Category: Year 12

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Year 12 What Next? GAP Year Ideas and Tips for 2022

Taking the Other Way

When you leave Year 12 there are 3 main paths that you can take:

  1. University
  2. TAFE
  3. Other

The Other Way

Taking The Other Way from school takes courage. Your friends will try to get you to follow them. They want you with them. By taking another way you may be challenging them to think twice about the path they are taking.

You parents will worry about you. It’s good to be able to tell them that you have a plan.

Finding what you are interested in is driving your plan. Taking a gap year provides opportunities to meet people, explore who you are, do different things and find what works for you.

A Gap Year is a Year of Discovery

Gap Year in Defence

The Defence Gap Year has a whole lot of advantages.

You get paid. You can save for a car, or travel. You can afford to go out and to buy cool clothes. You may learn about how to manage money. You will learn and about award rates of pay, overtime, sick leave and holiday pay.

You meet lots of new people from different places and find out about their lives. You will probably make friends for life with people you meet at this time.

You get to leave home without having to pay for rent, electricity and food.

You learn new skills. Trying lots of different roles and learning new skills will help you to decide what you like and don’t like, without spending time and money at uni or TAFE.

You find out about life in the army, navy or air force.

You can check out Defence Force Gap Years HERE.

Travel

LetzLive has opened up its Gap Year opportunities as a gap year assistant working in a boarding school in New Zealand.

Check out the programs provided by LetzLive.

Harvest Trail

The horticulture industry has relied on people from overseas to pick their fruit and vegies. It turns out the pay and conditions were shocking and Australians initially refused to take up the jobs. Things are getting better so check out the opportunities to travel Australia and become harvest trail nomads.

You can find Harvest Trail jobs HERE.

You can apply for Relocation Assistance HERE. Be careful, I heard it takes ages to come through.

Hospitality and Tourism

The boom in tourism within Australia is being slowed by the shortage of workers in resorts, coffee shops, motels, road houses and caravan parks.

Sandfire Roadhouse

Look for these jobs on sites like Seek or phone/email the local tourist bureau and ask where to find a job in the area.

If you are 18 you can earn more money serving alcohol than cleaning. You will need your Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate to be able to work serving alcohol.

If you can find a job in a resort or motel chain, take that, it is more likely to pay sick leave, holiday pay and superannuation. Wherever you get a job, make sure your pay and conditions are legit. Ring or email the Fair Work Ombudsman if you need to check.

Work on a Station

Can’t ride a motor bike or muster cattle?

Profile photo of Michael Clinch
Michael Clinch cattleman and conservationist

Ellenbrae Station, halfway between Derby and Kununurra, sells thousands of scones to tourists who travel up the Gibb River Road every year.

Ellenbrae Station Scones

All of the stations supplement their incomes through tourism.

If you can clean you can probably find a job supporting the station tourism industry. Look for jobs on sites like Seek.

Need Experience?

Once you leave school it is tricky getting work experience as employers aren’t insured to cover unpaid volunteers.

In Western Australia you can apply for volunteer work through Volunteering WA. People put in requests for volunteers to them and they place people and cover them through the Volunteering WA insurance.

The Volunteering WA people said that when you first start with them they are careful of the sort of work they let you do until you have proven yourself.

Free Tips

Check out Youth Central. It’s a Victorian Government site that has some good tips on taking a gap year.

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Year 12. Thinking of a law degree next year? Think again.

judges desk with gavel and scales

There are more law graduates in Australia each year than the total number of lawyers in Australia.

It may take you years after you graduate to find a job where you practise law.

DIY Law

Not only are there too many law graduates for the job vacancies that are available, you can get advice on how to write your will online. You can file for divorce online. Artificial intelligence delivers instant information that law degrees take years to deliver.

People don’t go to lawyers if they can save themselves money by doing law themselves.

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Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

The cost of a law degree is now over $70,000.

The demand is down. The price is up. There is a glut of law graduates looking for work.

You might think again about doing a law degree.

Law degrees deliver great thinking and analytical skills

If someone with a law degree applied for a job I advertised, chances are they would get an interview. The job probably wouldn’t demand law work but I would presume the applicant could problem solve, think of good wording for contracts and warn me of any dodgy stuff that was in paper work. Someone with a law degree would probably be a good employee.

On the other hand, someone with a business or commerce degree may be better for my business, AND their degree would have cost them half as much.

Make Smart Decisions

If you bought a car for $70,000 you would check out a few car sales places before you made your decision to buy.

five assorted color cars parked inside room
Photo by Sourav Mishra on Pexels.com

All universities in Western Australia deliver law degrees. Pick two or three universities and make an appointment with career advisors. Check out what law degrees you can specialise in. Compare the different courses and support that the different unis deliver…. there is a big difference between the support provided by unis in WA.

