CAREW COMMUNITY AND CULTURE
Careers This is my fourth year at the College working in the Careers role and it has been a valuable experience working with students and parents. Career Development is a lifelong process that is unique for every person. The Careers Office is available to assist students with their career decision making and work experience placements for both ATAR and Year 10 students. At the start of Term 1, Year 10 students utilised our Career Tools website to work through career quizzes and then investigate careers and the subjects that are required for occupations that they aspire to undertake after senior schooling. The SET Plan process implemented by the College assisted students with subject choices to match their pathways. Students have been advised to undertake work experience or to speak with employers to get as much information about the role, subjects needed, and qualifications required. As we all know with the current situation, this has limited the opportunities for work placement. TAFE gave the Year 10 students an opportunity to attend two sessions with Try a Trade where they experienced Carpentry, Refrigeration & Airconditioning, Plumbing, Cabinet Making, Painting and Block Laying. The boys loved this opportunity and it helped them with their pathway choices for Year 11 and 12. The College held subject Information sessions for students at the end of Term 2 with Faculty Leaders
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and teachers available to answer questions from students. Also, information sessions were organised with TAFE North, Central Queensland University and James Cook University. We are indebted to these organisations for providing our community with the opportunity to obtain information in an efficient and effective manner. Year 12 students considering university attended a Zoom session from QTAC during their ACAD lesson on how to apply to university, putting in their course preferences and ATAR registration. It is an important time for the Year 12 students as they endeavour to make informed choices for their possible futures. James Cook University offered the students an Early Offer application which the students took on board and this was incredibly successful with students applying for the degrees of their choice. CQUniversity had a similar arrangement where they could apply through a Principal's recommendation letter. Several students took this opportunity to apply for courses that were not on offer with JCU. Our VET Pathway provides opportunities for students to enter the workforce to experience various occupations first-hand. Students should always remember that learning is lifelong process and, at times, decisions will be made that are not always perfect but learning from mistakes is also an important part of the process! Phillip Dembowski | Careers Advisor