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CAREERS, COURSES AND OPEN DAYS A GUIDE TO HIGHER EDUCATION IN 2018 SEDA College students Ellie Fry, Liam Dodd and Matthew Dodd. Photo by Holly Daniel.
Building tailored career paths Ellie Fry lives and breathes boxing and, when the 17-year-old is not in the ring, she is studying at SEDA College, which has been incredibly supportive of her talents. “If something with boxing comes up they are all for it. They are always pointing me in the best direction so I can get the best out of my education and my boxing,” she said. Ellie is in her second year at SEDA and is working towards completing her senior VCAL and Certificate III in Sport and Recreation — and in the boxing world she is an undefeated 6–0 with a Victorian
Novice State Title under her belt. “I want to take my boxing as far as I can but I still want to have something to fall back on so I wanted to do something that goes with boxing and personal training is very flexible,” she said. Tatura brothers Matthew Dodd, 17, and Liam Dodd, 16, both enjoy the sport focus at SEDA College. “Next year I’ll be doing a gap year and
then going on to probably RMIT for a degree in myotherapy,” Matthew said. “I didn’t know what myotherapy was before that and because of SEDA’s SWL (Structured Workplace Learning) program I have really discovered a career interest for me that I really, really love.” Younger brother Liam is hoping to follow in his brother’s footsteps, having started at SEDA this year. “Right now I’m just looking at all my options and trying to find something that interests me,” Liam said. “I have always wanted to be a personal
trainer but I think in the future I’ll be happy to settle for anything that will help me support a family. “I still have plenty of time to work out what I want to do.” SEDA College’s Shepparton information session will be held on Monday, July 30, from 7 pm to 8 pm, at Shepparton Football Netball Club, Deakin Reserve, Nixon St. Melbourne open day will be held on Wednesday, August 1, from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm, at State Netball and Hockey Centre, 10 Brens Dve, Parkville.
TRINITY COLLEGE YOUR HOME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE Our close and caring community at Trinity has been an inclusive and welcoming home to students from rural areas for nearly 150 years. Coming from diverse backgrounds across Australia and around the world, our 300 residents enjoy strong personal, academic and careers support, clubs and societies, and opportunities for sport, music, drama and art. A generous scholarship program includes specific opportunities for country students. Join us for morning or afternoon tea and a tour on Open Day – Sunday 19 August. Apply online at colleges.unimelb.edu.au/apply-now or contact Jill Krew, Trinity College Registrar. Email: admissions@trinity.unimelb.edu.au or phone (03) 9348 7109.
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A guide to higher education
Boost your ATAR score through VET programs Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE equine student Lauren Kerber has received statewide recognition for gaining the top study score possible of 50, in the Premier’s Victorian Certificate of Education Awards.
GOTAFE equine student Lauren Kerber has received statewide recognition for gaining the top study score possible of 50.
I wanted to do something that gave me hands-on experience and a chance to expand my knowledge around biomechanics.” GOTAFE offers VETiS programs for current secondary students wanting to undertake Vocational Education and Training (VET) as part of their senior secondary school certificates (VCE and VCAL). Students attend GOTAFE one day a week and learn hands-on skills in an adult learning environment. GOTAFE will hold open days in October with the dates to be announced closer to the time – visit www.gotafe.vic.edu.au
The right prescription for regional study
Passion drives study choices A lifelong love of horses has turned into much more for Shaniah Dye, and Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE has provided a helping hand to achieve this. The Leitchville resident has just started a business providing riding lessons, horse equipment and horse training, and her current studies in a Certificate III in Agriculture — which includes equine studies — at GOTAFE Wangaratta has provided a catalyst for this. The decision to work with horses stems from a desire to help horses in need. “I have a very different view to some people, as a lot of my horses have been abused in the past, and I want to show people what these beautiful horses are capable of and that they deserve better than that,” Miss Dye said. Miss Dye started studying at university in Geelong, but the pressures of university life and living so far from home led her to find a more locallybased solution.
