"Which way to go?" e_book

www.mycareermatch.com.au

which way to go?
choosing subjects that match your

chosen career pathway

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

WHICH WAY TO GO?

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

Copyright Len Eagles 2010 2

WHIC WAY TO G ?
CH GO

PAR 1
RT
INT
TROD
DUCTI
ION – HOW ARE YOU SEE
W E U EING
THI
INGS?
There is an old Pro
s overb that could easily apply to a senior scho student who did no think
c ool ot
through their subje choices and career pathways back in junior school:
h ect r

"Where there is no vision the people wander aimlessly!"
e t e a "

How ar you see
re eing things
s?
What a you loo
are oking for?
Do you only see 5 shapes or are you ready to…
u o u …

OVE INTO S
THE MO SENIOR SCH
HOOL REQU
UIRES A RAD
DICAL RE-T
THINK ABOU HOW YO
UT OU
“SEE S
SCHOOL”!

It is the intention o this guide to show y
e of e you the imp
portant ques
stions that need to be answered
rather tthan answe all your questions.
er

You mig be having fun now but it’s bes to discov a bit abo yourself before you crash!!!
ght w st ver out f u

Copyright Len Eagles 2
2010 3

WHICH WAY TO GO?

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.


WHIC WAY TO G ?
CH GO

PAR 3
RT
PAT
THWAAYS – SCH
HOOL, TRA
, AININ & WORK
NG W
A quick look will sh
k how that ‘le
earning’ is a ‘life-long’ process tha can go in lots of diffe
p at erent
directio
ons.

Your trick is to plan your care pathway to begin and then see where op
eer y a pportunities arise.

At the very least subje choices need to be made that do not clos
y ect se-off tertia study or
ary r
training opt
tions.

Deciding on senior sub
n bjects witho thinking ahead first can lead t major problems if yo
out g to ou
then try to change you senior sc
ur chool patter of study.
rn

If you want to study at Universit you mus be aware of how sen
t a ty st nior school subjects
contribute t the Aust
to tralian Terti
iary Admiss
sion Rank(A
ATAR)

esearch all of the vario pathway that can lead to uni
You should carefully re ous ys iversity entry.
This include both dire entry or articulation and advanced standi
es ect r n ing into a degree cours se
by first com
mpleting a Diploma or A
D Advanced Diploma or Special Ter
D rtiary Admisssions Test
(STAT).

Many senio school subjects have Credit Tra
or e ansfer arran
ngements in place with courses at
n h t
TAFE. This means less time to co
s omplete you TAFE Cou
ur urse!

You should also carefu explore all tertiary options at other Priva Training Providers a
ully ate and
Private Universities.

2010 5

WHICH WAY TO GO?

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.


WHIC WAY TO G ?
CH GO

PAR 5
RT
ONLINE HELP
P
HELP IS AVAI
ILABLE ONLINE
O

MyCareeerMatch.co om.au delive a compr
ers rehensive self assessm
s ment profile in about 15 minutes
that will allow you to choose a career pa that mat
ath tches your personality style, talen and gifts
nts s.
Comple the asse
ete essment on the interne and your report is se within m
et ent minutes by email with a
copy se to your Careers Adv
ent viser for fol
llow-up inte
erviews.

er:
Discove
Your person style
nal
Your work related stre
engths
Your ideal e
environmen
nt
What you b
bring to a jo
ob
How to imp
prove your effectivenes
e ss
Career opp
portunities
How you ca make a difference
an d

MyCare eerMatch us the sam psychometric tools employers use to find t
ses me e u erson for the
the right pe
job. It a
also provide value information th can be included in a Resume a well as a Job
es hat i as
Intervie Guide. T
ew There is a co
omprehensi
ive Workbo and lots of useful li
ook inks to explore career
options.

2010 7

WHIC WAY TO G ?
CH GO

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2010 8

WHICH WAY TO GO?

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.


WHIC WAY TO G ?
CH GO

PAR 7
RT
PAT
THWAAYS IN ED
I DUCAT
TION & TR
RAINI
ING
This flow chart is a
w another way to see wh
y here student go after their senior school study.
ts t r

As you can see the is an ev spread a
ere ven versity, TAFE and work / training BUT
across Univ k
whichev way you go this is only the be
ver u eginning of your career pathway.

There a lots of w
are ways you ca begin the journey but you need a career p
an e d pathway to aim at….
Getting the start r
g right with senior schoo subjects that match your best career pat
s ol h t thway can
really im
mprove you chances of success !
ur

Training / Educat ion Pathw
g ways and Credit Tran
C nsfer

Your senior school cer
r rtificate is lik a Certific
ke cate III in the amount of work yo do.
ou
Many senio school subjects, espe
or ecially VET courses will give you c
credit at TA
AFE.
Many Unive
ersities will give you de
egree credit when you first compl
t lete a relate Diploma.
ed
Many unive ersity gradu
uates go on to do a Certificate III or IV or Dip
ploma to ad to their
dd
qualification and obta specific work-relate skills.
ns ain ed

2010 10
1

WHICH WAY TO GO?

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?

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


WHIC WAY TO G ?
CH GO

PAR 10
RT 0
YOU AC
UR CTION PLA
AN
Make s
sure you co
onsider AL the opti
LL ions….

YOUR A
ACTION PL
LAN BEGIN NOW…
NS …

egin now to put together your own Action Pla
You can be an….

A good place to start is to downlo the ‘Fin
oad nding Life’s Directions’ Workbook
from MyCaareerMatch.

Once you have your o
h own Career Profile from MyCareer
m rMatch this workbook w
will
help you to choose a C
o Career Path
hway that matches you personal style, natu
m ur ural
gifts and abilities.

There is ev an Actio Plan to help begin organising y
ven on h o your next st into
tep
Senior Schhool and bey
yond…..

2010 13
1

WHICH WAY TO GO?

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


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