CAREER EDUCATION NEWSLETTER
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
 There is international recognition that career development is an increasingly important consideration for public policy. International symposiums are addressing how career development can improve the quality of life of all citizens.
In a Catholic school, a focus on career development is an enormously practical way of contributing to the pastoral care of each student. In fact, career development can help draw all of a student’s experiences into a single focus. Schools recognise that they have a place in discovering and developing a student’s talents, and in providing him with knowledge and skills so he can be ‘at home in society’ and ‘at home in God.’
Some would argue that everything at school contributes in its own way to a student’s choice of a career. While this is true, no one now denies that students need the opportunity to gather all of these strands into specific planning. The career development department oversees this process in the school.
Career development begins in the classroom or in activities associated with the school day. Specific strategies are employed to assist the student to reflect on himself –his personal qualities, skills, interests, values and attitudes. Education about the world of work and careers goes hand in hand with personal reflection.
Students are able to test their ideas in some cases by actively engaging in school based Vocational Education and Training (VET) and/or in Structured Workplace
Learning. (SWL)
Opportunities to focus on enterprise education are increasingly being offered to students knowing that the careers they plan will likely require movement from one area of work to another. Their ability to market themselves and their skills is now more important than ever.
Trinity College has established a Career Development Council for the express purpose of developing a best practice programme for the students. Membership of the Council includes the coordinators of the various elements in career development – career education; vocational education and training (VET); structured workplace learning (SWL) and enterprise education. This Council also includes parents, employers and students when required.
“Managing life,
learning and work across
the lifespan.”
CAREER EDUCATION
"Career Education” covers the programmes which are directly linked to the classroom and other educational activities. Students need to learn to manage their life, learning and work over their time at school in such a way that they will have a good foundation to continue this process after school.
Portfolios
Ninety percent of 2005 Yr 9s handed in their portfolios for review at the end of the year. The same students have had their portfolios returned as they start Year 10. There should be many new entries to be reviewed at the end of 2006. Portfolios are a vital link with parents and provide important material for use in interviews at school and for employment.
Career Voyage
This licensed programme (not available on the internet) matches a student’s interests against nearly one thousand job descriptions. It provides a print out of twenty jobs which provide a basis for further research. The programme also allows students to search for any job not on their printed list. By the end of Term One, all year 10 students should have completed Career Voyage and stored the results in their portfolio after sharing the ideas with their parents.
INSTEP NEWS
 INSTEP stands for Innovative Skills Training and Education Programme. Curriculum Council calls it SWL. (Structured Workplace Learning)
In the new order, SWL will not be a Course of Study but it will be an endorsed unit still leading to secondary graduation and still providing students with valuable experience in the workforce.
In 2006, there are 56 students enrolled in the programme. Their workplaces include: Automotive (6); Building (16); Plumbing (4); Drafting (5); Carpentry (3); Sport and Recreation (6); Printing, aviation, refrigeration, retail, hospitality, electronics, electrician, transport, health etc.
We congratulate Peter Villanueva who was awarded a Certificate of Distinction for his outstanding results in Business and Clerical SWL in 2005. We look forward to further applications from the students this year.
Care of log books is a high priority for SWL students and the best for Term 1 belong to Brendan Maher and Simon Miller (Year 11) and Haydn Tieleman (Year 12) Congratulations.
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
What is happening now at Trinity. Embedded Certificates
These certificates are called “embedded” because the training competencies are taught within the normal school programme. There are 72 students enrolled in Certificate 1 Sport and Recreation, 49 students in Certificate 11 Information Technology and one student in Certificate 11 Business. Some will complete these qualifications this year, some will need further time next year. Four students study at Mercedes College on two days each week completing three Curriculum Council subjects and Certificate 1 in Hospitality.
“Stand Alone” VET
These certificates are taught direct to students using competencies from approved training packages. Nine students in the senior enterprise programme may complete Certificate 1 or Certificate 11 in Business.
School –based Traineeships (SBT)
Six students are enrolled in a traineeship. Five are supervised by South Metropolitan Youth Link (SMYL) and one with Hospitality Group Training (HGT). Trainees are paid a small allowance.
The “Dream Team”
Seven students have been accepted into the “Dream Factory” an initiative of HIA Apprentices. These students will complete Certificate 1 in Building as part of their two year training package supervised by the housing industry. Their move into apprenticeships will be greatly facilitated by this programme.
The Future
New conditions for graduating with a Western Australian Certificate of Education are now coming into operation. VET will be offered in schools as (1) VET versions of Courses of Study, (2) VET embedded in some Courses of Study and (3) VET Stand Alone. At Trinity College, we hope to have a VET version of the Course of Study called Applied Information Technology. Students who choose this course can achieve levels which contribute to a Tertiary Entrance Score if this is what they wish. All participating students gain credit for secondary graduation.
VET Stand Alone courses may be introduced in some areas. Planning is progressing on these. Such courses are endorsed by the Curriculum Council and as such they contribute to secondary graduation but not to a tertiary entrance score.
SENIOR ENTERPRISE PROGRAM
 The Senior Enterprise Program is available to all students from years 10 to 12.
The students who are accepted into the program work towards completing Certificates One and Two in Business. The program is horticulture-based, however the course incorporates standard business procedures, aspects of hospitality, conservation and land management and personal development. Students also have the opportunity to participate in a number of different work experience programs, training based camps and excursions.
Our small class numbers enable experienced and innovative staff to cater for a wide range of individual needs. The involvement and participation of each student is continuously assessed and the teaching team work together to ensure that every students has the opportunity to reach his potential.
Former students have used certificates gained to secure placements at TAFE and in the work force.
If you would like more information regarding the Senior Enterprise Program, please contact Mrs. Marie Zwart.
NEWS ITEMS
An Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) report released in September 2005 has provided further evidence that high-quality careers advice in schools is crucial if young Australians are to make successful career and education decisions. http://www.acer.edu.au/research/LSAY/research Parents as Career Partners
Recent research has also reviewed the strong influence that parenting behaviour and family functioning has on career development. The findings suggest that career development practitioners should shift the focus from the individual to the family system. Ring 13 64 64 for further information.
Herman Group (futurists)
As employers move through the next 10-15 years, they will discover that concentrating on individuals will be considerably more productive than pushing any one-size-fits-all concept. Employees seek, expect, even demand the personal attention. Their attitudes will drive employers, and then others, to correct their deficiencies. We will see this shift from groups, teams, and classes of people in practically all aspects of corporate life.
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