscribe Now

In Focus Careers provides a clear guide to career professionals and families trying to wade through a tsunami of career information.

Bev doing research for 2025

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Career Expo Preparation

In March I sent out three simple work booklets to help career teachers to prepare their students for the Careers Expo.

Book 1 – Pre Expo Preparation

Book 2 – At the Expo

Step 3 – Post Expo Presentation

They have been a hit. 

They are so simple that I nearly didn’t send them out. Apparently simple has been “so useful”.

You still have a few weeks before the Expo. You don’t need to subscribe to In Focus Careers News, just put some work into preparing your students for the Expo and give them some tasks to help them to focus their attention and to recall what they learned. 

Tip

Make sure students plan to go through the Expo with a buddy so that they can share what they learn. 

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Keep up to date with  West Australian careers information. Subscribe to In  Focus Careers News.

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Out Now – In Focus Careers March 2025 Issue

The March Issue of In Focus Careers News includes a synopsis of the fantastic presentations at the Careers Connect conference. 

Share the information across your school community so that families know about the latest career opportunities.

This issue includes my summary of presentations at the Careers Connect Conference at Notre Dame University in February. 

There are also Worksheets to kick-start students preparation for their visits to the Careers Expo. 

Subscribe Now to give your students an equal opportunity to find their best possible career path. 

Bev doing research for 2025 

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A Guide to Open Days for Year 12 Students

Choose to go to two open days

Register to go to the one:

  • Closest to where you live. 
  • That has the best course and support.

If you are not sure which ones to go to, check out these web pages:

Your registration will lead to updates of new displays, talks and events at the Open Days.

You will be able to schedule different things to go to. 

  • Book a campus tour.
  • If there are overarching welcome events, make sure you go to those. 
  • Go to course information sessions.
  • Go to subject taster sessions

Open days are big – Think Royal Show

Take your time. Spend 3-4 hours to get the feel of the campus.

Find Current Students at the Stands

There will be current students at most stands. Ask them what course they are doing and what they love and hate about it.

    • Ask why they are doing the course and if they are going to achieve the outcome they hoped for.

    • Find what extracurricular activities there are. Are there any clubs or teams that you can join now?

    • What can the union offer to students?

    • Find out what they have done about fees, financial support and scholarships.

 Pick Me! Faculty Stands

Every faculty wants you to enrol in one of their courses.

Some questions you could ask:

University lecturers are the experts at the faculty stands who you need to approach with questions like:

  • Why do you love working in this field?

  • What are the career opportunities in this field?

  • What are the entry requirements and pathways available?

  • How long will it take to get the degree as a full time student?

  • What subjects can you choose from?

  • What support is available to students.

  • If you qualify within any support group ask about financial and other support that the university provides.

Accommodation

If you plan to stay in university accommodation:

  • Tour at least one of the accommodation colleges
  • Ask where you can find accommodation scholarships and financial support.
  • Watch In Focus Careers News for information about scholarships.

Book an appointment with a career counselor

Even if you are one of the few who knows exactly what course you want to take, book a free appointment with a career counsellor at the university. They may know of:

  • different subjects that you might love
  • support services that you can tap into
  • sports and clubs you can join now
  • financial systems that are available. 

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Want to become a teacher? ECU Teacher Education School to Split Between Joondalup and New Perth Campus

Mount Lawley ECU Campus is to close at the end of this year.

Some faculties, like Business, IT and Creative Industries, which includes WAAPA, are moving to the new ECU campus being built next to Perth train station. 

The Teacher Education School is to be split across both Joondalup and the city campus. 

Bachelor of Education Early Childhood Studies

This degree will be available at Joondalup, South West and online in 2025. 

Bachelor of Education Primary

This course is available at Mt Lawley, Joondalup, South West and online in 2025.

Bachelor of Education Secondary

In 2025 this course is available at Mt Lawley and Joondalup. It will be split in 2026 depending on what you major in. 

Majors you can study in this course

Students may be required to attend both Joondalup and Mount Lawley campuses depending on their selected major and minor combination.

I’m Sad to See Mt Lawley Close

ECU evolved out of Claremont Teachers’ College which opened in 1902. Half of my family did their teacher education at Claremont Teachers’ College or at ECU in Mt Lawley.  

Claremont Teachers’ College. Picture from SIDE

In 1982 Claremont Teachers’ College merged with other providers of teacher education across WA and then evolved into ECU which has been a centre of excellence for teacher education in WA. It is still be biggest provider of teacher education in WA.

I hope it manages to maintain its reputation as a great provider of teacher education through the transition. 

To find out more about the move go to the ECU Handbook 

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Bev doing research for 2025

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Deliberate Wage Theft is now a Criminal Offense

On 1 January 2025 Wage Theft became a Criminal Offense in Australia

Young West Australians are frequently underpaid or asked to do unpaid work.

Just clean up those tables and wash the dishes before you go will you?

