Year 10 is when you dive deep to get exposed to university life.
Check out the food stalls. Try new gadgets. Explore the campus. Go to some talks. See what you like.
Step 1: Before you go
Before you go to the Open Day spend 30 minutes checking out the uni website to see all of the different courses. Pick 2 different subject areas like science and education, to focus on.
Each area will have a number of courses to choose from, like in education you can study primary school and high school and within each of those there are lots of options. Choose which ones you want to fine out about.
Step 2: Get a Plan
There will be an open day program. Check it out to see what course information sessions you can go to.
Locate the buildings on the university website and plan to go to two talks or displays.
Step 3: Explore
Go to the Open Day. Take a tour of the libraries, student clubs, labs and workshops and even the accommodation. Do you like it there?
Talk to some current students about what they like and what they plan to do when they finish.
Check the displays, talks and course information presentations.
Find lecturers to talk to and ask them what the best thing about their course is.
IF NECESSARY CHANGE SUBJECT SELECTIONS WHEN BACK AT SCHOOL
Uni Words
Vocabulary
Meaning
Campus
The sites where the university is located.
Faculty
The academic staff who work in a division or school at a university, or even the school itself, like the Education Faculty.
Degree
A degree is the standard university qualification and is recognised worldwide. Most degrees take three to four years to complete.
Bachelor Degree
The first degree you study at university is called an undergraduate degree, e.g. Bachelor of Arts.
Undergraduate
A person who has not yet completed their first degree.
Level
Level 1 = your first yearLevel 2 = your second yearLevel 3 = your third year
Courses
Courses are the blocks of subjects or units that make up the qualification. A 3 year Bachelor degree course has 24 units:12 Level 1 units @ 6 subjects/semester8 Level 2 units @ 4 subjects/semester4 Level 3 units @ 2 per semester You can mix this up but you can’t do more than 12 first year units and you need to do at least 4 third year units.
Major
A major is you chosen area to study. You will do a sequence of units in that field right through your degree If you choose to major in systems engineering your units will focus on designing, planning and modelling networks, on maths, engineering law and other units that will lead to you knowing how to design robust, reliable systems.
This is a snapshot of universities in Western Australia.
Notre Dame
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 is a Catholic University but you don’t need to be Catholic or Christian or even religious to go there, and the fees are comparable with other universities.
The point of difference is that Notre Dame does have a spiritual, values driven, caring approach to teaching and learning which underpins their interactions and decision making. That’s why they are topping the QILT ratings.
It is quite a small university with 10,000 students and the vast majority of them are domestic students.
The university is in beautiful renovated old buildings around Fremantle.
Pastoral care and support developed for international students has been made available to help regional and remote students to settle in. The only shortcoming is the lack of Notre Dame student accommodation but the student support services people will help students to find accommodation to meet their needs.
Curtin University
Curtin is by far our biggest university with over 50,000 students. It seems like a city with business centres, shops, gyms, accommodation and bands and food trucks, art galleries and theatres.
I think undergraduate students could have a ball at Curtin, but the sheer size of of the place can be daunting. You need to actively work at getting engaged with the Curtin community, both social and academic, to make the most of your Curtin experience.
Curtin knows this and has invested in providing plenty of help for new students and for students with special needs, but it is up to you to seek it out.
Because of the size of the university there are many opportunities available for students to extend their experience, in Australia and internationally.
Curtin is part of a knowledge precinct in 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
The Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching ranks ECU as the top public university in Australia for undergraduates’ student experience. You can feel the quality of the experience when you contact ECU for information. They get back to you. They try to help.
ECU started as a college for teacher training and gradually expanded its courses with WAAPA being one of the first ventures into new areas. Now WAAPA has a reputation as one of the BEST performing arts learning academies in the world.
ECU’s more recent expansion has been into engineering with significant investment into new facilities, international learning opportunities and strong demand for graduates.
ECU is pretty big but students are on the Mt Lawley and Joondalup campuses so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.
The buildings are great examples of design with some of the coolest architecture in Western Australia.
ECU is manageable and there is a strong student centric management focus which means students get help to succeed. There are many alternate pathways into ECU including the UniPrep program and experienced based entry.
People who didn’t think they could get into uni and succeed can are supported to thrive at ECU.
Murdoch University
Murdoch has recognised that the world is changing and that there is a disconnect between education and where jobs are emerging. It has introduced “adaptive expertise” as a learning spine being introduced across the university.
