Category: Career Advice

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Career Guest Speakers WA: Resource Bank for Schools

An incomplete but useful list of people that will work with careers professionals in West Australian schools.

Claremont Teachers’ College. Picture from SIDE
Name of Organisation Purpose Contact Where 

University School Engagement Teams

 If you want to receive information from universities you can email them and get onto the mailing list
.Curtin University School visits, outreach programs. For Career Advisors

For Humanities

For STEM

For Business, innovation, law

 Statewide
ECU School visits, outreach programs. ECU Future Study futurestudy@ecu.edu.au Statewide
Murdoch School visits, outreach programs. Murdoch Future Student Office engage@murdoch.edu.au Statewide
Notre Dame School visits, outreach, university tours Notre Dame Prospective Student Office  Fremantle.recruitment@nd.edu.au Statewide
UWA Presentations, campus tours, expos, parent information evenings, school events For Career Advisors

UWA Future Student Team  future-students@uwa.edu.au

 Statewide
Government Vocational Education and Training TAFE Colleges
North Metropolitan TAFE Large government training organisation Find your course HERE. From Perth north to Joondalup and East to Midland.
South Metropolitan TAFE Large government training organisation Find your course HERE. From Carlisle to Mandurah.
North Regional TAFE Free government training organisation Find your course HERE. Pilbara and Kimberley
Central Regional TAFE Large government training organisation. Find your course HERE. From Exmouth to Kalgoorlie
South Regional TAFE Large government training organisation. Find your course HERE. From Bunbury to Esperance

Career Advisors

Jobs and Skills Centres WA Free West Australian Government information about VET and uni. Find your closest Centre HERE Statewide
Curtin Career Advice Free one on one advice about Curtin career paths and school engagement Schools can contact the contact Student Engagement Team Statewide
ECU Career Advice One on One advice about careers at ECU and school engagement 6304 5899  careers@ecu.edu.au Statewide
Murdoch Career Advice One on One advice about Murdoch courses and school presentations 9360 6000

School programs

 

 Statewide
Notre Dame Career Advice One on One career advice about Notre Dame courses and school presentations. Book an appointment

Book a school visit

 Statewide
UWA Career Advice One on One career advice about UWA courses and school presentations. Book an appointment

Contact the engagement team

.

 Statewide
In Focus Careers Newsletter for Insanely Great Career Advisors.

One on One career advice

Strategic Career Plans for Schools

 Contact Bev Johnson on 0434056412 or email Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au Metropolitan

 

Small and Medium RTOs
ABS Institute Self-employment Assistance Mark@absinstitute.com.au

Luke@absinstitute.com.au

 Ocean Reef to Waroona
BetterLink Leadership & Management/ Career Development/ Employment Services

HR / Community Services

 Rebecca.Herbertson@betterlinkgroup.edu.au Statewide
College of Electrical Training Electrical pre apprenticeships and apprenticeships Emily Galea 9233 5000

Preappsjoondalup@cet.asn.au

preappsjandakot@cet.asn.au

 

 Metro
Insight Training Medium RTO 40 courses

 

 brenda.weaver@insight.edu.au Statewide
Programmed RTO and Group Training Organisation

Focus on resources.

 Nutta Tassnanakajit

Nutta.Tassnanakajit@programmed.com.au

0448 516 348

 Statewide.
SEDA Group Sports career pathways through industry-based education liamt@sedagroup.com.au

Liam Thompson

 Metro
WA Advanced Training Academy High risk and trade tickets like White Card Don@waata.com.au Based in Belview

Apprentice Connect Providers

Apprentice Connect Australia Providers are the organisations that support employers, help find apprentices and trainees, undertake the Training Contract signup and registration, and administer any Australian Government Employer Incentive payments.  

 

  
MEGT (Australia)  Apprentice Connect Provider – will come to expos and give talks at schools. Joannetanner@megt.com.au

M: 0408 388 161

 

    
CCIWA – Apprentice Support Australia Talks to schools.  Expos. Apprenticeships.

