What’s Next? Design your Mud Map to a Life After School Safety Net
Are Uni Prep programs any good?
Yes. They are good.
Enabling courses, like Uni Prep, are delivered in schools in partnerships between the school and a university.
Students who go to uni from an enabling course do almost as well as those who do ATAR.
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At university, students who had done an enabling course had an average pass rate of 76%. Recent school leavers who entered uni with an ATAR had an average pass rate of 88%. (Increasing access and opportunity: Nesting enabling programs in senior schooling)
If alternative pathways are so good, why do ATAR?
The traditional way from school to uni is via ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) which is based on results achieved across ATAR subjects in years 11 and 12.
ATAR is the best pathway to uni if you want to go into competitive degrees like medicine, law, engineering or specialist science programs.
Case Study of One
If you study any ATAR subject, you will have an advantage if you study that subject at university. I studied economics at school, loved it, so chose to study it at university. From day one, I was off to a great start.
Essential V Desirable ATAR Subjects
Some courses have essential ATAR prerequisites, like Math Methods, Physics, and/or Chemistry. You can check out the prerequisites required for 2028 in the University Admissions Guide.
Scholarships for ATAR Students
Most unis provide academic scholarships for students who do well in their ATAR scores. Academic superstars can be successful in their applications for several scholarships.
Alternative Pathways
ECU’s UniPrep, Curtin’s UniReady, Murdoch’s On Track and Notre Dame’s UniPath are non-ATAR entry pathway to uni that many schools offer.
They all build academic skills, such as time management, research, academic reading and writing and maths. They can also focus on discipline-specific knowledge and on skills such as confidence and critical thinking.
Do Alternative Pathways Work?
The Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success analysed enabling programs delivered by 94 high schools around Australia. This included surveys of 2,000 students enrolled between 2021 and 2023:
We found 79% of the group completed the program, and 660 students progressed to uni in 2022–2024.
Of those who went onto university study, 75% continued into second year. This compares to 79% for ATAR entrants.
Read more about non-ATAR pathways at The Conversation, 29 June 2026
Find the full report HERE.
Mind Maps to Creative Careers in Western Australia
These maps collate information about creative careers into categories. Explore Creative Careers at:
- WA unis
- Specialist creative arts programs in high schools
- Specialist creative arts programs for Aboriginal people
- Mainly analogue courses
- Digital arts creative courses
- Film and Acting – out of school
- Scholarships for Creatives
- Backstage ideas
Click on the maps and they will open up in the Coggle app where the links will take you to relevant sites.
Download Creative Arts Degree courses HERE.
Download Specialist Creative Programs in High Schools
Download Creative Arts Pathways for Aboriginal students HERE.
Creative Arts Analogue Courses
Digital Creative Arts VET Courses
Film and Acting – out of school
Scholarships for Creatives
Backstage Ideas
If you would like more creative industry mind maps let me know: Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au
So, you want to be an electrician. Here are some suggested pathways into electrical trades
This post contains detailed information about pathways into electrical trades in Western Australia.
Being offered an electrical apprenticeship is getting as hard as getting into medicine. At the end of 2025 hundreds of West Australian high school students missed out on electrical pre apprenticeships.
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know
It seems that the best way to get an apprenticeship as an electrician is to have a family member who is willing to employ you.
Shortage of Trainers
The resource industry is scooping up qualified electricians and paying them a bucket load to go onto the mines. It is difficult to attract qualified electricians from industry to deliver training to the 6000 apprentice electricians in WA.
Matt Shaw from Clean Energy Skills Recommendations
Matt Shaw spoke at the Career Development Conference at Curtin late last year. He told us that there is doing to be a 4% increase in demand for electricians every year to 2050.
He suggested that teachers go to the Clean Energy site for case studies and information about future careers.
From Robert Palmer at South Metro TAFE
Rob Palmer is a senior career advisor at South Metro TAFE. I contacted him for advice on how to get into a trade as an electrician from school.
He sent this information:
A post school Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) (Electrotechnology Pre-apprenticeship) is being offered at Armadale in Semester 1 2026 and is expected to be offered again for Semester 2.
- Semester 2 applications via TAFE Admissions typically open in late April/early May.
The pre-apprenticeship course is also offered at Armadale as a VETDSS course for school students completing Year 11 and 12.
(These new opportunities were snapped up as soon as they became available. It may be easier to get a place in Semester 2. Bev)
Rob is an advocate for people enrolling in a skills set in a related trade first. He said that working as a trades assistant or builders’ labourer for a while would make applicants more attractive to potential employers.
- South Metro TAFE runs Certificate III in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning which includes lots of electrical skills
See the video HERE.
