Careers/Pathways
THE KURNAI COLLEGE PATHWAYS & CAREERS CENTRE
Kurnai's Career & Pathways team work closely together to deliver career and transition programs for students in Yr 9 – Yr 12, with the sole aim of fostering a culture which values all occupations, pathways and aspirations of all our students.
The Career & Pathways team provides guidance, relevant and up-to-date information, and a large range of activities that assists individuals make informed decisions about career options, pathways and school subjects.
OFFERS UP TO DATE INFORMATION ON:
- Tertiary courses, University and TAFE courses
- Employment opportunities, including new apprenticeships, traineeships and jobs pathways
- Individual careers counselling
- Information seminars from industry and employers
http://kurnaicollegecareers.com
SERVICES AVAILABLE:
Student's at Kurnai College are serviced by two career advisers located on the senior campus at the GEP, and a number of Year level team leaders on the junior campuses at both Churchill and Morwell.
- Assistance with all VCE programs,
- Post VCE study at all universities, TAFEs and private college's Australia wide
- VTAC Applications
- SEAS Special Entry Access Schemes
- DOTS – Diploma of tertiary studies
- Accommodation post-VCE
- Scholarships
- Study options overseas
- Subject choices
- Job applications / Resumes
Career Team Contacts:
GEP Campus: Kylie O'Donnell, Cherie Vajler
Ph: 51323831
Churchill Campus: Sandra Flake
Ph: 51323700
Morwell Campus: Karen Anders
Ph: 51650600
CAREERS AND PATHWAYS
What is a career?
A career includes all the roles you undertake throughout your life - education, training, paid and unpaid work, family, volunteer work, leisure activities and more.
"Career" was traditionally associated with paid employment and referred to a single occupation. In today's world the term career is seen as a continuous process of learning and development. Activities that contribute to a career can include:
- training
- education
- employment
- work experience
- community activities
- enterprise activities
- employment
- different life roles
- volunteer work
- leisure activities
Career choices
Making the best career choices involves:
- knowing yourself - what you like (your interests), what you are good at (your skills and abilities), what is important to you (values)
- getting to understand the world of work - what's out there
- learning how to make informed decisions
- finding out how to achieve objectives.
My Future
myfuture is a national, online career exploration and information system. Log on to www.myfuture.com to create your own personal profile that can help you to identify a range of career options.
You can go to My Guide to:
- Find out more about yourself, your skills, interests, values and aspirations
- Discover what occupations suit you
- Learn about the world of work
- Explore your creativity and enterprise skills
- Plan your career pathway and set goals
You can go to The Facts to find out about:
- Occupations
- Where to get funding, grants and scholarships
- Support agencies
- Australian Apprenticeships
- Post-school education and training
- Education and training providers
- Employment conditions, employment trends and where the jobs are
What is a pathway?
Pathway is a word we use to describe our choice in education, training and employment – the steps we take to achieve our goals.
Finding my path
The choices we make during our lives are the decisions that shape our future and will determine the type of lifestyle we will have. Setting goals along your life journey is one way of achieving your dreams. While you are at school you have the opportunity to explore the numerous choices available to you in relation to your future.
Investigating your pathways can help you to keep track of what is available to you in relation to your education and training, personal aspirations and social goals – without locking into a particular pathway.
The pathway you choose will probably differ from those of your friends, and most likely will be quite different from the pathway your parents have chosen.
Your pathways journey can be interesting and challenging, and whatever pathway you choose, you need to spend time investigating what each pathway has to offer before deciding to take it.
Developing a pathways plan
Our career advisers work closely with you from Yr 9 until you leave school to help you develop a pathways plan. A pathway plan is essential to getting your future career plans on track, and discovering what is available to you in your local community.
By developing a pathways plan, you can prepare yourself for change by building up contacts, finding information and making concrete decisions to help you meet the new challenges in your life.
A pathway plan can empower you by giving you the knowledge you need to feel confident about pursuing your goals and dreams after you leave school.
