National Careers Week – 15th to 21st May

Week 4 of Term 2 saw National Careers Week being supported across the country. National Careers Week is an annual event designed to promote the importance of career development and informed career decision making. Several activities took place at the College to support the national event, including:

• Student completion of a Careers Survey;
• A Careers Information Session held by the Australian Defence Forces;
• Career Education lessons across Year 10 classes; and
• An excursion to the Perth Careers Expo.

Student Survey

Belridge students were recently given the opportunity to complete a National Careers Week Student Survey, designed to have students share their career development to date and their anticipated career pathway planning. Results of the survey included 41% of respondents from Years 7 to 12 stated that they planned on going to university on completion of their secondary studies; 18% stated they intended going to TAFE or a similar training organisation; 11% stated they planned on completing an apprenticeship or traineeship; and 16% of students stated they were unsure what they wanted to do on completion of their secondary studies. It is important that all students are made aware that employment outcomes are improved when post-school qualifications, gained at TAFE, university and training are achieved. Hence, Belridge students’ education and training should not end on completion of their secondary studies!

Students were also asked what their dream job was in the survey. Popular responses included teacher, professional and engineer. Importantly, each of these career pathways involve the completion of a degree at university. Other prominent responses included self-employment and gaining a career that would lead to them being rich!

Unsurprisingly, students overwhelmingly stated their family members were the biggest influencers on their career development, with teachers placing second place. Students also indicated that they would like to speak with friends, family, teachers, and Career Practitioner regarding their career development. It is important that all members of the College community make themselves available to have meaningful career conversations with young people, which will aid student career development and decision making.

Australian Defence Forces (ADF) Visit

Personnel from the Army and Air Force recently presented information to upper school students regarding training and career opportunities, as well as the extensive list of entitlements available to members of the ADF. After the presentation, a number of students spent time communicating and networking with the ADF representatives, who shared their exciting experiences, which have involved them being deployed across the globe. The ADF regularly hold in person and virtual information sessions. More information can be gained by visiting their recruitment website – https://www.defencejobs.gov.au/

Year 10 Career Education

Students in Year 10 were recently involved in the first of ongoing career education sessions held by classroom teachers and coordinated by the College’s Career Practitioner, Mr Mouritz. Students were supported to register for and begin compiling an individual profile on the My Future career navigation and planning tool. My Future is the premier career navigation and planning tool used by over two million Australians each year. Users create a profile and complete a range of activities designed to help them identify their skills, abilities, and interests. My Future then uses an algorithm to suggest suitable careers. Students are then prompted and supported to explore careers of interest and complete action planning for pursuing their goals. These career education sessions are designed to support students to choose appropriate upper school courses for Year 11, that will enable them to enter relevant career pathways. Visit My Future to find out more – www.myfuture.edu.au

The weeks career investigation culminated in an excursion to the Perth Careers Expo, where students had the opportunity to directly network with employer, industry, and training provider representatives from over 200 different exhibitors. Over half the Year 10 cohort attended the excursion. It was great to see so many Belridge students directly network with employment and training providers.

Students were also informed of the importance and process involved in gaining a Unique Student Identifier (USI), which is necessary for enrolment and recording of TAFE, training and university courses. All Year 10 students have been instructed that it is a requirement they register for a USI – via www.usi.gov.au and then communicate their USI to the College, before the end of Term 2. Students can contact the College’s Career Practitioner, Mr Mouritz, if they need assistance.

Year 10 Careers Expo – 19th May

Close to 100 Year 10 Belridge students recently attended the annual Perth Careers Expo, held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. The annual event is WA’s biggest careers based event, attracting 14,000 visitors each year. The excursion was organised and supported by the College’s Career Practitioner, Ashley Mouritz, College Chaplain, Phil Leenman and Deputy Principal, Carlos Notarpietro. The event was a feature of National Careers Week, which took place across the country between 14 and 20 May.

Students benefitted from the opportunity to directly source tertiary course information from a range of TAFE, university and private training providers; as well as directly network with some of Australia’s well-known government and private employers. It was great to see so many of our students confidently ask for information, advice and access resources to take away with them for future reference. A number of students enjoyed the opportunity to win prizes and collect a range of ‘goodies’ from the exhibitors as well! Attendance at the event is designed to support and promote the very important career pathway planning and Senior School subject selection processes that Year 10 students will be involved in during the year. At the end of the event students were reminded of the importance of making informed career related decisions and to continue to seek out resources they can use to develop a suitable and meaningful individual career pathway on completion of their secondary studies.

Year 9 Careers Conference – 3rd and 4th May

30 Year 9 Belridge Secondary College students recently attended Joondalup Resort to participate in Engaging Education’s inaugural ‘Year 9 Career Conference’. The event was supported by the City of Joondalup and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The event was planned as a part of the Year 9 Career Taster program, which provides students with the opportunity of gaining exposure to careers and employment sectors of interest. Close to 800 students from schools across the Perth Metropolitan area attended the two-day conference, which took place on 3 and 4 May (Week 2 of Term 2).

As the conference was held nearby at Joondalup Resort, students independently made their own way to the event in the morning. During the conference students participated in a range of workshops, information sessions and displays focusing on a particular employment sector of interest. Belridge students had the choice of attending one of five different conferences:

• Community Development and Care Careers:
  Community services, health, medical and disability services.
• Customer Engagement Careers
  Aviation, retail, hospitality and customer service.
• Digital and Creative Careers
  Animation, illustration, game design, home design and content creation.
• Operation Careers
  Mining, rail, primary industries and facilities management.
• Protect, Defend and Health Careers Conference
  Defence forces, emergency services and health services.

Each conference was aided by the inclusion of experts in their chosen field and students benefitted by hearing from and networking with 30 different presenters across the two-day conference. Students also received up-to-date information regarding the importance of cyber security in each sector, as well as the application of Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) skills in each of the industries focused on.

The key theme across each workshop was the impact of widescale skills shortages across each sector and the multitude of training and employment opportunities available for young people as they plan their transition from secondary school to employment. All students involved in the conference became a lot more aware of the many employment options available to them, which they are encouraged to continue exploring.

Mr Ashley Mouritz
Career Practitioner