Welcome to the first edition of VCE Insights for Term 4. It has certainly been a busy start to the term for our Year 12 students who are making the most of their last few weeks of classes and are in the midst of revision in preparation for the end of year examinations. Year 11 students are working through their final Subject Outcomes for Unit 2 and will have completed their in class assessment by the end of Week 4.

In this edition of VCE Insights, you will find comprehensive updates on current offerings from tertiary institutions across Australia, as well as details on key dates and academic schedules for the upcoming fortnight.

• Friday 19 October: Final day of lessons for Year 12
• Monday 22 October: Year 12 Leavers’ Service, Year 12 Morning Tea and Final Assembly

Below is a list of subjects with Outcomes scheduled over the coming weeks. Please note that subject teachers will communicate with your daughter regarding the specific date their Outcome will run.

Term 4 Week 2
Year 11 Outcomes

• Health
• Psychology
• Literature
• EAL
• General Maths
• Accounting

Term 4 Week 3
Year 11 Outcomes

• Geography
• English

During the exam period, students are often so busy trying to recount and cram a year’s worth of information that they forget to look after themselves. A gentle reminder of the following basics may help your daughter remain calm and focused during this time:

• Eat well: too often when we are tired and run down, we reach for the worst possible foods. Fuelling the body is key to maintaining energy levels.
• Keep active: a walk around the block is a great way to clear the mind and reset. It is best to plan times within the study schedule to do this.
• Get a good sleep: Rest is essential to both physical and mental health. Planning to go to bed at a reasonable time will ensure the mind is fit and ready to go the next day.
• Take breaks: exam success is not necessarily dictated by how many hours of study is completed. Study smart and ensure that time for a break is always factored into the day.
• Meet up with friends, but remember that this is your journey: studying with friends is a great way to motivate students. However, it is important that your daughter does not start to compare herself with others. She needs to focus on herself and what study routines work for her.

Dates to Diarise in Term 4

• • Late VTAC applications – October and early November

Reminder: VTAC 2019 Key Dates

For a full list of cancelled, amended, and new courses, visit VTAC Course Updates 
www.vtac.edu.au

Job Pathways Charts
Students are encouraged to browse the following link for excellent example of potential career pathways that can begin with an Australian Apprenticeship – Australian Apprenticeships Pathways

New Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership
We’re excited to announce VU’s new Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership – the first of its kind in Australia! This new course addresses the needs of the entire outdoor sector and offers practical, work-integrated-learning opportunities and paid internships, which could lead to a job offer. Delivered at the Footscray Park campus, this course covers everything students need for a career in outdoor leadership. Find out more at Bachelor of Outdoor Leadership.

Important Changes for Entry to Medicine from 2020
For students intending to sit the UMAT in 2019 for entry to university in 2020, the test is changing. From 2019, the UMAT will replaced by a new test, the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test). So, current Year 11 students who were intending on sitting the UMAT next year are advised that they will instead need to register for and sit the UCAT.

Quick Facts:

• the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test) is a 2-hour computer-based test
• the UCAT will be offered on a choice of dates throughout the month of July 2019, rather than on one single date
• some pathways to medicine/dentistry/clinical sciences will not require the UCAT and some courses may require another test
• institutions that will require the UCAT are:
  • The University of Adelaide Medicine, Dental Surgery, Oral Health
  • Curtin University Medicine
  • Monash University Medicine
  • The University of Newcastle / University of New England Joint Medical Program
  • The University of New South Wales Medicine  
  • The University of Queensland Medicine (provisional entry), Dental Science
  • University of Tasmania Medicine
  • The University of Western Australia Medicine (Direct Pathway), Dental Medicine (Direct Pathway)
  • Western Sydney University Medicine
  • The University of Auckland Medicine
  • University of Otago Medicine, Dental Surgery

More information will follow in a subsequent newsletter but, until then, students are encouraged to browse University Clinical Aptitude Test

Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE)
Are you interested in studying a cross-disciplinary degree and exploring current and future global challenges?
UNSW is introducing the Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE). It includes courses that enable students to explore the synergies and tensions between these three disciplines, and to assess their relevance to meet humanity’s most pressing issues.  Students enrolling in this course will study with a cohort of like-minded, high-achieving and critically thinking students who aspire to be leaders and contribute to positive social change. PPE graduates are sought after globally for careers in politics and public policy development, including the highest reaches of government and the public service. Help them start their leadership career today. Find out more about this course at Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE)

Swinburne University offers a maths bridging program called MathsLink
MathsLink: Methods is a bridging program for students needing VCE Units 3 and 4 of Mathematical Methods to study at Swinburne.
Mathematical Methods is a prerequisite for many bachelor degrees in aviation, engineering, and information and communication technology. This bridging program is designed to help students who have not studied Mathematical Methods as part of their VCE to meet the prerequisite for entry into their chosen course.

MathsLink: Methods is taught predominantly online, however there are three day sessions that students must attend during Summer Term:

• Wednesday 2 January 2019, 9:30am – 4:30pm
• Thursday 24 January 2019, 9:30am – 4:30pm
• Thursday 7 February 2019, 9:30am – 4:30pm

MathsLink: Methods incurs a one-off $400 fee**, payable within the time frame as specified in the Swinburne University of Technology Academic Dates.
** refundable if enrol in a course at Swinburne

On successful completion of this course, students will be eligible to make a direct application to Swinburne University for entry in 2019.   Applications for MathsLink: Methods close Tuesday 18 December 2018.

Find out more at Maths Link Bridging Program: Methods

News from Deakin University

• Global Science and Technology Program  

The SEBE Global Science and Technology Program (GSTP) gives students the opportunity to gain experience beyond the classroom and experience the world whilst studying. Students who are interested in travelling as part of their degree, are encouraged to consider the Global Science and Technology Program. This scholarship program is open to all courses offered by the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment, and aims to recognise, reward, and support high achieving students interested in conducting part of their studies overseas, in order to develop new skills and a broader worldview. Successful applicants will receive a $3000 scholarship to assist with travel costs and will participate in the Deakin Global Citizenship Program. The Global Science and Technology Program has a two-step application process.

There are two steps to applying for this program: applicants must attain an ATAR of 80 and must complete the Program Supplementary application form by 5pm, Friday 4 January 2019. Visit Global Science and Technology Program for more details.

• AusNet Services Scholarship

If you’re a female student interested in the ever changing energy landscape and shaping the future of power generation, management and distribution, we encourage you to apply for a Women in Power Engineering Scholarship.

Women in Power Engineering scholarships are on offer to support women to achieve tertiary qualifications in power engineering, preparing them for diverse and rewarding careers in the energy industry. Scholarships are awarded to successful female applicants entering Deakin’s Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Honours) undergraduate degree. Each scholarship is valued at $10,000 per year over the normal duration of the course and includes vocational work and a mentoring program.

For full details about the scholarship, including selection criteria, how to apply and closing dates please visit: AusNet Services Scholarship

Careers in Insurance
Find out more about the wider insurance careers programs available at the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance (ANZIIF). A supporting website Careers in Insurance features detailed information about the types of businesses in the industry and the range of roles and opportunities within insurance. Students are encouraged to visit this website for an interesting insight to insurance – be it insurance against maritime pirates or against floods, hurricanes & droughts.