Future pathways
There are many pathways from school that can lead to a rewarding career. After school you can:
- do an apprenticeship
- continue with further education and training either through vocational and technical education or university
- find work
- take a gap year and do community work and/or travel
There are so many options that it can sometimes be overwhelming, but remember that people can move between pathways and are not restricted to one occupation or education level.
- Vocational Education & Training (VET)
- University
- Employment
- Apprenticeships / Traineeships
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING (VETiS)
Vocational Education and Training is directly job related and competency based. These courses are good for students who like study that is practical and hands on.
Provides hands on opportunities for young people while they are still at school. Programs provide opportunities and pathways for senior secondary students (Years 10 to 12).
For further information, see VET in Schools.
SCHOOL BASED APPRENTICEHIPS
SBAs allow students to combine study and employment and begin their apprenticeship while they are still at school, and they earn a wage as they work and study. Students can do their Victorian Certificate of Education or the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning while undertaking their School Based Apprenticeship. This means they spend some time at school and some in the workplace.
For more information on VET in Schools or School Based Apprenticeships you can talk to the career advisers or VET coordinator at your school, or visit the web site listed below:
Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships
UNIVERSITY STUDY
About 30 percent of students go direct to university from school. There are however alternative pathways by transferring from recognised VET studies or undertaking bridging or foundation programs to help prepare students for university courses.
In considering university it is important to explore the university and course requirements including prerequisite Year 11 and 12 subjects. Students need to consider the costs of university study and the costs of living, possibly away from home. They should also explore the opportunities for work after graduation.
For more information about studying at university check out the following websites:
EMPLOYMENT
A paid job brings an income, freedom and the chance to learn and do new things. Getting a first job is not always easy, and people often have to apply for a number of jobs before they are successful.
- Remember that about 80 percent of jobs are never formally advertised. It is important to ‘access your allies' and use any networks (family and friends) you may have to find out about work opportunities.
- Get someone else to check your job applications and resumes.
- Practice interview techniques.
- You may not succeed initially, but try to remain positive.
YEAR 12 – WHERE TO NOW?
It is increasingly important to continue with education and training. Twenty years ago, about 40% of all students went on to further study. Now 60% of school students go on to further study.
Today, people without post-school qualifications are less likely to gain long-term full employment.
Therefore it is really important to keep learning and developing your skills and abilities throughout your life. Most Year 12 school leavers will go on to do tertiary education, whether that be at TAFE, university, or a private training organisation.
The website below is a portal for Year 12 students who are thinking about their post-school options. The portal has tips and ideas on the wide range of options available after Year 12 including:
- Future work opportunities
- Post-school education and training
- Working while you learn
- The benefits of education and training
KURNAI'S CAREER & TRANSITION PROGRAMS
Year 9
Year 10
Feb Life Skill Coaching (1/2 day)
March Work Experience Prep Program (3 -4 days)
April – CHURCHILL WORK EXPERIENCE( 2 weeks
June MORWELL WORK EXPERIENCE
June 13 1st STEP (1day)
July 14 – 18 Career Pathway Sessions (Monash/Federation faculty visits)
July 24 Parent Info Night
July 27 Herald Sun Careers Expo
August 15 – 23 2nd STEP (1 hour)
August 29-Sept 5 COURSE COUNSELLING
Sept CHURCHILL WORK EXPERIENCE
Nov MORWELL WORK EXPERIENCE
Year 11
Feb - May Career Voyage Program (40 minute session all students)
April AGE Careers Expo
April Uni student for a day
June - Aug Industry Visits & Guest speakers
Sept YR 11 VCE/VCAL TRANSITION
Year 12
Feb - Aug Career Counselling Interviews (30 - 40 minutes)
May TIS EVENT
June Melbourne University Trip (2 day)
August Monash/Federation Faculty Visits
August VTAC INFO Sessions
Sept VTAC Applications
