Current Edition | Term 3, Week 10

Brisbane City Council Apprenticeships

Brisbane City Council has not published a set date for its 2027 apprenticeship intake. It advertises apprenticeships as vacancies become available throughout the year. It is worth checking regularly. You can:

• Check Brisbane City Council’s current vacancies
• Join Council’s Talent Community for job alerts
• Read about its apprenticeship programs

Applicants generally need to be at least 15 years old and meet the residency requirements.

Key Apprenticeship Program

The Key Apprenticeship Program offers eligible apprentices up to $10,000 when starting or restarting an apprenticeship in clean energy or housing construction. There are two options:

• New Energy Apprenticeship
• Housing Construction Apprenticeship

Find out about payments, eligible jobs and how to sign up.

VET courses in Queensland?

Want to know more about VET courses? Check out the Queensland Skills Gateway website. Use the training course search function, enter the field of work (e.g. carpentry), the level of the course (e.g. All) and the industry (e.g. Construction). While the website's focus is vocational education and training (VET), it does include an occupational search function that has information on a broader range of careers and other helpful sites.

You HAVE TO Register with QTAC to Get Your ATAR Calculated!

If you’re in Year 12 and ATAR eligible, register on the QTAC ATAR Portal to receive your ATAR. Queensland ATARs will be released at 9 am on Friday 18 December 2026. You’ll need:

• Your full name
• Date of birth
• LUI number
• A personal email address

You must also submit a separate QTAC application if you want to apply for tertiary courses. Registering is also important if applying interstate, as it allows QTAC to share your ATAR with other State Tertiary Application Centres. Register for the ATAR Portal here.

QTAC Key Dates

QTAC Key dates for 2026 include:

Tuesday 4 August 2026 - Opening of Admissions applications for 2027

Tuesday 4 August 2026 - Opening of ATAR Portal registration for 2027 Year 12 students

Tuesday 30 September 2026 - $75 Early Bird application offer closes - after this, application fee is $159

Monday 7 December 2026 - Due date to apply and submit documents for 23 December round offer

                                               - Due date to apply and submit documents for 14 January round offer

Friday 18 December 2026 - QTAC Release of the 2026 ATARs and QCAA release final subject results

Friday 21 December 2026 - Due date to change preferences for 23 December round offer

Tuesday 7 January 2027 - Due date to change preferences for 14 January offer round

Admission Pathways

ACU's admission pathways and programs can make it easier for you to achieve your goal of enrolling in a University degree. Find out about the options below to see if you're eligible for any of the programs. Use their pathway finder to see what pathways and programs are available for you. Narrow down your options by study area or your personal situation. Check out:

• I’m in Year 12 and want an early offer - check the universities you are interested in attending
• I didn’t get the ATAR/rank
• I’m in Year 11 and want to experience university life  - check the universities you are interested in attending
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student
• I'm an elite athlete or performer

How to apply

Applying directly to Bond University is free and doesn’t lock you into studying there if you are also interested in a course at another Uni. Follow these three steps:

1. Explore Bond’s courses and choose one.
2. Prepare your application and documents, such as transcripts.
3. Apply through Bond’s secure online portal.

Find out more and apply here.

Engineering Career Days:

• Gold Coast campus (Thursday 22 October): 
• Brisbane South (Nathan) campus (Thursday 29 October)

Details can be accessed via the registration links: 

• Gold Coast campus
• Brisbane South (Nathan) campus

While these careers days are primarily aimed at Year 11 students, we are also very happy to welcome interested Year 10 and Year 12 students. Please also note that students are welcome to attend independently. A teacher does not need to accompany students, provided they are able to make their own way to campus.

Pathways Webinar

Join JCU's Pathways Webinar on 16 September at 7pm and discover how you can still pursue your dream career, even if you need a few more qualifications to meet entry requirements. More info and rego details here.

Year 12 Student Success Package

JCU has several opportunities for gaining or improving your chances of entry in 2027. These include:

Early Offer - Get your offer early so you can concentrate on finishing Year 12 well. 

Guaranteed Admission - Guaranteed entry to the majority of courses based on your ATAR above 90. Subject prerequisites waived. Applicants awarded an ATAR of 73 or above will be guaranteed entry into most JCU courses but will need to meet the course subject prerequisites.