They are focusing on adapting traditional courses with the application of technologies. So History + STEM could result in machine learning that unearths previously unknown information about cultures. Journalism + STEM, as seen in the use of drones, is revealing what is happening in emergency or war environments.
Murdoch has a strong focus on getting girls into engineering. They have engaged with schools and support in industry to lift the number of girls entering this field which delivers 25% of the world’s CEOs.
Murdoch has the biggest percentage of international students in WA.
They are teaching students to think globally, to seek ways to apply technology to their work and to work collaboratively.
UWA – University of Western Australia
This is our oldest university. Many industry, political and community leaders in Western Australia went to UWA which gives strong links between UWA and 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
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.
Over the last couple of weeks the news has been reporting on all of the jobs being lost at universities in WA due to COVID 19 impacts. The unis are all working like crazy trying to attract local students and they are making it easier and easier to get in next year.
Preparation Courses
You can get into uni in Western Australia by doing a university preparation course. Most universities have at least one of these on offer.
After doing the course you may be offered a place at uni, which you don’t have to accept.
They are generally free.
You may be able to complete one before the start of the 2021 academic year.
You find out about a range of different courses that may interest you.
They are generally a semester long so you can start your degree in Semester 2.
You learn about university life without having the pressure of a full degree program.
Although each course is different there are usually 4 subject like….
Academic Writing
Communication Skills
Essential Maths
Research Skills and Information Literacy
UWA
ATAR-based entry
Normal ATAR entry through TISC applications will be the standard entry pathway for 2021. Find details HERE.
UWAY
UWAY – This is an alternative entry pathway and comprehensive support program for students completing Year 12 under challenging circumstances.
The program provides academic, financial and personal support, and it is responsive to individual student needs, throughout their final year of secondary school and during their university studies. You can apply for alternative entry to an undergraduate degree course through UWay if your academic achievements have been adversely affected by certain disadvantages.
Fairway
Fairway UWA is an admission entry pathway and comprehensive support program for students completing Year 12 under challenging circumstances. The program provides academic, financial and personal support, and it is responsive to individual student needs, throughout their final year of secondary school and during their university studies.
The Broadway scheme allows eligible students from a Broadway-identified Western Australian school to receive an automated ATAR adjustment if the school at which they completed their final WACE examinations:
UWA will provide an offer based on a student’s predicted ATAR from the end of Year 11. We may require a diagnostic interview to identify any additional support that may be required, including bridging units, once they arrive at UWA. At this stage Year 12 students must still sit their Year 12 exams and, when results are released, if their ATAR is higher than their predicted ATAR, they can update their application if they’d like to change their course. Find details HERE.
First in Family
If you have received an ATAR of 75-79.95 and will be the first in your family to attend university, you may still be eligible for a place at UWA. If you have a sibling at uni you are still eligible for First in Family consideration.
In recognition of the unique set of challenges Year 12 students are facing this year, 18 and 19-year-old students who are taking insufficient ATAR-based subjects or are not taking ATAR, will be eligible to sit the STAT test and a diagnostic interview as above.
The Predicted ATAR entry pathway is not applicable for Direct Pathways to Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Podiatry. The STAT test pathway is not available for any Direct Pathways or the Bachelor of Philosophy. The application process for these courses will be communicated shortly.
Applicants who have a VET Diploma can apply for entry to an undergraduate course. Find details HERE.
Indigenous Study Pathways
Did you know Indigenous students can gain entry to UWA without an ATAR? There are various pathways for gaining entry to UWA, and once you’re here, there is great support to help you settle in. Learn more about the Aboriginal Orientation Course and the Provisional Entry Scheme. Find details HERE.
UWA Foundation Program for International Students
The UWA Foundation Program is the most effective path to a place at UWA for international students. Successful completion of the program guarantees entry to an undergraduate degree, subject to any quotas or prerequisites.
School leavers must be able to demonstrate that they have achieved their WACE and meet ECU’s English Competency Requirements.
School leavers who wait until semester 2 to apply will be classified as Non School Leavers and will need to demonstrate how they meet ECU’s English Competency Requirements.
Edith Cowan College offers courses that can result in entry to second year of ECU’s Bachelor Degree program
Curtin University
Normal ATAR Entry
If you apply to TISC before 1 October with Curtin as your first preference, and you receive and accept an offer from us, we’ll refund your application fee of $55.
The Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) provides an admission pathway to university if you don’t hold other qualifications that are acceptable for entry. It’s a test designed to assess aptitude for learning at tertiary level.
