Current Edition | Term 2, Week 1

Link:  SCIPS registration form.  

Code:  17949

Due 2 May 2025

Work experience is a good idea

The best way to see what a job is all about is to try it. This sounds obvious however, it is often the last thing people think of when making career decisions. The following are ways you can try a job.

• Work observation/shadowing - spend one or two days with someone already in the job
• Work experience – spend up to a week working in the job
• Volunteering – volunteer your services to an organisation that has jobs you are interested in
• Part-time paid work – explore the possibility of part-time or casual work in your preferred career area
• Join an activity group where you can try out some of the skills you will need in the job you like e.g. join the Air Force Cadets or the St John Ambulance Cadets
• Participating in various programs associated with specific career areas for example, Engineering Link projects

The benefits of trying a job are:

• Learning about what the job involves
• Having a structured, supervised, hands-on experience
• Experiencing a work environment – the world of work isn’t like school!
• Gaining a new referee to add to your resume
• Developing contacts that may help you gain employment in the future.

Transitioning from high school to university can be a challenging journey for students and their parents.  Several universities provide resources for parents to support them and their children through the transition.  Some examples are:

• Australian Catholic University – How parents can help
• James Cook University - Parents and partners
• Griffith University – Parents and Guardians
• Queensland University of Technology - Parents and Carer Engagement
• The University of Queensland – Parents and guardians guide to university
• University of the Sunshine Coast - Parent Lounge.
• TAFE Queensland – Parents and Advisors
• University of Southern Queensland - Parents and Guardians
• University of New England -  Parent, Partner and Friends Information Guide
• Southern Cross University - Guide for Parents and Caregivers

Fitness requirements

Reaching the necessary ADF fitness requirements is well within most people’s capability. During the application process you'll be assessed. Click here to find out more about:

• How fit must I be to apply?
• About the Pre-entry Fitness Assessment (PFA)
• Fitness requirements for the Army, Navy and Air Force
• Answers to your most frequently asked fitness requirement questions

Australian Catholic University

Early offer program - start getting organised now!

The ACU Guarantee program offers a place at ACU based on your Year 11 results to Year 12 students who are Australian citizens or Permanent Residents. It is specially designed to reflect achievements in your whole life, not only your academic results. Applications open on 21 July and close on 15 September. When applying you can include a personal statement which can improve your entry score and chances of getting an offer. There are three statement options:

1. Statement 1 - Impact through empathy
2. Statement 2 - Impact through adversity
3. Statement 3 - Impact through family

Click here (also click on How to Apply) to find out more and if you are interested in this program, now is the time to start preparing your application.

Talk with Industry Series

ACU is hosting webinars where you can hear from alumni (graduated students) about their professional experiences after completing their studies at ACU. You will be able to take part in a Q&A session with ACU graduates to find out what your future could hold with one of our degrees. Upcoming events are:

07/05/2025      Talk with Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists - 6:00 - 7:00pm

13/05/2025      Talk with Psychologists and Social Workers - 6:00 - 7:00pm

Click here to find out more and to register.

Australian National University (ANU) Early Offer application process

Thinking about ANU in 2026? Their Early Offer scheme closes on 15 May! In one application you apply for admission, scholarship and accommodation. They use your Year 11 results, along with adjustment factors, to calculate your Year 11 selection rank that is used to assess your application. Click here for more information about:

• Eligibility
• How the Early Offer Application works
• Accommodation guaranteed
• Adjustment factors
• Change of preference
• Receiving an early offer
• Scholarships
• Supporting documentation
• Supporting your transition to ANU

To be sure you don't miss key dates click here to check out the timeline for Early Offer applications

A quick guide to QUT Webinar for Year 9 & 10 students and parents

QUT is hosting a Quick Guide to QUT webinar for Year 9–10 students and parents on 7 May from 5:30 to 6:45pm. They'll cover career planning tips, differences between school and uni, course information and admission pathways. Plus, hear from current QUT students about their uni experience. Click here for more information and to register.

NEW Medical program from 2027!

QUT is planning to offer its new medical program starting in 2027. Once officially accredited, the course will be a five-year medical program designed to prepare future doctors to make a real difference. It will focus on practical training, emphasise community care and will offer a pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and students from regional, rural and remote areas. For the time being, click here to find out more and get answers to your questions including:

• Application information
• Fees
• What's different about this medical program/
• International student information

UQ's June school holidays engineering, design and computing school holiday program

The UQ engineering, design and computing school holiday program is available in the June School holidays. Year 9 students are invited to learn how to think like engineers, architects, designers and planners and computer professionals by participating in hands-on workshops. Click here to find out more and to register your interest and registrations close on 21 June. You can register your interest and get updates as program is confirmed.

Emerging Roles

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has conducted research to identify emerging roles in the Australian labour market. Emerging roles refer to those that have appeared in Australian job market data for the first time in recent years or are growing quickly from a small base. They have identified these roles using job titles, skill requirements and other job attributes from online job advertisements. JSA has identified 37 emerging roles and four main themes:

• Health, Care and Medical e.g. health tech, medical tech 
• Data and Technologies e.g. cybersecurity
• Net Zero e.g. sustainability, clean energy
• Science and Engineering e.g. biological and chemical science, engineering

Click here to find out more including specific jobs under each grouping.

The 15 fastest-growing skills in Australia from LinkedIn

Change is a constant in today’s workplace as technological transformations upend ‘business as usual’ and force companies and professionals alike to adapt. Artificial intelligence is at the forefront of this shift, and its impact is significant: LinkedIn data reveals that by 2030, 70% of the skills used in most jobs will change. Click here to read an article from LinkedIn that lists LinkedIn's skills on the rise and what they are about, some of which are:

1. AI Literacy
2. Communication
3. Strategic Thinking
4. Adaptability
5. Customer Service Management
6. Problem Solving

What skills do employers want?

Employers just want people who can do the job, right? Yes … but also no. Job specific skills are essential for landing a role but they aren’t the only skills that employers look for. There are some skills that can make you a more valuable team member in any workplace – from cafés to hospitals, from offices to courtrooms. These skills (some people call them “employability skills”) show employers you have more than the technical knowhow. They prove you’re a decent person to work with and someone who can deal with whatever the workplace throws at you. Click here to read UQ's article including:

•  What do employers want? (Hint: it’s not just a list of skills)
• What are employability skills?
• Employability vs. employment
• How to enhance your employability

A journey to become a doctor

Becoming a doctor is easy to say but it takes time and hard work to get there. There are four main steps to becoming a specialist doctor (and a GP - General Practitioner is a medical specialisation!). The four steps are:

1. Undergraduate Bachelor degree (3 - 4 Years)
2. Doctor of Medicine qualification (2 - 4 Years)
3. Junior Hospital doctor (2 - 3 Years)
4. Specialist training (3 - 5 Years)

Click here for more details about each of these training steps.

If you are taking the UCAT ANZ in 2025 for entry to some health related courses in Australia and New Zealand universities in 2026 you should note these key dates. Deadline times are 11.59pm AEST - Australian Eastern Standard Time. A reminder that  the closing date to apply to sit for UCAT is 16 May 2025. Late bookings close 30 May 2025 (late fee $85). Final booking deadline 6 June (late fee $185).