Adjustment Factors - You could be eligible to receive bonus Adjustment Factors based on where you live in Queensland or what subjects you successfully completed at school.

Year 12 Webinar

Get all the info and tips you need to discover what your life could look like at JCU. By joining JCU's Year 12 Webinar on 8 October at 7pm, you will gain first-hand advice from current JCU staff and students as they share real stories about making the leap from high school to uni. More info and rego details here.

Pathways to QUT Degrees through QUT College Diplomas

If you are unsure of your ATAR or academic preparation for university entry you can start your university journey with one of QUT's diplomas delivered at QUT's Kelvin Grove campus. Develop the academic skills and knowledge needed to step into QUT undergraduate degrees with confidence. All diplomas provide guaranteed entry to related QUT Bachelor degrees. Choose from one of the following: 

• Diploma in Architectural Studies 
• Diploma in Business 
• Diploma in Creative Industries 
• Diploma in Engineering 
• Diploma in Esports 
• Diploma in Health Science (Health Studies) 
• Diploma in Information Technology 
• Undergraduate Certificate (Nursing) 

Learn more about QUT diplomas.

Adjustments and Admission Schemes

UQ's access schemes recognise diverse educational pathways and life experiences supporting you to reach your potential. You could be eligible for up to 5 adjustment points on top of your ATAR (or equivalent), improving your entry score and opening up more opportunities to study at UQ. Check out their adjustments and admission schemes including:

• How to apply
• Eligibility 
  • Attending a specific high school
  • Living or attending school in a rural of remote location
  • Identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • Experiencing financial or personal hardship
  • Studying specific subjects in high school
  • Applying to study law at UQ

Spring into Engineering Holiday Program

This 3-day program run by UQ’s Women in Engineering is for Year 10-12 girls wanting to explore Engineering with hands-on workshops, behind-the-scenes lab tours and an industry day. It will be held during the September holidays from 28 September to 30 September. Click here for more information and to register.

AIQS Donald Napier Scholarship - Construction Management Degree Students

The Donald Napier scholarship is able to support the future leaders of the Construction Management profession as they begin their university degrees. AIQS (Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors) offers a number of scholarships each year for Year 12 students and early school leavers who qualify for entry into a construction management degree that is AIQS accredited in Australia. There are four scholarships offered each year:

1. General 
2. Diversity 
3. First Nations people (Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander)
4. Disadvantaged (financial, carer, medical condition or disability, regional or remote)

Scholarships are valued at $5,000 and click here for more information. Applications close on 1 October 2026.

Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Local Sporting Champions Program

The Local Sporting Champions program provides financial assistance for coaches, officials and competitors aged 13-18 participating in state, national or international championships. If successful, applicants will receive $500 - $750 towards the cost of attending their championships. Applications close on 31 October 2026. Click here for more information and to read across Australia:

• Overview
• Eligibility and terms
• Application Process
• Assessment
• Case Studies
• Key Dates

Commonwealth Scholarships

There are three types of Commonwealth scholarships:

Student Start-Up Loan – Available to eligible full-time students in higher education who receive Youth Allowance, Austudy or ABSTUDY Living Allowance and you must apply.

Relocation Scholarship – This is an annual payment to help eligible ABSTUDY or Youth Allowance students with their higher education if they have relocated to, or from, a regional or remote area to study. 

Payments and support for Indigenous Australians - You may be eligible if you’re studying or training. ABSTUDY is a group of payments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students or apprentices.

Financial Support When Leaving School

Find out about Australian Government payments and loans you can get when taking the leap to further training (Apprenticeships and Traineeships) or study at university or TAFE. Click here to find out about:

• Main student payments
• Extra payments
• Payments for moving to study
• Payments to help with living costs
• Payments for study if you have disability
• Loans you can apply for
• Other loans and payments that are available

QUT Scholarships

Applications for many scholarships for students commencing at QUT in 2027 are now open. There are scholarships for students from regional or remote areas, Indigenous Australian students, high achievers across sport, academic or creative fields, students experiencing financial hardship, migrant or refugee students, women and non-binary students and budding entrepreneurs .There are also scholarships for students in specific study areas. Explore all scholarships.