Curtin College is a bit like a TAFE. It is on the Curtin campus in Bentley and offers a range of courses that either prepare you for uni or give you credits towards a degree.
Portfolio Entry is not only for the creative courses; it is applicable to courses like Education, Science, Commerce and Health.
Indigenous Enabling Course
If you’re of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and you haven’t met the requirements for an undergraduate (degree) course, we offer a range of enabling courses. These short programs can help you meet the requirements for your chosen course, as well as equip you with the skills, knowledge and confidence to succeed at university.
Not everyone has the same opportunities to achieve their true academic potential. You may have the ability to succeed at university but not had the educational, financial or social opportunities to focus on your studies and achieve a high enough Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) for entry.
Graduating from TAFE can qualify you for entry to Curtin, so many students who didn’t successfully complete year 12 use it as a stepping stone to university.
If you are finishing Year 12 in 2020 and aiming to start university in 2021, then HorizonsPlus could be for you. This program provides an entry pathway into Murdoch.
On Track Sprint
On Track Sprint is a 4 week course run over the Christmas holidays. It is going to be a TISC option for 2021 selections. The course prepares you for entry to a course with a minimum ATAR requirement of 70.
On Track
On Track is a 14 week course that prepares students for entry to a course with a minimum ATAR requirement of 70. It is FREE.
FlexiTrack
FlexiTrack– can be done over 1 semester, accelerated 10 weeks, or 2 semesters at part time and this is entirely online.
Law Start
Law Startis an admission pathway for academically capable students who wish to study Law at Murdoch University. To be eligible to apply you must have completed one or more ATAR subjects with a strong focus on communication and essay writing skills. Acceptable subjects will include but not limited to English, English Literature, Modern History, Politics and Legal Studies.
TIC10
TLC10 – prepares students to apply for Murdoch through a 1 day per week course that runs all year in Mandurah and Rockingham.
Portfolio
Portfolio Entry – you can gain entry to courses that rely on creative talent in media, games art and design and creative writing, photography and web communication via a portfolio demonstrating your work + a number of hoops like WACE and English competence. You also need a letter of endorsement from a teacher and a 500 word application – which a school based career advisor can help you to write.
For Portfolio entry try the Domestic Admissions Team on 9360 7458 or send an email by following this link
KTrack
KTrack – is offered through our Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre and is open to students who identify with the ATSI community.
West Australian career teachers are the BEST INFORMED careers teachers in the world.
I haven’t fact checked this but…..
…where else would you find nearly 1000 educators, employment service providers, unis, RTOs, and a bunch of industry people who are so parochial, and so concerned for career education that they freely share information for the common good?
The contributions of West Australians, and a few other minor players like the Commonwealth government, has resulted in the August issue having 50+ pages of stories on:
strategies all local unis are putting in place to support Year 12s
Thanks to everyone who helps us to keep up to date in this bugger of a year.
(I did a Fact Check and found we are not only the best informed career teachers in the world, we are also the best looking, most intelligent, most professional and most generous!!)
Their kids are in year 12. They haven’t decided what to do next year.
Parents don’t want their kids to leave school and fall into a hole. The kids don’t want to talk about it.
Parents can suggest these steps as a path forward
STEP 1: Explore
Check out some aptitude tests to see what tends to come up. Find a range of different tests HERE.
Get a piece of paper or a notebook.
Pick 4 different tests to do.
After each one write down three most important things the test indicated. For example….
I want to work outdoors
I am creative
I am a natural leader
When you have done a few tests you should start to see some common themes. These will help you as you explore your career options.
Some of the tests, like Job Outlook suggest career matches to match your aptitudes.
Step 2: The Shoulders of Giants
Sometimes it’s hard to see what’s around you
I once counselled a student whose mum and dad, brother and uncle were mechanics yet she hadn’t thought of being a mechanic. She ended up doing a Defence Force Gap Year where she started a mechanic apprenticeship.
It is easiest to build from what you know, yet we are often not aware of what we know.
If you are an Eskimo you might think building igloos is for you. If everyone in your family plays an instrument, being a musician could be for you.
What careers you know from your life experience? Check out your family, your family friends, school friends’ parents, sport coaches.
What work do they do?
It is easier when you build from what you know.
Step 3: What is Important?
Discover what you want to do
Whether it’s diamonds, world peace or having fun, your values will remain fairly stable and they will ground you throughout your life.
This game helps you to clarify your values.
1. In a list, write the names of 8 people you like.
They can be family or friends, famous people or fictional people like superman.
Don’t go on until you have your list.
