VET News

2025 Workplace Learning South Coast VET Awards

We are pleased to announce that several of our outstanding students have been shortlisted for the South Coast VET Student Awards. These awards celebrate excellence in Vocational Education and Training (VET) across the Eurobodalla, recognising students who have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and passion in their respective courses.

Today, our shortlisted students have taken part in interviews to determine who will proceed as finalists for the 2025 VET Awards. This is a testament to their hard work, resilience, and commitment to learning both in the classroom and the workplace. The interview process is a valuable opportunity for students to share their personal and professional growth through VET and reflect on their achievements and future goals.

We wish all our students the very best as they prepare to showcase their journeys in VET.

Hospitality:

Justin Murphy 

Beau Mullins

Ava Jameson 

 

Business Services:

Jed Ware

Akin Suskin

Marlee Bennett

Building Bright Futures Through Innovation and Hands-On Learning in VET Construction

This week marked an exciting and productive day for our VET Construction Early Commencement students, as they engaged in a range of activities showcasing the opportunities and rewards of pursuing a trade career. The day was filled with hands-on learning, collaboration, and valuable insights into the construction industry, all within the supportive and future-focused environment of Carroll College.

We began the day with a short interaction with Mr Szkwarek’s Construction Buddy; a virtual personal tutor powered by AI. This session allowed students to explore the trade areas they were most passionate about, setting the tone for an engaging and focused day ahead.

The students then viewed inspiring video clips from the Australian Constructors Association, highlighting the diverse experiences of industry professionals. These videos provided a comprehensive look at the growing opportunities within the trades sector, emphasising that skilled trades are rapidly becoming high-paying and fulfilling career pathways. Many tradespeople, some earning six-figure salaries or achieving financial independence in their early 20s, have built successful careers through apprenticeships and practical experience.

Motivated by these insights, students turned their attention to catching up on outstanding assessment tasks through our LMS Axcelerate Portal. This included work on Industry Basics and Project 1, ensuring they stayed on track with their learning goals. The morning’s activities culminated in hands-on project work in the workshop, where students collaboratively worked on completing their Oil Stone projects. They were also introduced to their next project and skill set which involves constructing a Tool Carry-All. A few students eagerly got started on this new project, demonstrating enthusiasm and teamwork.

A highlight of the day was our "Tradies Lunch," generously prepared by our VET Hospitality students. The classic bacon-and-egg roll with juice was a much-appreciated treat, showcasing the collaborative spirit between our VET courses. This sense of community and camaraderie truly added to the day’s success.

After lunch, the students returned to the workshop, fully immersed in their practical tasks. Their focus on working safely and collaboratively was commendable, and it was inspiring to see everyone supporting one another to achieve success. The day concluded with another thought-provoking video featuring primary and secondary students’ perspectives on the construction industry. This video, part of the "Disrupt or Die" campaign, underscored the need for innovation and transformation within the industry to address workforce shortages.

The students left the workshop with a sense of pride in their accomplishments and a deeper appreciation for the many opportunities that a career in trades can offer. It was a day that truly reflected the values of Carroll College: fostering curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to lifelong learning.

We would like to thank our dedicated VET Coordinator, Amy Dalgleish for making this day such a success and to Julie Davis for her support for the day. This continues to highlight the importance of Vocational Education and Training as a pathway to meaningful careers, and we are proud of the way our students embraced every opportunity presented to them today.

Warm regards,

Jason Szkwarek
VET Construction Teacher
Carroll College

CAREERS News

Year 10 Work Experience – A Week of Discovery and Growth!

Last week, our Year 10 students stepped out of the classroom and into the workforce for their Work Experience Program – and what a week it was!

Students explored a diverse range of industries, including hospitality, retail, construction, health care, education, and creative arts. From assisting in classrooms to shadowing tradespeople, they gained valuable insights into the world of work and discovered new interests and skills.

Many students shared how much they enjoyed their time, meeting professionals, learning hands-on, and experiencing the day-to-day realities of different careers. It was a fantastic opportunity to build confidence, develop communication skills, and start thinking about future pathways.

We’re proud of the way our students represented the school and embraced the challenge. A big thank you to all the local businesses and organisations who hosted and mentored our students!

University of Wollongong 

UOW Early Entry

Applications Open: Monday 16 June 

Close: 8 August 2025

https://www.uow.edu.au/early-admission/?authuser=0#d.en.374221

HSC Subject Support Series 

The Year 11 & 12 Subject Support Sessions are designed to help students improve their knowledge and understanding of key subject content and discover what HSC exam markers are looking for. Experienced HSC teachers/markers and UOW staff will be running subject revision programs across May, June and July for current Year 11 and Year 12 students. 

Register for the below sessions here: https://future-students-events.uow.edu.au/Year11-12subjectsupport     

University of Canberra

University Canberra Early Entry

If you’re a current Year 12 student applying to UC for undergraduate study next year, you could receive an early admission offer under the Early Offer Scheme using criteria other than your ATAR.

Applications for Early Offers will open on 19th May 2025. 

 Important dates:

• 19 May 2025 : Applications open
• 17 August 2025 : Applications close
• 31 August 2025 : Early Offer document deadline
• 15 September 2025 : Offers released

 What do I need to apply?

• Your official Year 11 NESA (NSW) report
• A 300-word personal statement about which course you are interested in studying, and why you have chosen to apply for these courses at the University of Canberra.

