Getting the inside story on careers

For some people it’s very clear, while for others they can be uncertain what career path will confer them the meaning and satisfaction we all hope our working lives will bring.

A strong school careers program aims to help crystallise this decision for students – matching their passion, talents and aspirations to the opportunities in the work world.

In 2022, the school added another element to its matrix of career guidance, launching its Mentoring Program for Years 11 and 12 students.

The voluntary program matches Years 11 and 12 students with appropriate early to mid-careers mentors from an outstanding pool of St Margaret’s alumni in the student’s area of interest. The mentees meet with their mentors virtually four times a year. After each session, students are supported by specialist school staff to reflect on their conversations, discuss what they learned, and prepare for the next session, ensuring the time spent with their mentor is optimised.

In the first year, more than a quarter of students across Years 11 and 12 signed up to be matched with a mentor.

The response from our alumni was very positive, with many finding the program resonating with them as a way to give back to their school and steward future industry colleagues.

In 2023, 51 Year 12s have expressed interest in the program –some of these have already had their first sessions as Year 11s and will have a second session in Term 1. Current Year 11s will be approached in Term 2. There are 78 mentors signed up for the program across a good cross section of industries and in various stages of their careers.

Relationships and Mentoring Manager Danielle Guinea, who runs the program, says the process can powerfully identify the many different pathways within an industry or profession where, for example, being a lawyer can lead to many different types of careers.

‘Equally, it has also uncovered that some careers were nothing like the student had imagined, giving them food for thought and the chance to reconsider their options,’ Ms Guinea said.

In 2022, the Mentoring Program received an Innovation Award from The Educator magazine.

Principal Ros Curtis said the program is very well-developed and resourced, which is not common to have in one school.

‘It has justifiably met with much acclaim throughout the school community – from students, parents, and Old Girls, who love the concept and are very pleased to be involved.

‘It has also helped us reconnect with more of our alumni and certainly further cemented that our Old Girls are out in the community engaged in truly inspirational pursuits.’

The Flyer asked three 2022 graduates who participated in the Mentoring Program about their experience.

Year 12 QCE and Internal Dux Ella Woods, who is studying law and medicine, was mentored by Dr Mikaela Seymour (’09), who works in Papua New Guinea and founded the Bush Dokta Subcommittee (Project Yumi Charity), connecting PNG and Australian remote health care workers and supporting grassroots health projects in Papua New Guinea.

Ells said the Mentoring Program had given her real insight into the experience of studying and practising medicine.

‘I have now realised that there is a much broader range of career paths available after studying medicine.

‘Speaking with Mikaela has given me a unique and in-depth knowledge of rural medicine, the challenges of becoming and working as a doctor, and medicine in disadvantaged countries, which was invaluable in medical interviews and will set me up well for my studies and future career.

‘Most of all, Mikaela’s successes have encouraged me to think laterally, to have courage to pursue opportunities that really inspire me, and to have faith in myself and my abilities,’ Ella said.

Ella said she would highly recommend all students to join the Mentoring Program.

‘It is a unique and very valuable experience offered by St Margaret’s, and it was one of the most rewarding opportunities I have had so far.

‘You may at first feel uncomfortable or nervous, but I would encourage you to really embrace the opportunity and be authentic – let your mentor know what your passions are and what scares you. It is rare to be given this one-on-one opportunity to connect with someone who is invested in you and your success in this way.’ and said it’s a great opportunity to take a break from studying but also gain more life experience.’

Joint school captain Ruby Greenup is enjoying a gap year working on her family’s property before studying veterinary science. Ruby was mentored by Eliza Gray (‘16) who works in the agricultural industry.

Ruby said Eliza was a great sounding board for her ideas after high school and gave her ideas of ways that she could network within the industry and gain more experience.

‘She also made me feel like choosing to take a gap year was the right thing to do because she wished she had taken one

Grace Reilly is pursuing a Bachelor of Pharmacy and was mentored by Dr Emma Smith (‘11) who, after graduating from St Margaret’s, completed a Bachelor of Pharmacy and then worked as a hospital pharmacist. She then completed a medical degree and is now working as a doctor in Melbourne.

Grace said the program gave her more insight into working as a pharmacist.

‘It showed me that there are many pathways and places that a pharmacy degree can take you, and after speaking with Emma, it confirmed my passion to be a pharmacist in a hospital instead of a community pharmacist.

‘I really enjoyed my meetings with Emma and hearing about the pharmacy degree and what it is like working as a pharmacist in the hospital system.

‘Emma also gave me very helpful study tips, including how to memorise the large amounts of biology and chemistry,’ Emma said.

Grace said she would definitely recommend the Mentoring Program as it helped to confirm that she was heading in the right career direction post school and that pharmacy was a field of study that she could really enjoy and be passionate about.