2. Now next to each name write three or four things you like about that person.
3.Group similar values with different colour highlighters. You might group together smart,wise, clever, leader. (CLEVER)
Try to group all of the values into three or four groups. Give each group one name.
Now you have key values that are important to you.
These values guide who you are, how you act and what you do.
They anchor your decisions.
When you are in doubt, make decisions that are consistent with your values.
Summary
Well, that’s not a bad start. From the work you have done you now know:
1. What natural abilities you have.
2. What natural careers environment you live in.
3. What values drive your decisions.
Awareness of your natural abilities, your natural careers environment and your values can drive your decisions.
ONLINE CAREER GUIDANCE
Bev Johnson
If you are a worried parent who would like career advice for your student contact me at Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au or phone 0434056412.
In Focus Careers Newsletter
If you are associated with a high school in Western Australia it probably subscribes to my In Focus Careers Newsletter. Career information you receive about new courses, career events and scholarships are delivered to the school each month through the newsletter.
Contact me for a complimentary copy of the newsletter:
Apprenticeships are the main things we know that TAFE delivers.
If you want to be a mechanic or electrician, you get an apprenticeship and go to TAFE.
But what about computer technicians, house designers, tourism operators, agriculture and aged care workers?
There are hundreds of jobs you can get with a TAFE qualification.
Do I need a qualification AT ALL after leaving school??
Yes….. The bottom line is that you NEED a post school qualification if you are not to take a pathway to poverty.
Employers pay for knowledge and skills, but:
people who have a Certificate III or IV have about the same unemployment rate as people who have a degree.
people who have a TAFE qualification earn about the same as people who get degrees.
(Statistics from Ivan Neville, Labour Market Research and Analysis, Dept of Labour)
Spot the Difference
Guess which Fashion Course is run at Curtin and which one is run at TAFE?
You’ll focus on the relationship between garment and body, using a theoretical and contextual framework for understanding the cultural significance and practice of fashion design and global trends.
You’ll learn the principles of design and creative studio practice; and develop skills in fabric manipulation and construction, design, pattern-making, styling and fashion illustration.
Study the enterprise skills to work in fashion business. Computer Aided Design (CAD) patternmaking, grading and illustration facilities, world class fashion design and textile forecasting resources, over 80 specialised industrial sewing machines, and a staff of fashion industry specialists, are key to our successes with our industry relevant courses, graduate employment outcomes and recognition in the sector.
It is easy to see that the one that mentions theory is a uni course while the one that focuses on CAD and pattern making has a more practical focus.
Length of Course
TAFE
An qualified electrician (Certificate III) takes about 4 years to get their license.
A barista takes about a week to get a piece of paper saying they have a set of skills (skills set) rather than a full qualification as a chef. A course on using farm chemicals safely may take a day and you don’t need to be a qualified farmer to do the course.
The focus of the courses is always on providing the skills that industry needs for a particular purpose.
Lots of TAFE courses give you credits at university. A Diploma of Work Health and Safety takes a year to complete and you will get between 6 months and a year’s credit for the Diploma if you do a degree.
Uni
A Bachelor of Science (Health, Safety and Environment) takes three years.
Cost per Course
TAFE
The maximum fee for the one year Diploma of Work Health and Safety is $2,848.50 which included tuition and resources that you may have to purchase.
TAFE Subsidies
If you do a course where there is a West Australian skills shortage, like cyber security, aged care or agriculture , your fees will be heavily subsidised by the State government.
Uni
The tuition fee for the three year Bachelor of Science degree is $8,460 (Roughly $1000/unit)
There are many scholarships available for university students.
TAFE is More Like School
When you go to TAFE you will probably go into a class of less than 25 students, a lot like a schoolroom or workshop designed to replicate what you will find in the workplace. Some TAFE courses are done entirely in the workplace. Some courses also have a significant theory component – Occupational health and safety, for example, has a lot of chemistry in the course. Veterinary nursing includes anatomy and physiology.
Uni has more Theory
Lectures are a routine teaching methodology at university. You may be in a group of 400 students in a lecture theatre as you are given information by an expert in their field. You are required to do reading on the subject BEFORE you go into the lecture. The subject of your lecture will be followed up by a tutorial or practical workshop on the subject where you can ask questions and gain more in depth knowledge.
If you would like to unearth your path to meaningful education or employment through online counselling to email me: Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au
Subscribe to the In Focus Careers Newsletter
The In Focus Careers newsletter is the only one designed to keep teachers, students and their families up to speed with West Australian career opportunities.