QUT Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship

QUT is one of five Australian universities that offer the Westpac Young Technologists Scholarship. Valued up to $20,000 for tuition plus the cost of attending the Westpac Disruptive Leaders Program. It also allows entry into the QUT College of Excellence, the Westpac 100 Scholars Network and access to enrichment programs that develop leadership potential and kickstart a career.

UniSC Scholarships

UniSC believes every student should have the opportunity to achieve their dreams through higher education. If you want a university education, then a scholarship or bursary can provide the support you need to achieve your full potential. Scholarship applications for Study Period 1 2027 are now open and will close on 30 November 2026. You will find out by 26 February 2027.

Jazz Music Institute: September 2026 and Summer 2027 Jazz Clinics

JMI’s Jazz Clinics are short courses for musicians who want to start learning jazz or build their skills. Open to all ages and abilities, the clinics are fun, relaxed and led by JMI’s experienced teachers. They run from 25–27 September 2026 and 18–21 January 2027. Find out more and register here.

JMC Academy – Creative Headstart Program

Why wait until high school is over to start doing what you love?

JMC: Creative Headstart gives eligible high school students the opportunity to study one or two JMC units alongside their school studies to start building towards their future before they have finished Year 12.

• Take a gradual, supported step up from high school into your higher education studies
• Bank a credit before Day 1 of your degree at JMC
• Subjects available across the areas of Music, Acting, Film & TV, Audio Engineering & Sound Production, and Entertainment Business Management

Click here to book a call with our admissions team to learn more today!

SAE University College Creative Media Institute opportunities

SAE University College Creative Media Institute offers courses in a wide range of creative arts that may be of interest to you including:

• Animation
• Audio
• Creative Industries
• Creative Technologies
• Design
• Film
• Game Development and Design

What Does a Registered Nurse (Community Health) Do?

Registered Nurses (Community Health) provide nursing care, health counselling, screening and education to individuals, families and groups in the wider community with a focus on patient independence and health promotion. Day-to-day tasks include:

• assesses, plans, implements and evaluates nursing care for patients according to accepted nursing practice and standards
• working in consultation with other health professionals and members of health teams, and co-ordinating the care of patients
• providing interventions, treatments and therapies such as medications, and monitors responses to treatment and care plans
• promoting health and assisting in preventing ill health by participating in health education and other health promotion activities
• answering questions and providing information to patients and families about treatment and care
• supervising and co-ordinating the work of enrolled nurses and other health care workers.

Find out more here.

Careers in the Computer Industry

The computer industry is very diverse and growing. The following are jobs that you may not have heard of but find interesting:

• Information Security Analyst
• Web Developer
• Software engineer
• Systems Analyst
• Computer programmer
• Database Administrator
• IT Manager
• Network Architect
• Software developer
• Computer scientist
• Technical support
• Video game developer
• AI Engineer
• Application Analyst
• Applications Developer
• Computer hardware engineer
• Information technology Officer
• Web Designer

Climate Careers

According to the Clean Energy Council, the peak body for the clean energy industry in Australia:

• Renewable energy production has nearly tripled in the last ten years.
• Nearly 30% of Australian energy is already generated from renewable sources, and it's set to increase to 50%.
• Over 3 million homes across the country have rooftop solar panels.
• Over 20 new wind farms are under construction, supporting 8,000 jobs.
• There are over 30,000 jobs in the renewable energy sector, and this number is growing rapidly.

Find out more about a career in climate including:

• What are climate careers?
• Will a climate career suit me?
• Occupations in Climate Careers
• How to get started

Like Maths? Check out these jobs!

They say that 75 per cent of the fastest growing jobs require STEM skills! The Australian Mathematical Science Institute (AMSI) has put together a list of industry areas and jobs that use Maths:

• Science and Environment 
• Business and Marketing
• Technology 
• Sports and Recreation
• Health and Society
• Transport and Logistics 
• Biostatistics and Bioinformatics 
• Engineering and Resources
• Education
• Finance and Money
• Security and Defence

The Difference Between Psychology, Counselling, and Social Work?

Want a career helping people but unsure which path to choose?

• Psychology explores behaviour and mental health.
• Counselling helps people work through personal and emotional challenges.
• Social work connects people with support and works to improve communities.

Learn more about the differences here.