www.mycareermatch.com.au

choosing subjects that match your

chosen career pathway

which way to go?

A Senior Subject Choice Guide for Students by Len Eagles B.Comm Dip.Ed (MyCareerMatch Consultant)

WHICH WAY TO GO?

Copyright Len Eagles 2010 2

Table of Contents Page

1. INTRODUCTION – HOW ARE YOU SEEING THINGS? 3

2. SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION 4

3. PATHWAYS – SCHOOL, TRAINING, WORK 5

4. VET COURSES IN THE SENIOR SCHOOL 6

5. HELP AVAILABLE ONLINE 7 – 8

6. HOW TO DECIDE... 9

7. PATHWAYS IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING 10

8. WHAT ARE THE TERTIARY OPTIONS? 11

9. WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK? 12

10. YOUR ACTION PLAN BEGINS NOW… 13

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PART 2 SOME INTERESTING INFORMATION

Since your parents left school many years ago, a lot about school has changed! Schools are much broader in their programs with a wider range of subjects and you have much more complex choices and decisions.

There is also a much wider array of ‘pathways’ available to you in training and education.

This presents great opportunities.

By the time you complete your senior studies many people will be employed in new jobs that don't exist today! This is due to new technology.

You will more than likely work in 3 or 4 different occupations during your working life,

which will be approximately 40 years - whether boy or girl.

There are no "girl" jobs or "boy" jobs any more. For example, girls can be engineers or auditors and boys can be nurses or childcare workers.

The following areas of employment are growing:

Service Industries, Information and Computing Industries, Hospitality & Tourism Industries, Technology Industries, Education and Training

The following areas of employment are declining:

Unskilled and untrained work, such as production line work and manual labour. Working your way up the ladder in any field with no formal education or training.

The government is encouraging all young Australians to complete a full Secondary Education (up to 17 years old). That means Senior School, or Year 10 plus TAFE or other Registered Training Organisations (RTO).

Each year in NSW around 30,000 university graduates go on to TAFE to do a course to add to their skills. ie. Certificate III, IV, Diploma or Advanced Diploma.

A growing and significant number of students are enrolling in University courses now with a Diploma or Advanced Diploma. This has gained them advanced standing (a year or more off your degree!) and a reduced course cost.

To be a police officer today you have to have a Senior School Certificate or higher qualification.

Apprentices today are not "just" trades people; they are trained to be highly skilled technologists and problem solvers in their field. They often continue their education at university.

Most banks and large commercial companies require a Senior School Certificate and also a university degree is now highly desirable for advancement.

All this means that you will need to see education and training as a life-long process and to seriously explore all 'adult learning environments' available. When deciding to continue into senior school and selecting senior subjects it is important to realise that subjects need to be chosen in relation to Career Pathways… something you will enjoy and be good at because it matches your natural gifts and talents.

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PART 4 VOCATIONAL EDUCATION & TRAINING (VET) COURSES VET courses will allow you develop work skills and competencies to be better equipped to either enter the workforce and/or continue with Education & Training. VET courses are an opportunity to experience training in an ‘adult learning environment’. You will gain both qualifications and experience in a career pathway. VET courses are especially relevant if:

you are not looking to direct entry into a University course and would prefer an "Industry Recognised" (AQF) qualification that can increase your

chance of immediate employment in a traineeship or apprenticeship and/or you want to do further training in a Certificate IV, Diploma or Degree.

To maximize the benefits of VET Senior School course you can also select other school subjects that complement and strengthen the VET course, here are just a few examples:

Hospitality Operations + Food Technology + Business Studies Retail Operations + Business Studies / Economics Business Services + Legal Studies.+ Business Studies Graphic Design + Visual Arts + D&T Children’s Services + PD/H/PE Aged Care Work + PD/H/PE + Biology

Depending on the type of senior school you attend and where you are located there will be variety of VET courses available to choose with a variety of delivery modes that could even include some on-line delivery. There are a wide range of VET courses delivered by TAFE as well as a number of Private Training Providers. VET courses may lead to Certificate II or III qualification depending on the course structure. These qualifications can then be used to continue your training in Technical and Further Education all the way up to Diploma and Advanced Diploma. Some VET courses can contribute to your ATAR. There may even be the possibility to undertake a School-based part-time Traineeship or Apprenticeship as a part of your senior study. You can combine work and training so that you finish your senior studies and already have some experience and training in your career pathway. Check with the Careers Adviser, VET Coordinator or Director of Studies at your school to see what is available. Here again your choice needs to be a VET course that will further you into your best suited career pathway…. the one that matches your natural gifts and talents.

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PART 6 HOW TO DECIDE There are many differences between Junior and Senior High School. As a senior school student you are expected to be:

personally involved in choosing the courses that suit you best. much more self reliant and organised with your time doing much more home study – at least 15-20 hrs a week, even more closer to exams pursuing your own special interest, abilities and passions taking more responsibility for your own actions

How TO decide Recognise this as an important decision and take time to consider all your options. Ask yourself the following questions:

What subjects are available? What subjects do you enjoy and interest you? What subjects are you good at? What subjects do you need for further study? How do senior school subjects connect best with Career Pathways?