West Australian teachers save hours of work by subscribing and are confident that they have the information they need to provide professional career advice to their students.
Universities need students. The ATAR gives them a convenient way of selecting 26% of their students. The other 74% of university students enrol through different pathways.
If you don’t get your ATAR in 2020 you can still get into university
Universities WANT you to enrol with them so keep checking their websites for updated information.
Higher Education – University preparation courses
They are generally free
You find out about a range of different courses that may interest you
They are generally a semester long
You learn about university life without having the pressure of a full degree program
Although each course is different there are usually 4 subject like….
Academic Writing
Communication Skills
Essential Maths
Research Skills and Information Literacy
Consider this….
If you don’t want to live on Poverty Street you must do some study when you leave school.
If you are thinking about TAFE, go to a Jobs and Skills Centre .If you are thinking about uni check out university careers services or email me to explore your options.
University Alternative Entry
Notre Dame
The Tertiary Pathway Program at Notre Dame is for people who did NOT do ATAR, or who didn’t get the required cut off score.
It is a 13-week program which you apply for directly to Notre Dame.
Applicants need to be able to demonstrate good English language skills to be offered a place.
School leavers must be able to demonstrate that they have achieved their WACE and meet ECU’s English Competency Requirements.
School leavers who wait until semester 2 to apply will be classified as Non School Leavers and will need to demonstrate how they meet ECU’s English Competency Requirements.
Edith Cowan College offers courses that can result in entry to second year of ECU’s Bachelor Degree program
Curtin University
The Curtin UniReady program is now the most open offering in WA. Year 12s apply through TISC and they don’t need ATAR, or English or WACE to apply.
Curtin College offers courses that can result in entry to second year of Curtin’s Bachelor Degree program.
Portfolio Entry is not only for the creative courses; it is applicable to courses like Education, Science, Commerce and Health.
Murdoch University
On Track is a 14 week course that prepares students for entry to a course with a minimum ATAR requirement of 70.
On Track Sprint is a 4 week course run over the Christmas holidays that may prepare you for entry to a course with a minimum ATAR requirement of 70.
TLC10 – prepares students to apply for Murdoch through a 1 day per week course that runs all year in Mandurah and Rockingham.
Portfolio Entry – you can gain entry to courses that rely on creative talent in media, games art and design and creative writing, photography and web communication via a portfolio demonstrating your work + a number of hoops like WACE and English competence. For Portfolio entry try the Domestic Admissions Team on 9360 7458 or send an email by following this link
UWAY – This is an alternative entry pathway and comprehensive support program for students completing Year 12 under challenging circumstances.
The program provides academic, financial and personal support, and it is responsive to individual student needs, throughout their final year of secondary school and during their university studies. You can apply for alternative entry to an undergraduate degree course through UWay if your academic achievements have been adversely affected by certain disadvantages.
Thanks Philip Sharpe, Future Students Centre, University of Western Australia
This program is tailored to help you meet entry requirements or boost your confidence.
It usually takes between 1 and 2 terms to complete (4 to 8 months). It can be completed online or on-campus.
CQU Principal’s Recommendation Scheme
The Principal’s Recommendation Scheme provides an alternate entry pathway to CQUniversity courses* that is based on the recommendation of High school Principals and not reliant on whether a student has received an ATAR.
At CQUniversity we believe senior schooling results are important, but we also believe that other factors such as motivation, talent, and passion can lead to student success at university. The scheme is designed to assist capable students to access entry to CQUniversity, it in no way provides relaxation of the quality and academic standards that students must meet to successfully complete their degree.
To apply for a CQUniversity course via the Principal’s Recommendation Scheme, a student must:
Be studying Year 12 in an Australian school in 2020.
Have their Principal’s recommendation in writing.
For more information on how to apply and what must be included in the recommendation please visit the Principal’s Recommendations Scheme webpage.
Keep up to date with Western Australian career opportunities
The In Focus Careers newsletter brings together information from a network of West Australian career experts. You can tap into this expertise or just check out one issue of the insanely great In Focus Careers newsletter:
The First In Focus Careers Newsletter for WA High Schools in 2020 will be out on 29th January.
See:
Emerging Australian industries and where the jobs are coming from.
Scholarship information
Pre apprenticeship opportunities for February
A comparison of West Australian university rankings
Unusual ATAR cut off scores for 2020
A special careers feature for geography teachers.
There are 45 pages of information to help high school teachers to provide insanely great careers information to their students.