The Defence Industries Pathways Program is a 12-month paid traineeship which gives trainees exposure to various sectors of the defence industry (e.g. manufacturing and engineering, computing and logistics) and includes 3 X 12-week work placements with defence industry employers.
It does not provide a direct entry into the electrical trade. However, the opportunity for DIPP participants to complete work-placements and demonstrate their work-ethic and aptitude can put them in a good position when Defence Industry employers advertise electrical apprenticeships.
- Martin Turnbull at the Rockingham Jobs and Skills Centre Defence Industry Team (Martin.Turnbull@smtafe.
wa.edu.au) is a good contact for the DIPP. - MEGT (rmssupport@megt.com.au) can also be contacted regarding the DIPP.
South Metro TAFE Defence Industry Electricians
You DO NOT have to enlist in the defence forces to work in the defence industry.
The defence industry is made up of businesses that supply goods and services to the army, navy and air force.
Check out the South Metro TAFE Defence Industry Centre of Excellence for potential electrical pre apprenticeship and apprenticeships in the defence industry. You can find different, similar apprenticeships HERE.
To explore options go to your local Jobs and Skills Centre
Defence Force
If you really want the best possible training in anything to do with electrical trades, consider defence force trades. There is a range, like Electronic Systems Technician and Electronics Technician Submariner
The Defence Force has a recruiting office is down near the Convention Centre. Contact them for an careers appointment.
Checking out what is possible does not mean you are signing up!!
Linda Terrell at North Metro TAFE has these suggestions
Linda offered some creative ideas on how to get an electrical apprenticeship.
Linda suggested:
- Certificate II in Sustainable Energy (Career Start) | North Metropolitan TAFE (northmetrotafe.wa.edu.au)
- Certificate II in Electronics | North Metropolitan TAFE (northmetrotafe.wa.edu.au)
- Certificate II in Computer Assembly and Repair | North Metropolitan TAFE (northmetrotafe.wa.edu.au)
Private training provider
The College of Electrical Training is now the biggest trainer of apprentice electricians in WA. They have a maths quiz as part of the application, and the CET course and will also be highly competitive.
Apprenticeship Support Recommends
Apprenticeship Support has joined the challenge to find pathways into electrical trades by recommending that students start with one of these courses:
- Cert II in Sustainable Energy
- Cert II in Electronics
- Cert II in Computer Assembly and Repair
Comtech Training Recommends
Practice Maths Tests
- Australian Apprenticeships Electrical and Electronic Quiz: 10-question practice test.
- PEER Electrical Practice Aptitude Assessment: A comprehensive 1 hour 45 min practice test.
- NECA Training Maths Resources: Resources focusing on trade-specific calculations.
- A+ National Pre-apprenticeship Maths and Literacy for Electrical workbook.
University
I have requested information from ECU about courses that lead to electrical careers. These might be easier to get into than apprenticeships.
I will publish that information in the In Focus Careers Newsletter.
Subscribe to In Focus Careers News
If you need to know about emerging career opportunities in WA, you need In Focus Careers News. At $35 per issue, your organisation will have all the West Australian career information it needs to share with your school community.
Screen Industry Boom – It’s never been a better time to go into the creative industries in WA
Sometimes everything seems to line up.
In 2026 – Streaming Services like Netflix will be required to make Australian programs so there will be demand for more Australian film and television creators. Details HERE.
In 2026 – Perth Film Studios will open in Malaga and there will be demand for creative people to use the facilities.
In 2026 – The WA Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) will move to its new and expanded facilities at the ECU Perth Campus where the Mindaroo Foundation has donated $30m to support creative arts over 25 years.
You can find information about screen industry roles and courses from the Western Australia Future Now Industry Training Council.
The Government is Kick Starting Screen Industry Renewal
The WA Government has a Western Australian Screen Industry Strategy 2024-2034
The 10 year plan aims to create:
..a world-renowned screen industry showcasing exceptional creative content and stories to the world.
The Strategy includes a workforce development plan that allocates $11.2 million over four years. There will be an additional $2 million over two years for a pilot Digital Games and Interactive Fund, which will be delivered through Screenwest.
Current University Courses
Western Australia already offers opportunities to those who want to study for careers in creative industries.
Check out this range of university courses in Western Australia that teach skills for creative careers.
VET Courses Provide Skills and Industry Connections
If you are willing to truly engage with the courses, do a VET course. You will quickly develop skills and get contacts who will be your passport into the industry.
VET Analogue Creative Careers
Actors, dancers, musicians and set designers are among those who join camera operators, set creators and makeup artists in this industry.
VET Digital Creative Careers
Students who know how to create animation and digital games or how to maximise social media will have skills that can be used across the creative industries.