In most cases, the best subjects to take are the ones you like the most. With these subjects you are more likely to do well and therefore get higher marks. If you really don't like a subject, you probably won't do as well. Use these rules when choosing subjects:

→ ABILITY – choose subjects you are good at. → INTEREST – choose subjects you enjoy. → MOTIVATION – choose subjects you really want to learn.

How NOT TO decide Do not choose a subject because:

Your friends are taking it. Your friends may have different abilities, interests and motivations to you.

Your favourite teacher is teaching it. Teachers often change classes or even schools. You want to go on a particular excursion. You could endure years of misery for the sake of

that excursion! You've heard it's a "bludge" subject. If someone tells you a subject is a bludge, chances

are that they are bludging and will probably do poorly. You need to do it even though you hate it. If you need to do a subject to get into a

particular course, there will be a lot of that subject within the course! Boys/girls don't do that subject. There are no separate subjects for boys and girls.

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PART 8 TERTIARY OPTIONS UNIVERSITIES

There are around 44 public and private Universities in Australia with hundreds of courses for professional careers - Associate Diplomas, Diplomas and Degrees. The minimum entry requirement is a Senior School Certificate & ATAR. Some courses have other specific requirements.

A growing number of universities offer alternate entry schemes, especially for mature age

students with significant advanced standing when presenting a diploma qualification. eg. You could start in the 2nd Year of a Degree course.

TAFE COLLEGES (Technical and Further Education)

TAFE is the largest training institution across Australia with hundreds of campuses and colleges. After your senior study you can access courses at Statement of Attainment, Certificate II, III, IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma level.

TAFE / UNI Credit Transfer (NSW example) Many TAFE courses (especially Diplomas and

Advanced Diplomas) now gain credit at various Universities with advance standing. This can often be a much more cost effective pathway into university.

Senior School - TAFE Credit Transfer (NSW example) Credit Transfer is the process by

which a student gains advanced standing in one course by completing another course at a satisfactory level. Most senior school subjects have Credit Transfer arrangements into TAFE. This can shorten the hours needed to complete a TAFE course.

REGISTERED TRAINING ORGANISATIONS AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES

There are growing number of Colleges and RTO’s, some very good and offering good outcomes. Enrolment is by application to individual institutions.

Always check the course costs and their credentials eg. NTIS, Higher Education and

Industry Associations.

Many training organisations now have credit transfer and advanced standing facilities with Universities.

With all of these options available you do not want to end up enrolled in the wrong course! Better to spend some time thinking through the Career Pathway that will be the ‘perfect fit’ for you….

WHICH WAY TO GO?

Copyright Len Eagles 2010 12

PART 9 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK WHEN CONSIDERING EDUCATION AND TRAINING?

→ What careers am I interested in that match my natural gifts and abilities?

→ What courses would lead to those careers? (PATHWAYS)

→ What tertiary institutions offer those courses? (Registered Training Organisations, TAFE, Universities or Private Colleges)

→ Will my school subjects/qualifications line up with those entry requirements?

→ Do any of my senior school courses have credit transfer arrangements?

→ What will the courses be like?

→ Are they offered full-time or part-time?

→ Is the course delivered ‘face-to-face’ or on-line?

→ How will I be assessed / examined?

→ After I finish the course, what jobs will I qualify for?

→ What support services are available to me while I study?

→ How much time and money will it cost me and am I entitled to any financial assistance?

→ How and when should I apply?

→ When will I know if I have been accepted?

→ What do I do when I have been accepted?

→ What are the entry requirements for those institutions/courses?

→ Are there any Prerequisites Required? - subjects and levels done at school to get into a

particular course of tertiary study.

→ Will the University consider other qualifications for entry and advanced standing? Certificate II, III, IV, Diploma, STAT, other Special Admission Schemes and

“Foundation Studies”

→ What is the Lowest Selection Rank - ATAR Required? (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank can change depending on course demand)

→ Are there any Special Requirements?

Audition / Portfolio / Interview Test etc Private Course Fees $ ? Previous Work Experience

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A CLOSING NOTE This eBook was written to assist students navigate their way into and through Senior High School. The ideas contained here come from my 20 years as a High School Careers Adviser and Vocational Education Coordinator and more recently as a MyCareerMatch Consultant. You are free to make copies of this eBook and to forward this pdf to anyone you think it may assist, so long as you acknowledge where it came from and do not make any alterations. I wish you success with your dreams and those things you are passionate and enthusiastic about…. and do not forget…. “Whatever you do you’re gonna ROCK!” Len Eagles B.Comm Dip. Ed. MyCareerMatch Consultant www.mycareermatch.com.au Based in Sydney leneagles@mycareermatch.com.au 0417 426 628