Magic Happens Careers Handbook
If your school subscribes and you haven’t received your copy of the Magic Happens Careers Handbook and Teachers’ Guide yet, email me at bev.j@infocus-careers.com.au and I will send it out.
Join the In Focus Careers Network
In Focus Careers Network supports members as we create a rich resource of careers information and advice for West Australian school students.
Subscribe to the In Focus Careers Network to:
Get the latest news careers news for students, families and teachers.
Get teaching resources designed for West Australians.
Become careers experts with links to the latest research, new teaching resources and PD opportunities, and
Plan the school career calendar using the Monthly Calendar of Events.
UWA is starting the Open Day events for 2021 on 28 March.
The open days are brilliant. They are a lot of fun and essential for students who are in their final years of high school and considering going to uni.
As UWA is having its Open Day so early that it will be easy to consider what you find out and compare it to other unis when they have their open day later in the year.
The School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCASA) is THE mob that makes up the rules about WACE. The first place to find information about Year 11 and 12 is in the official Year 10 Information Handbook which SCASA puts out.
If you can’t find the information you need or if you are unclear on anything contact them at info@scsa.wa.edu.au.
STEP 2 Hear Your Dream
You need to have some idea about what career direction you would like to take.
Many schools have the Career Voyage program that will help you to nail down a career direction for the near future. If you don’t have access to Career Voyage at school you can do the quiz at a Jobs and Skills Centre.
I have done this Coggle brain storm of a bunch of places you can check out to narrow down what you like.
Email me Bev.J@infocus-careers.com.au if you would like access to the Coggle map so that you can just click on the links.
STEP 3 Do You Want to do ATAR??
For years ATAR results were the short cut that universities used to choose their students. Things are changing. Competition between universities has heated up and they are looking at many alternative pathways that:
enable more students to go to university
ensure students don’t fail when they get there.
Universities are looking for alternative pathways more than schools and parents.
TAFE has always been flexible with its pathways to learning than universities and there is a huge range of possible pathways offered.
Job Prospects for Young Job Seekers
Last year the Career Development Association put on a webinar delivered by Ivan Neville, from the Commonwealth Department of Employment. He said….you really need to get a year 12 qualification, or equivalent, to get a job…..
But there isn’t much difference in employment outcomes between a degree (3.6%) and a Cert III (4.1%).
The opening of university entry to a wider audience had resulted in a shift towards degrees and away from vocational education since 2008.
There are now stronger job outcomes for apprentices and trainees than people with degrees.
Step 4 Check Course PRE-REQUISITES
There are lots of courses that have RECOMMENDED subjects, but not so many have definite PRE-REQUISITES that MUST be done as a WACE subject in order to get into a course.
There are lots of pathways into further study and your WACE pathway is just one of them.
The most direct pathway is however, to take subjects that the universities are looking for. So, once you have narrowed down a career direction to take, check out the TISC University Admissions Handbook. It identifies what WACE subjects you should take to keep your options open.
OLNA
The Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) is the minimum WACE requirement reading, writing and numeracy. It is usually done in 10 but there are more opportunities to sit the Assessment in Year 11 and 12 and even AFTER Year 12.
Prospective TAFE students who do not meet these standards can:
sit a TAFE Admissions literacy and/or numeracy test administered by Training Sector Services;
be referred to a TAFE college for a Learning Area Assessment; or
enrol in a course that does not have literacy or numeracy requirements, including foundation skills, equity courses and Certificate I
Step 5 Contact Your Career Advisor
Tap into the knowledge and experience of your career advisor.
If you don’t have access to a specialist career advisor at your school, go to a TAFE college Jobs and Skills Centre or private careers consultant to be sure your next step is the right one.
For your monthly does of inspiration and insanely great career information subscribe to my newsletter:
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I have found your material invaluable. The information you have put together is thorough – a one-stop-shop in a sea of information that is out there. I have utilised this information on a regular basis with others throughout the school.
(South Metropolitan Government High School.)
My Commitment to West Australian Careers Education
For In Focus Careers to be the conduit to Insanely Great Careers Information for West Australian students I undertake to:
Write 10 insanely great issues of In Focus Careers newsletter each year that focus on the needs of West Australian students and careers teachers.
Search for local, national and international information that could impact on the careers of West Australian students.
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UniPrep & UniPrep (Education Assistant Program
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Cost per Course
Many schools have the Career Voyage program that will help you to nail down a career direction for the near future. If you don’t have access to Career Voyage at school you can do the quiz at a 