How to Start
If you want to work in the screen industry start now.
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Sketch out a story or game idea
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Get help from friends
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Use the camera on your phone to create a production.
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Look for competitions or take your show reel to lecturers at one of the teaching organisations and ask for help.
Good luck with your screen industry career.
Subscribe to In Focus Careers News
If you need to know about emerging career opportunities in WA, you need In Focus Careers News. At $35 per issue, your organisation will have all the West Australian career information it needs to provide expert guidance to students.
Data Standards between VET and Uni aren’t enough for seamless transition
Tertiary educators are facing barriers when they try to meet the Australian Universities Accord reforms to create better credit recognition and seamless pathways from VET to uni. Establishing a collaboration framework that facilitates easy transition from VET into degrees needs to be built on an agreed regime in order to succeed.
Data standards are just the beginning
TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) is going to delver a TAFETalk on Harmonisation and the importance of shared data standards.
A critical challenge to harmonisation is that tertiary providers’ data systems are not aligned, limiting collaboration, creating duplication, and making student mobility difficult.
Australia has had agreed technical standards, that include agreement on semantics. Technical stuff is the easiest standard to negotiate. Security standards will be a critical issue.
Governance
Tertiary education providers need to agree on who is responsible for what and to what standard. These decisions can be value laden and difficult to negotiate.
Legal Framework
Establishing an agreed legal framework will be tricky as VET is a State government responsibility while universities are Commonwealth. Issues about international students, copyright and privacy will need to be agreed. It is easiest to all adopt Commonwealth legal frameworks.
Business Rules
We also need agreed Business Rules. How things are managed to preserve the reputation of collaborating organisations need to be agreed. This involves egos and personal preferences and they are the most difficult issues to negotiate.
Financial Rules
If there is a standard framework then recognizing VET skills by unis will be low cost. VET providers will need to establish systems to ensure that unis don’t bare the costs involved in recognizing VET qualifications.
Summary
The Australian Government developed its first Strategy for Joined Up Government in 2003. It is a great template that could be used by those trying to develop seamless pathways. Without an agreement, transition from VET to uni will continue to be ad hoc and wasteful.
Sneek Preview to New City ECU Campus from a non ECU visitor
I was one of a small group of visitors invited to an early inspection of the new ECU City Campus.
It was a tour of a building site. We had to wear PPE. There is plastic protecting the carpet and cardboard taped up to protect some of the walls in high traffic areas. Workers were everywhere and tradies’ boomboxes blared from each floor.
Overall impression
So much thought has gone into this building. It is actually two buildings, joined by gangways in middle floors and the two buildings become one at the top. It reminded me of Boola Bardip. Lots of open space and connectivity. It seems to soar up and it feels spacious.
What’s missing:
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Coffee Shops: It may seem trivial, but there are no coffee shops in the building. Students wanting coffee will be forced to go out of the building to interact with people in the city.
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No big theatre: There is no big theatre. The Heath Ledge Theatre is only a few hundred metres away and it is envisaged that students will graduate from the smaller ECU studios into the big public theatres.
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No Parking: There is no parking at the campus. Public transport is the obvious way to get there. You come out of the Perth City Bus Port just metres from the front door. The Perth train station is across Yagan Square, a couple of hundred metres away.
What’s there:
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Bespoke Design The building has been designed for teaching. The theatres are designed so that lighting students or sound students or creative students are the clients, rather than an audience. Expert lecturers and students from ECU and Boorloo custodians were involved throughout the design process. The final colours inside are going to reflect the colours of West Australian wildflowers.
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Dance Studio Floor The floors in the four dance studios are the best they could find from anywhere in the world. They were designed in England as were the sound panels on the ceiling of the double height rooms.
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Sound. Light. Action The best architects have consulted with the best creative practitioners to ensure the sound, lighting, theatrical teaching opportunities are the best in the world.
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Built on springs The building is vulnerable to vibration because it is built over the train line and bus station. It has been engineered to sit on a spring foundation like that used in earthquake zones. This will be a particular advantage for the high tech equipment in the building.
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Top floor services There is no room under the building for services, so they have been located in the top floors. This seems weird, but if they had been located on lower floors they would have disrupted the flow from one section to the next, which is a feature of the building.
Design
It feels like Boola Bardip. There are lots of open spaces and many hubs where you can sit and study. There are two main buildings connected with walkways on the lower floors and joined together at the top.
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Orientation: The creatives face Northbridge. Business, law and cyber security are on the city side.
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The entrance: The foyer off Yagan Square welcomes you with beautiful wooden bleacher like seating for public and students. An escalator to rival that in Boola Bardip draws you up into the building. The entrance ceiling is 40 metres high (don’t hold me to that) and to your left is an LED wall where students’ work will be showcased.