Wage theft is tricky

You usually like your boss and you are happy to stay back and do a bit of extra unpaid work after your official knockoff time.

Maybe your boss lets you have a free coffee or food.

Maybe you get to roster off when you have an exam coming up or a special event. Maybe they drive you home after they have closed the business for the day. A good workplace has flexibility that supports both the employer and employee. 

When you suspect you are being ripped off, you may be prepared to wear it, because the cost of questioning their boss could be that you lose your job.

Employment conditions are often flexible. Determining if you are being ripped off could be difficult. 

If you suspect you are being ripped off, the first place to go for advice is probably your union.

You don’t have to be a member to make an enquiry and they will be able to tell you who is best person to sort out the situation.

You can contact an Australian Union by calling 1300 486 466 or by visiting australian.unions.org.au.

Making deliberate wage theft a criminal offence is designed to give back some power to workers.

The Fair Work Ombudsman will provide employers with free information and advice on appropriate wages and conditions.  

You can try to protect yourself from wage theft by getting you part time job with big employers, like McDonalds, Bunnings and Woolworths. These workplaces have human resource management systems, and managers who are trained to ensure your wages and conditions are correct.

But each of these big employers has been found to unintentionally underpay workers.

Even big employers can make a mistake. But sometimes underpayment is not a mistake. 

If employers deliberately underpay workers they can now be held criminally liable. On 1 January intentional wage theft became a criminal offence. 

If you think you are experiencing wage theft in WA, you can contact:

Wageline Fair Work Ombudsman
  • Wageline on 1300 655 266
  • Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94
  • You can email Wageline at wageline@demirs.wa.gov.au
  • You can submit an anonymous tip-off to the Fair Work Ombudsman
  • Write to Wageline to Locked Bag 100, EAST PERTH WA 6892
  • Fair Work Ombudsman online

  • You can contact the Chamber of Commerce & Industry WA for advice on employment laws and other human resource matters.
  • You can contact the Australian Taxation Office if your matter is about superannuation.

To stay up to date with career news in Western Australia. Subscribe to In Focus Careers 

Each month In Focus Careers delivers a magazine full of education, employment and training news and opportunities designed to make sure everyone has the opportunity to find their path to their best life.

Bev doing research for 2025

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Building apprentices’ road to riches – What support is available for WA construction apprentices?

Apprentice plumbers, electricians and carpenters are to receive $10,000 payment from the Commonwealth government, spread over their 4 year apprenticeship.

Apprentices will receive $2,000 at six, 12, 24, 36 months, and at the completion of their apprenticeship.

2024 WorldSkills representatives Nick and Lewis

The funding aims to:

  • attract more people into construction apprenticeships by lifting their wages which are often below minimum wage.

  • take pressure off employers who are being asked to pay apprentices more. 

  • encourage people to train for jobs in residential housing construction.

What money is already available?

The Construction Training Fund provides information on:

  • The $1000 Apprentice Support Bonus

  • The $1000 Apprentice Tool Allowance

  • The Apprentice Travel and Accommodation Allowance

  • The $500 Pre-Apprenticeship Award Payment 

It will also provide information about this new $10,000 funding for apprentices. 

It also provides information about grants to employers of apprentices. 

Construction Futures Centre

The Construction Training Fund has established the Construction Futures Centre in Belmont. 

Students can explore a range of construction jobs available through hands on experience at the Centre. Schools can book in for an excursion HERE. 

Construction Futures Centre | Digital Services Case Studies OKMG

Try-a-Trade Program

Students can gain construction experience with CTF’s fully funded Try-A-Trade program. Participants get a taste of careers in the building industry and learn what to expect in various trades.

The Try-A-Trade program gives students in Year 9 and above, school leavers and mature-age job seekers, a chance to try various construction trades. Selected Registered Training Organisations deliver the courses on behalf of CTF at locations throughout Western Australia. Find details HERE.

Women in the Construction Industry

Although there are lots of incentives for females to go into construction industry jobs, most women in the industry tend to work in the office, in logistics, design and management roles. 

The industry knows about discrimination against women and sexual harassment in workplaces and there are moves by many companies to create an environment where women and supported. 

There are Apprentice Connect organisations that have been funded to work to reduce barriers for women.

Perth & Surrounds

Outback 

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to women going into non traditional trades from:

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Bev doing research for 2025

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Out Now – In Focus Careers News for West Australian Students: February 2025 Issue

The first issue of In Focus Careers News is now available.

By subscribing you also get a copy of: 
Year 10 Magic Happens Careers Handbook for Students

Year 10 Magic Happens Teachers’ Guide

16 Mind Maps for Career Advisors

In Focus Careers News is unique. It is the only publication that provides news about emerging career opportunities in Western Australia. 

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Be on top of all the information you need to be an outstanding career advisor.

Bev doing research for careers in hospitality and tourism in 2025