Ms Kerber gained the top study score through her Certificate II in Equine Studies, which she undertook online with GOTAFE’s specialist equine department, the National Centre for Equine Education (NCEE). The program was delivered through GOTAFE’s VET Programs for Secondary School Students (VETiS), allowing the results to contribute to her VCE and ATAR score. Ms Kerber undertook the equine studies as part of her Year 12 education at Nhill College, which she graduated from at the end of 2017. “GOTAFE helped me study a passion, not just a subject,” Ms Kerber said. “I was interested in the course because
With extensive learning opportunities and all the benefits of family support, undertaking a Doctor of Medicine in Shepparton was the best decision for Hussain Alamein.
Shaniah Dye is passionate about giving a better life to horses in need. “The environment there wasn’t healthy for me, I was quite homesick at the start, so I decided my health was more important than the qualification,” she said. “I love how relaxed it is (at GOTAFE), I barely feel any stress about my studies; even though I have my deadlines and I always meet them there is no nagging along the way.”
The University of Melbourne Shepparton student said there were plenty of opportunities here for him to “grow as a student” and he will complete the remainder of his studies in Shepparton. “I find that there are a lot of advantages to studying locally, from all the extra family support and having a lot of friends back here,” he said. “There are excellent teaching staff here, too; they are very supportive and caring about your wellbeing.” The Doctor of Medicine offers great insights into the vast and varied opportunities for doctors, and Mr Alamein hopes this will help him to hone in on a future specialisation. “This year we are going through medical surgery and the emergency department, next year we do rotations like women’s health, paediatrics and mental health, and these are just a few examples,” he said. “It’s a diverse course so you shouldn’t
University of Melbourne Shepparton student Hussain Alamein is studying a Doctor of Medicine. Photo by Ray Sizer.
have any trouble finding what you love within it.” Regional students are eligible to apply for a scheme called Access Melbourne, which can help with university acceptance and financial help. For those regional students whose circumstances in secondary school have prevented them from achieving the best possible ATAR score, Access Melbourne can help by providing them with the opportunity to win a scholarship or be guaranteed a place at University of Melbourne. For further information on Access Melbourne and Graduate Access Melbourne visit: www.futurestudents. unimelb.edu.au/admissions/access_ melbourne_and_equity_programs The University of Melbourne open day will be held on Sunday, August 19, from 10 am to 4 pm, at the Parkville campus. For further information, visit: www. openday.unimelb.edu.au/openday
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A guide to higher education
Open the door to agriculture The University of Melbourne’s School of Agriculture and Food will again host its Dookie Day, established last year as a way of engaging with the Goulburn Valley food, agriculture and veterinary industries.
The September 9 event will feature wine and craft beer tastings from brews made onsite by students, a farmers’ market, Dookie produce tastings, agricultural and veterinary research displays, demonstrations by sniffer dogs trained to find pests in vineyards and invasive weeds, seminars by prominent agronomist and researcher Professor Timothy Reeves and other agricultural experts, animal displays, a History of Dookie exhibition, special guests and, for alumni of the university and the former
Students attending the 2017 Dookie Day, run by the University of Melbourne’s School of Agriculture and Food.