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Ground floor gallery. There is an art gallery on the ground floor where student art will be displayed. This is a proper gallery, open to the public. You can see into it from Yagan Square.
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Piano Museum In homage to the role pianos have played in early white settlement of Western Australia, there will be a museum of old pianos on the ground floor.
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Theatres: There are three theatres, all with outstanding sound proofing. The recital hall impressed me most with its beautiful wooden sound proofed and acoustically perfect walls and crafted wooden ceiling. The theatres are small with the layout focusing on teaching. The playhouse theatre has tiered seating, which will be perfect for productions for a small audience.
Learning Spaces
The library area is still a work in progress, so it was difficult to understand what it will look like. There are many open study zones throughout the building. The traditional lecture rooms are high tech, as would be expected in a future looking learning space.
Logistics
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The building is handed over to ECU on 19 December and staff will move in over the Christmas break.
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WAAPA courses, Business and Law, Science including some IT, and Arts and Humanities will be based at the City Campus.
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Education will move from Mt Lawley to the Joondalup campus.
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There will be 1000 staff working from there and the building has the capacity to support 9000 students.
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The campus will commence operations at the start of the 2026 academic year.
There are no WAAPA Summer School classes.
Thanks to those who invited me. It is going to be amazing!!
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Career Decision Making Flowchart
Ty Jones from Mid West Jobs and Skills Centre created this Career Decision Making Flowchart.
He created it after an online Career Development Association of Australia conversation in which WA President, Rebecca Herbertson, asked if anyone had such a model. 
Ty went ahead and created this one. Thanks for sharing Ty.
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Dreams come in a whisper, not in a shout. Career Influence Model for Career Advisors
Stephen Spielberg made his first feature move at 16, yet even he advised to listen for a whisper rather than wait for your dream to shout to you. You would expect the creator of the BFG, Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park to know he wanted to be a movie maker.
Perhaps even Speilberg had doubts about his career choice, or wondered if there was something better for him.
Charles Kingley said:
It is tricky to find a job you are enthusiastic about. Those jobs don’t shout out to you.
As career professionals it is our role to help people to:
- Become Aware of opportunities for enthusiasm
- Explore career pathways to happiness
- Help them to engage in work they find interesting
- Repeat 1 – 3 until they find something to become enthusiastic about.
Using the Model
When working with people, ask them where they want to start on this career model:
- Are they looking for something totally new?
- Do they know what they want, but not know how to get there?
- Are they interested in their work but want to refine their target for the future?
Download this copy of the Career Influence Model to use with your clients
Download copy with Speech Bubbles HERE.
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Casual Summer Jobs for Senior School Students
Job Application Help
If you would like a job during the holidays but have never applied for a job, there is help available to get you on the right track and it’s free from the Jobs and Skills Centres, which are located throughout the State.
Go to a Jobs and Skills Centre for job application skills.
Text books for schools
Text book sellers have their peak time during the summer holidays as schools and students get their text books for the next year.
If you are interested in working with friends and making some money over summer, this could be a good option for you.
Every year Campion Education hires up to 1700 casual staff across Australia for our busy back-to-school period. There are stores in Canning Vale and Malaga
Register your interest for a summer job with Campion here
Casual jobs at Campion are typically from late October / November to February. The roles are in either customer support, warehouse & operations, or retail stores.
Once you register, we will let you know in August when applications open, so you can apply ahead of the crowd.
CBH Summer Jobs
Each year usually in about October, Western Australian (WA) grain growers start harvesting their grain such as canola, wheat, barley and oats.
It only pays $33/hour but there is opportunity for overtime and many uni students save enough to pay for their academic year by working for CBH.
There are three main jobs on a CBH receival site:
- Samplers are responsible for ensuring the quality of grain by sampling a truck load of grain and performing an unbiased and accurate assessment of the load.
- A Weighbridge Officer is responsible for controlling the site weighbridges, recording grower deliveries and ensuring the correct and accurate weighing of the trucks.
- RPOs are responsible for ensuring that the grain flows smoothly from the trucks to the storage areas.
You don’t require any experience as CBH provides all of the necessary training!
Swimming Instructor – Education Department
If you’re a friendly, outgoing person who loves the water, help us run the Education Department’s popular swimming programs across the state.
It’s a rewarding, feel-good job with:
- a competitive salary
- great, flexible hours
- friendly, supportive teams
- leadership opportunities
- more than 180 locations in WA.
Apply HERE.
To find what’s available and how to access those opportunities, subscribe to In Focus Careers for West Australians.