To find out more and to start your application, click here.

University Capitals Careers in Sports
Do you have students interested in jobs in the sporting realm? UC Capitals Executive General Manager, Christy Collier-Hill, is running school-based workshops to help students explore what a career in sport might look like.  

This hands-on opportunity gives students a behind-the-scenes look into the sports industry and a unique chance to connect with UC Capitals players and staff, hearing firsthand about the dedication, pathways, and experiences involved in both playing and working in professional sport.

The workshops are designed to inspire and inform students, offering guidance on what subjects, skills, and experiences are most valuable for building a future in the sporting world—whether on the court or behind the scenes.

To book this in for your school or to find out more, you can email Griffin Armitage [Griffin.Armitage@canberra.edu.au]. 

Need Application Help?

Do you have questions about applying to university? Not sure where to start with your Early Offer applications? We are here to help! If you want to someone from UC, you can book in a personalised consultation with one of our advisors to answer questions about anything university - differences between courses, pathways into ranked courses, how to apply and everything in between!  

Aspire Open Day Camp
Do you live in rural/regional NSW and are thinking about coming to Open Day? Our Aspire Open Day Camp will help get you there! This is a fully funded opportunity for Year 11 and 12 rural/regional students and their parents/guardians to attend the University of Canberra Open Day on Saturday 20th September, including:

• One nights accommodation
• A personalised Open Day experience, including a meet and greet with a Student Success Coach
• Petrol Voucher, to assist your travel to and from Canberra.
• Follow up support to assist with your application and enrolment process.

To apply, write a 250 word description of what your future plans are once you finish high school and why this experience would help you achieve them. 

Simply send your entry on the supplementary form and email it through to aspireuc@canberra.edu.au by Friday 18th July.

Holiday Tech Days: This School Holidays

Do you have a burning passion for IT? Want to experience what studying IT at university is like? Or just extend your skills in Cyber Security, AI, Python and more? Our Holiday Tech Days are for you! They are school holiday programs that don't just entertain but empower the next generation of tech innovators.

This school holidays we have two programs running, designed for students in Year 9-12:  

Tuesday 8 July; 9.30am - 4.30pm: Python Essentials

Dive into the world of coding in an immersive, hands-on one day workshop. Students will have the opportunity to will explore Python – widely recognised as one of the most popular, versatile, and in-demand programming languages in the world today. Whether you're taking your first steps into coding or already have some programming experience under your belt, our instructors will guide you through the fundamentals of Python programming. You'll learn crucial concepts and practical techniques that will empower you to transform your creative ideas into working projects!

Monday 14 July; 9.30am-4.30pm: Level Up - Unity Game Dev. Workshop

Step into the world of game development and learn how to bring ideas to life using Unity! Unity is a versatile cross-platform game engine that enables developers of all skill levels to create interactive games and experiences using a visual editor, C# programming, and powerful built-in tools for graphics, physics, and animation. No prior coding skills required! 

All workshops are run in UC's Innovation Central Lab with lunch and snacks included. 

To find out more and register for these workshops, click here.

UC Capitals Holiday Camp

Lace up your sneakers, grab your friends, and join us for an epic day of basketball led by the UC Capitals' very own Nicole Munger and Nyadiew Puoch! Our UC Caps Holiday Camp offers young basketball enthusiasts the chance to enhance their skills alongside UC Caps players and coaches in a fun and supportive environment. 

What’s Included:

• Expert Coaching: Each session will be led by UC Caps coaches and players.
• UC Capitals Tickets: Every participant will receive an access code for a ticket to attend a UC Capitals home game during the 2025/26 WNBL season!
• Snacks: Breaks will be held during the session with complimentary snacks like snow cones and popcorn!

To find out more or get your tickets, click here.

DiscoverFAD: Register Now!

The University of Canberra's Faculty of Arts and Design (FAD) would like to invite Year 10 - 12 students to attend our DiscoverFAD short courses these winter school holidays. These short courses are designed to give your students a taste of practical learning from our creative degrees. Delivered by University of Canberra lecturers, DiscoverFAD is an exciting and affordable opportunity for high school students to get a glimpse of their future careers and understand the study pathways to get there. Our short courses are facilitated by our talented academics and are a great way for high school students to experience what life is like at University and start planning for the future.

When: July School Holidays

Where: UC, Bruce Campus

Price: $0-$59 

You can also enter the work you create in a DiscoverFAD short course to the UC Creative Competition for your chance to win big!  

To find out more or to register for workshops, click here.

HMAS Albatross Work Experience

NAVY FAMILIARISATION: HMAS ALBATROSS Monday 18 – Wednesday 20 August 2025 HMAS Albatross is the country's largest operational naval establishment and the Navy's only Air Station. The primary role of HMAS Albatross is to provide air, operational, intelligence and logistics support to the fleet. 

Students may participate in the following activities: 

• Naval Aviation Sea Survival Centre Drills / Wet Winching • Visits to Squadrons, Seahawk Simulation and Warfare Centre and Helicopter Aircrew Training School (HATS) Simulators ADF Parachute School visit and Simulators • Participate in the RAN Fitness Test – HMAS Creswell Gym Session / Team Building Exercises • Fly the Naval Aviation Prospects Scheme (NAPS) Virtual Reality Simulators • Visit the RAN School of Survivability and Ship Safety (RANSSSS) and participate in combat survivability training