Dookie Agricultural College, morning tea and dinner functions. “In 2017, guests were able to see the recently refurbished student accommodation and teaching facilities, tour the campus and visit a range of seminars and displays around the 2440 ha campus,” School of Agriculture and Food head Professor Herbert Kronzucker said. “This semester 103 students are based at the campus, including PhD researchers, diploma students, the second contingent Dookie semester students and a further
23 students who have chosen to be based at Dookie for their final year. “We see the Dookie Campus as a unique asset, which enables us to deliver great outcomes for our students, industry and community, particularly following the refurbishments in 2017 and the appointment of Professor Reeves as professor-in-residence.” Professor Kronzucker said local relationships were as important to the campus as physical infrastructure. “We believe Dookie must build on
its status and 132-year history as a local institute where students gain an immersive study experience through involvement with local enterprises and where our researchers can work with industry and community partners to test innovations in animal, plant and soil science and bring promising discoveries to scale,” he said. For further information about Dookie Day on September 9, visit: www.fvas. unimelb.edu.au/dookie-day
Students aspire to be more There is more to being a good student than marks alone. La Trobe University’s Aspire program rewards the skills and knowledge students have gained through community contribution with a conditional early offer into their chosen course. “For students in Year 12, Aspire offers the benefit of minimum ATAR entry requirements and students find out in September if they have been accepted into the Aspire program, well before they receive their ATAR,” La Trobe marketing and engagement adviser Kristina Marko said. “This can take some of the pressure off, going into exams.” Harry Pham, a current student and successful Aspire applicant, was recognised for his contribution to his community through breakdance as the club president of Soul Power. “I’ve learnt how to inspire adolescents and give back to the community through breakdance,” he said. “Over the past four years I’ve been participating in our school’s breakdancing club Soul Power. “Our club recognises the need to promote hip-hop culture and keep vulnerable teenage boys away from unsafe activities.” Mr Pham is currently studying a Bachelor of Applied Science and Master of Physiotherapy Practice at La Trobe University. The Aspire program was extended further in 2017 by offering indigenous students with a passion for giving back to their community a chance to be rewarded. Aspire applications close on August 31, and for those needing guidance the Aspire team will be available at the Shepparton Campus open day on Friday, August 3, from 3 pm to 7 pm, to review draft applications. For further information visit www.latrobe.edu.au/study/aspire
La Trobe University student and successful Aspire program applicant Harry Pham.
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CAREERS, COURSES AND OPEN DAYS
A guide to higher education
When career dreams come to life A career path can come alive in the mind’s eye during a trip to a university open day.
La Trobe University Bachelor of Nursing student and student ambassador Kate Mansfield.
This was the case for La Trobe University Bachelor of Nursing student and student ambassador Kate Mansfield, who is now in her second year of studies. She said attending these days opened her eyes up to the world of nursing. “During the past two open days I’ve attended, the most valuable thing I got out of it was it made me more passionate in pursuing my career choice as a nurse,” Ms Mansfield said. “The information and help available definitely guided me and helped me decide which campus to attend.” With the La Trobe University Shepparton Campus open day scheduled for August 3, Ms Mansfield encouraged prospective students and their families to find out some more information on what is available. “While at open day, I learned about all the different courses I was interested in and also the prerequisites required for each course,” she said. “It was also at open day that I first learned about the Aspire program, which I am fortunate to now be a part of. “A few things I enjoyed were the multiple interactive activities but also simply how helpful and informative the staff were.
“It made my life so much easier, knowing what I wanted to do and what I needed to strive for throughout Year 12.” Head of Campus Sue Nalder said the theme of open day 2018 was ‘Find Your Clever’, and she encouraged students and parents to attend. “There is a world of possibilities waiting for you at La Trobe and you should come along and see for yourselves what’s on offer,” Ms Nalder said. “This year’s open day promises to be our biggest and the best. It will be a more interactive and personal experience for prospective students. “Open day is your chance to visit our campus, step inside our world-class facilities, get up close and personal with our teaching staff and gain a real taste of university life. “Being ranked in the top 1.5 per cent of universities in the world means that we are well placed to help you to be the best that you can be, prepare you for rewarding careers, connect you to the right people in your chosen field and help you adapt to the changing world around you.” The La Trobe University Shepparton Campus open day will be held on Friday, August 3, from 3 pm to 7 pm, at 210 Fryers St, Shepparton. For further information visit www.latrobe.edu.au
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It’s never too late to learn Leah Jones-Davies was married with a teenage son and a flourishing career when she decided to go back to university. It is never too late to get the degree of your dreams, and Mrs Jones-Davies is a prime example of this. She is currently three quarters of the way through a Bachelor of Business Studies at Charles Sturt University, and said she took a different route than many people to begin her foray into university studies. “I was a little bit outside the norm, I actually approached the university and said: ‘I regret I never went to university, I have two diplomas that are both business related, and what are my options?’ “They got me in touch with the careers counsellor at the university and we talked about where my strengths were, what work I did and what I want to get out of my degree.” One of the diplomas Mrs Jones-Davies had previously completed — a Diploma of Business Administration through TAFE NSW — was counted by the university as credit towards getting her bachelor degree.
