How to have Career Conversations
The 'dinner menu' is designed to help break the ice around the family dinner table with those difficult career conversations. Parents & Guardians choose one question from each section on the 'Adult' side, followed by the young person choosing one question from each section on the 'Student' side.
Important Information for Year 12 Students
Our careers team has been busy working with students to assist with advice, setting up VTAC accounts with Year 12 students, and talking about plans and pathways.
All students are more than welcome to contact a careers team member anytime. Our Padua College Careers website has lots of information links too.
Please be aware that the deadline for applications for tertiary courses starting in 2025 is 5 pm Monday 30 September 2024.
Special consideration (SEAS) and scholarship applications close on 11 October 2024 (5pm). All deadlines and further information can be found on our important dates page.
The VTAC Year 12 Guide is designed to lead you through the process of researching tertiary education and applying for courses, special consideration (SEAS) and scholarships, which you can find here: VTAC Year 12 Guide
You can also download the VTAC Quick Reference Guide for Year 12 Students and VTAC Tertiary Research Guide
Key VTAC application dates for 2024 for Year 12 students
Course search
Students can find more information about courses by using Course search on the VTAC Website
Scholarships provide financial support to help students with the costs of tertiary education. Scholarships are not only for high achievers. Find out about the various types of scholarships available and we suggest you make scholarship applications – both in VTAC and by applying directly to the individual Universities.
Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Pathways has information about apprenticeships, career pathways and aptitude tests. For support and advice: More Information
MEGT has a Career Hub packed full with tools and information for potential apprentices and trainees, and students considering an apprenticeship or traineeship are encouraged to register on the Career Hub and receive support in searching for an apprenticeship or traineeship. Once registered, job seekers have access to a range of tools and information to assist them in their search for an apprenticeship or traineeship, including our Career Quiz, Skills Assessment, and job seeker toolkit.
What are School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT’S)
School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs) are available to secondary school students who are:
- over 15 years old
- enrolled in Years 10, 11 or 12
- Australian citizens or permanent residents.
- Non-citizens may be eligible under certain circumstances. To learn more, speak with your school or Head Start coordinator.
SBATs offer students the option of combining: part-time employment, school, training.
An SBAT runs under a training contract between a student and an employer. The training contract and training plan are registered with the VRQA. The SBAT training must lead to a nationally recognised VET qualification. SBATs must be established through a training contract between the employer and the apprentice or trainee.
We have many students this year at Padua College take on an SBAT in areas such as – Plumbing, Engineering Fabrication, Horticulture, Electrician, Automotive, Blinds, Awnings and Security Screens, Heavy Vehicle Mechanic, Horse racing stable hand, Business, building and construction, Carpentry and Early Childhood Education and Care.
TAFE Courses
TAFE Institutions have many courses on offer, including a wide range of FREE courses available to study.
For those applying for TAFE courses, some of these can occur through VTAC. However, both Holmesglen TAFE and Chisholm TAFE have direct applications. Simply visit the website, select your course, and click on the ‘enquire or apply’ tab for more information about application dates and requirements.
Study at Chisholm Students must apply directly to Chisholm for a 2025 course and can expect Chisholm to contact them in October/November when enrolments are officially open for 2025 intake. Students are advised to register their interest on the Chisholm website now.
Employment
For those looking at employment or apprenticeships, now is the time to begin investigating your options. There are a number of opportunities currently listed with the newsfeed on our Padua College Careers website which we will continue to update and add to regularly.