Ask current students questions about the courses on Whirlpool.

Compare employment statistics for graduates.

Law degrees are great, but they are expensive and chances are you will never work as a lawyer.

Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au

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Which Uni is Best for YOU?

Universities are competing for students and open days are starting in March this year, rather than July, which is the usual time.  

Notre Dame is considered the best university in Australia on a number of QILT ranks, including the support they offer to students.

You will find great information about going to uni at the First in Family to Go to Uni site. 

Super Stars

If you have outstanding results check out the UWA Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) or try the Curtin Bachelor of Science (Honours) for outstanding science students.

The Rest of Us

Most people choose unis because:

  • their parents went there,

  • their best friend is going there,

  • someone they know said it was good

  • it has a great social life,

  • it is close to home.

 This is a snapshot of universities in Western Australia. 

Notre Dame Trophy transparent background

BEST IN AUSTRALIA

88.4% 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).

91.1% Were positive about their skills development.

76.6% found full time employment

Notre Dame

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

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 Bentley 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

ECU

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

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

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This is our oldest university. Many industry, political and community leaders in Western Australia went to UWA which gives strong links between UWA and leaders 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.

CQU – Central Queensland University

CQU

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.

Still not sure what to do?

  • Go to the university open days
  • Contact the university career advisors. They are paid to help you. 
  • Contact me. I will be able to point you in the right direction for help. 

Director of In Focus Careers Careers Resources Hub for West Australians.

Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au M:0434056412

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Which University Accommodation is Best for You?

If you are going to uni for the first time next year, it is time to start researching and booking your accommodation. 

By living in uni accommodation you will get to know your uni, find opportunities and make friends faster.  

Benefits

There are gold plated and budget versions of accommodation to choose from.

At the top of the range you get:

  • A room with three meals a day 
  • Weekly cleaning
  • Academic support with tutorials and one on one support
  • Mentor support
  • Live-in potential friends
  • Social clubs and entertainment
  • Opportunities to follow music, theatre, sport, leadership or academic pursuits.
University accommodation

By checking what is available you can choose the style that suits you.

Scholarships

Presume there is a scholarship to help you to cover costs of many aspects of going to uni. Your challenge is to find them!!

Many of the residential colleges provide scholarships to help cover the costs accommodation. There are scholarships for:

  • Regional Students
  • Academic excellence
  • Leadership, sport & art
  • Financial hardship
  • Indigenous access

There are also accommodation scholarships available through local shire councils, business grants, and government grants.  

Watch the Good Universities Guide scholarship page for accommodation scholarship opportunities.

What are Your Choices?

Each of the unis has a page where all of their accommodation options are listed:

Curtin

Curtin has a variety of on-campus student accommodation options, with properties in both Perth and Kalgoorlie.

In Perth they currently have four properties which are managed by UniLodge Australia:

  • Erica Underwood House,
  • Guild House,
  • Kurrajong Village and
  • Vickery House.

Each property is located within easy walking distance to the centre of campus, and Curtin are currently offering a discount of up to $2,500* when you live on campus for the full 2021 academic year!

 In 2022 Curtin will be opening two new student accommodation options (a new halls of residence and a college!) in Perth as part of their ‘Exchange Precinct’.  

ECU

ECU has accommodation at Mt Lawley, Joondalup and Bunbury. They call the accommodation ECU “villages” which isn’t quite accurate as they don’t look like villages, although the social life may make up for that. 

ECU Joondalup

Murdoch

The Murdoch University Village is more like an accommodation block than a “village”. It is right on campus set among the bushland surroundings. 

Murdoch Uni Accommodation

Notre Dame

Notre Dame Fremantle has accommodation in old buildings near the university. It has the funkiest accommodation to be found at any WA university. You can watch a video on Notre Dame accommodation HERE. 

Notre Dame Accommodation

UWA

UWA student accommodation is across the road from the campus. I always thought it would be exotic to stay in the St George’s castle, although the rooms were cold and musty when I was at UWA. 

More information about university in 2021

Check Which University is Best for You

 

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For complimentary copy of the In Focus Careers newsletter email me at  Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au

 

 

 

 

 

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Your pathway to medicine in WA

Getting into medicine is a job. The competition is fierce and the pathway is rigorous. Many potential doctors fall by the wayside due to the strain of the application process.

This presentation was given to potential applicants for medicine courses in WA. Scitech Pathways to Medicine 2020

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During the summer holidays 30 students who were going into year 11 and 12 this year did a week long, hands on and theory course at the Harry Perkins Centre. The program is run by Scitech to help students to find out more about health careers in WA.

You can find a cut down version of the presentation HERE. Scitech Pathways to Medicine 2020

If you would like to develop your personal plan for getting into medicine, or an alternate health career, please contact me. 