To fit in with her busy schedule of full-time work co-ordinating a customer service team at the Rural City of Wangaratta Council and raising her 16-year-old son, Mrs Jones-Davies said she was completing her degree part-time and entirely online — with her only oncampus time being sitting her exams at the Albury campus. “I haven’t been to one classroom; I signed up online, did the whole thing online, talked to the careers counsellors online — which is ideal because I am a 30-minute drive from the nearest campus and work full-time in the other direction,” Mrs Jones-Davies said. “They have just updated their online student interaction too so it is really user friendly and I would encourage people to utilise all the free available support courses there, which teach you everything from how to use the library to how to write essays. “All of these lessons are there and free, all it takes is some of your time.” Beginning university as a mature age student has had many benefits for Mrs Jones-Davies, from knowing what she wanted to study to fitting it in around her lifestyle.
Leah Jones-Davies is studying part-time at Charles Sturt University. “I wasn’t ready to do university earlier so I travelled a bit and worked,” she said. “I think it’s helpful as I am more dedicated to the study and focused now than I would have been, and this is essential as it is time-consuming. “I had always regretted that I hadn’t gone to uni and furthered myself in the workplace, but it has been hugely
Dookie Day Sunday 9 September 10am-4pm Dookie Campus 940 Dookie-Nalinga Road Dookie College, VIC Come and explore our 2,440-hectare agricultural campus where the latest developments in research and education in plant and animal health, farming, food and agribusiness will be open to the public. Find out more and register: fvas.unimelb.edu.au/dookie-day
beneficial — even though I am not yet finished with my degree what I am learning is already helping me in my current work.” Charles Sturt University offers one-on-one information sessions/ campus tours for prospective students. For further information visit futurestudents.csu.edu.au/contact-us
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Surround yourself with support Support is key when young adults begin university studies, so it is essential to choose somewhere that offers everything you need in the one location. To guide students in this exciting journey, University of Melbourne’s Trinity College offers not only accommodation in its residential college but a wide array of services to help them along the way. “Trinity students enjoy an enhanced university education with strong academic support, extra-curricular activities and dedicated pastoral care, in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment, only a few minutes’ walk from the University of Melbourne,” Trinity College marketing manager
Surround yourself with all the support you need while studying at University of Melbourne by living at Trinity College.
Paulette Trevena said. “They have the opportunity to grow both intellectually and personally, and create lifelong friendships and career connections through our global alumni network.” Trinity College will hold an open day on August 19, the same day as University of Melbourne’s annual open day, to show first-hand some of the benefits that are offered. “Talk to us about our generous scholarship program, which includes specific opportunities for country
students, take a break and enjoy morning or afternoon tea while you chat with our staff and tutors, and find out what it’s like to live in the residential college, with a guided tour of our rooms and campus,” Ms Trevena said. “Meet current students and enter our competition to win a great prize, see the beautiful grounds and the living and learning facilities, and enjoy musical performances from the renowned Trinity Choir and our other talented musical students. “Come and experience Trinity for
yourself — discover our vibrant college and be impressed by our students’ passion for life and how much fun they have.” Trinity Residential College is home to more than 300 undergraduate University of Melbourne students. The University of Melbourne Trinity College Open Day will be held on Sunday, August 19, from 9 am – 3 pm, at 100 Royal Parade in Parkville, Melbourne. For further information on the college visit www.trinity.unimelb.edu.au
YOU ARE YOUR BIGGEST BREAKTHROUGH SHEPPARTON CAMPUS
Open Day 2018 OPEN DAY THE MAKING OF YOU STARTS 19 AUGUST 2018
CRICOS: 00116K
REGISTER AT OPEN DAY.UNIMELB.EDU. AU
FIND YOUR CLEVER latrobe.edu.au/openday