Year 9 Taster. Uni pathways

 Jonni.Taylor@cciwa.com

 08 9365 7616

    
Busy at Work Apprentice, trainee and employer support https://busyatwork.com.au/apprenticeships-traineeships         13 BUSY (13 28 79)     

Industry Training Councils

  
Community Skills Western Australia Provide a voice to training for Community Skills industry Caroline Thompson admin@cswa.org.au Statewide
Construction Training Fund Provides a voice about skills demands for Construction industry.

 

Try a Trade, incursions, excursions to CTF

 ita@ctf.wa.gov.au

David Cunningham dcunningham@ctf.wa.gov.au

 Statewide  
Utilities, engineering, electrical and automotive Provides a voice for these industries.

 

 jason.cullen@emuitc.com.au Statewide  
Financial, Administrative and Professional Services Provides a voice for these industries.

 

 info@fapstc.org.au Statewide  
Food Fibre and Timber Industries Provides a voice for these industries.

Dianne Smith from FFTITC will come to school to speak.

 admin@fftitc.com.au

diane@fftitc.com.au

 Statewide  
Future Now Provides a voice for these industries.

 

 info@futurenow.org.au Statewide  
Logistics Provides a voice for these industries.

 

 Logistics check HERE. Statewide  

Disability Education and Training Services

  
CANDO Training

 

 Short courses for special needs students marilyn@candotraining.com.au Leederville -Perth Metro  
School of Special Education Needs Support kids not able to go to school. ssenmmh@education.wa.edu.au    
Active Pathways Work readiness Sally.wals@active.asn.au  Statewide  
genU Training Health Industry Courses

 

   rosemarie.ridoux@genu.org.au Metro  

Migrant Language and Career Services

  
South Metro TAFE Adult Migrant English English language/School outreach Annette.Avery@smtafe.wa.edu.au South Metro  
Multicultural Services Centre WA Employment services for migrants lisa@mscwa.com.au WA  

Industry Speakers

  
Sky Careers Promoting aviation industry careers. kate@skycareers.com.au WA  
Michelle Sandford Microsoft Promoting girls in IT. Michelle.sandford@microsoft.com Perth and South West  

 

 

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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. 

Subscribe to In Focus Careers News

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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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 

Subscribe to In Focus Careers News

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

 

 

 

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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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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. 

Subscribe Now

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

 

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What new careers opportunities were on show at the 2024 Skills and Employment Expo?

New Exhibits

All the usual suspects, defence, police, NDIS, the Construction Training Fund and resources were there, but there were new ones.

YES Program

Youth in Emergency Services (YES) was new to me. If you are 11 – 18 you can become a YES cadet and train with emergency services volunteers on land and on the sea. 

There are branches all over the state. Find the one closest to you HERE. 

National Institute of Training

This RTO was new to me. They had these horrible robotic dogs that attracted lots of attention!!

Turns out their batteries run low, so they aren’t totally terrifying.

Lots of visitors were asking about their courses which attract the same government subsidies as those at TAFE colleges.

ASC told us to get a “Deeper Purpose”

Eye roll!  ASC is the Australian Submarine Company. It builds and maintains submarines!

They are based at the Henderson and at Garden Island. You can get details of their apprenticeship opportunities HERE. 

Development WA (traineeships coming)

This is the State government’s land and development agency. They do big industrial, residential and strategic projects.

You can check their current projects HERE. They are going to be advertising traineeships later this year. 

Energy Skills Solutions

They provide skills needed to supply electricity. Heavy duty solutions that go way beyond domestic electricity. I think this will become a peak career as renewable energy projects come on line and transmission networks need to be built.

You can contact them to find out more at admin@ess.edu.au

Girls were the big thing

Every non traditional occupation seemed to have realized that they have only been recruiting from half the population. Mining and construction companies had pictures of women in high viz  PPE using welding irons and climbing up scaffolding. The Construction Training Fund is doing what it can to create gender inclusive courses and workplaces. If you are a girl interested in these high paid jobs, contact CTF for information and support. 

Want More?

I will write up more targeted information in the September In Focus Careers News.

For the latest career information for West Australian High School Students subscribe to In Focus Careers News.