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Register Now for Clinical Aptitude Test – Concessions and Access Applications Close 10 May

Applications close for Concession and Access consideration for the UCAT on 10 May.

Those considering applying for either Concession or Access consideration should Register Now

UMATConcessions

There are concessions for people who hold or are dependent on a person with a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card.

Applications close on 10 May.

Go HERE for information.

Access

Candidates with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries may be entitled to extra time or accommodations when sitting the test, however applications for these arrangements must be accompanied by suitable official documentation and be approved in advance by the UCAT ANZ office.

Applications for Access considerations close on 10 May

Go HERE for information.

More Choice

You have a choice of times and locations when you book your test.

In the past regional and remote students were disadvantaged as the old test was always held after the mid year holidays. The timing is now more suited to the needs of applicants.

Practice Tests and Resources

The best change is the number of practice tests and resources for candidates. There are videos and practice tests on the UCAT site.

UCAT recommends that you do NOT go to private companies to learn how to do well on this test as this is the first time it has been run in Australia and they have little idea of what to expect.

UCAT have put up a lot of information and they have done everything they can to ensure candidates have the best opportunity to demonstrate their strengths.

Good Luck with your application.

If you have applied for a Concession or for Access consideration can you let us know if the process worked for you?

In Focus Careers Newsletter

If you would like to check out my insanely great newsletter let me know:

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Thank you for all your hard work with the newsletters this year, they have been a Godsend. 

(Eastern Suburbs Catholic Education 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.
  • Consult across the In Focus Careers network gathering information and advice to share.
  • Listen to and support West Australian careers teachers

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Bev Johnson

M: 0434 056 412

Email: Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au

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Designing the Best Pathway to Medicine

The path to medicine is the starting point in your career.

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You can choose to do any course for the undergraduate degree which is a prerequisite for medicine at UWA, Notre Dame and many other Australian universities.

To increase the range of undergraduate degrees that you can take make sure you take English (or English Lit), Chemistry and Physics (or Human Biol) as ATAR subjects.

If you are interested in medicine it follows that you might be interested in a health science course for you first degree.

University of Western Australia Health Campus

The Universtity of Western Australia Health Campus Open Day showcased some fantastic undergraduate health science degrees that you could choose as your pathway to medicine.

Speakers talked about their careers in pharmacology, microbiology, genetics, and audiology.

Some speakers had chosen to specialise by doing a PhD, some were doing research in hospitals, while others had gone into management or were working on international committees.

One had used his science PhD as a pathway to found Exodus Space Systems which is developing systems for settling the solar system!!

There were presentations on biomedical science and biomedical engineering with some exciting and crazy talk about mechatronics and 3D printing of organs.  The future for engineers in the health industries is changing at a dizzying pace.

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Speakers in the various presentations across the Open Day made a few key points:

Go Broad

In order to get a broad understanding of the health industry speakers recommended that you choose a broad range of subjects in your first year which maximise your choices for specialisation.  They suggested that you maximise your flexibility through a strong focus on maths and sciences that give depth as well as breadth.

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Communication Skills

One of the key underpinning skills mentioned by one speaker was the development of strong communication skills. She said that her capacity to formulate a reasoned argument quickly was a direct outcome of her science degree.

The need for communications skills was reinforced by others who mentioned the need to negotiate for clinical or resource priorities as well as the need to explain your decisions to patients, politicians and the public.

The message was that good communication skills would be your gateway to a range of opportunities across many industries. They said that is was easy to turn a health scientist with good communication skills into a business person in many interesting fields.

Network

It is possible to do your degree online, from the comfort of your own home.

Don’t do this.

Uni life can be so much more than study. Use the campus. Join social clubs. Go on camps. Do sport. Through these opportunities you can make lifelong friendships.

A self proclaimed introvert on one of the panels said it took her significant effort to force herself out of her home and onto the bus to the campus so that she could meet and mix with people.

In addition to networking with other students it was advised that students take opportunities to volunteer and get experience through contacts at the university. All of the speakers had stories about how they had been encouraged to apply for scholarships, or present papers at conferences or had found part time jobs which led to other jobs.

Finally

This was a day of UWA selling its health science courses… and they did it well. It seemed that a strong, broad health science degree was your gateway to a million opportunities.

People on the panel didn’t know where their careers would take them and all praised UWA for providing the first step on the heath industry career.

If you are serious about a career in medicine you should also check out the range of undergraduate courses at West Australian universities:

See A Day in the Life of a Med Student at UWA HERE

Getting Into Medicine Presentation

If you would like a presentation on Getting Into Medicine at your school contact me at Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au or ring me on 0434 056 412.

 

 

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