PAVING YOUR PATH

I am sure I’m not alone in recalling the post-school options available to us in our own school days. Some students opted to attend University because they wanted to, others were encouraged by their parents to do so, while many others took a gap year or entered the workforce. Post-school avenues were more structured and regimented.

Now, there is a plethora of options and choices for students when they look at life beyond the school walls and there are a variety of ways to get there.

Today’s students are educated about, and empowered to choose their own learning pathways in secondary schooling. They use their school experiences, knowledge, and areas of interest to help guide them in choosing their own specific pathway. Supported by a network of teachers, career advisors, school leaders and subject specialists to navigate these options allows students to make informed choices that best suits them.

For some students, choosing an ATAR pathway or Vocational Education and Training (VET) route is a simple choice, but with so many tertiary study and vocational options available to graduates, other students are finding there is no longer just one clear path to their desired career destination.

St Stephen’s School Carramar Year 12 Vocational Education student Jasmine Hollier always wanted to be a primary school teacher but wasn’t sure if her dream of being a teacher would eventuate if it meant she would have to pursue an ATAR pathway. With some research and several conversations with teachers, the School VET Coordinator and Careers Advisor, Jasmine found the choice that best suited her learning style and interests, signing up for VET Certificates in Education Support.  

“I knew from the start that I wasn’t interested in the ATAR pathway and was worried that maybe that was the only option for me to be able to get into university for teaching,” Jasmine said.

She decided to pursue VET based studies because she wanted to learn about the industry she wanted to work in and get hands-on classroom experience before graduation.

Jasmine completed Certificate III in Education Support in Year 11 and is studying Certificate IV in Education Support this year, which focuses more on assisting students with special needs.

“VET’s an adult learning environment, so you truly get a taste of what it’s like to work outside of school,” she said.

“It not only gives you experience in the specific field you’re interested in through learning theory and completing work experience, but it also allows you to learn many skills that most people won’t learn until they’re out of school and facing situations head on.”

Jasmine said a significant part of her studies included a work placement at a local primary school where she has already gained 100 hours of experience required to complete Certificate III. She will undertake an additional 100 hours this year as part of her Certificate IV studies.

Jasmine had the opportunity to work with Year 6 students at St Stephen’s School’s Carramar Campus to support a special literacy program earlier this year, participating in regular reading and literacy sessions with students each week to strengthen their literacy skills.

“Work placement is good purely to gain experience, but I also had to complete certain tasks and report on them for my Cert III, some of those tasks included observing student behaviour and helping with literacy and numeracy tasks.”

Upon graduation from St Stephen’s School later this year Jasmine will take a significant level of classroom experience with her and be qualified to work as an Education Assistant during her university studies. This will assist her on completion of her studies and place her in a strong position for employment in her chosen field. The combination of theory and practical application will give her confidence to transition into her first teaching role.

“The certificate I’ve completed has taught me a lot of things like being able to communicate in a formal manner, to show initiative while working and to work to the best of my ability to produce something great.”

“I know as I go on to complete my university degree and then go on to become a school teacher, I will value the skills I learnt completing the VET course.”