St Catherine’s School’s Careers Breakfast was held on Wednesday 21 August. The Breakfast brought together current Years 11 and 12 students, St Catherine’s Alumnae, and the wider School community.   

This bi-annual event featured guest panel members who shared their insights and experiences from a variety of professions, including business ownership, medicine, engineering, design, and more. Held in the Dorothy Pizzey Hall, the event provided a unique opportunity for students to connect with professionals, gain valuable industry insights, and build meaningful networking relationships.   

During the Breakfast, students engaged in roundtable discussions with special guests, exploring their career journeys and learning from their experiences.  

Speakers included:   

Student Reflections

“As we progress through high school, the decision of what to do in the future is looming upon us, which can be very overwhelming. This fantastic experience provided me with such valuable insights into various career paths. There were diverse panelists ranging from doctors to sustainability consultants who eagerly shared their journey and advice. It truly was such a great experience to network and gain a better understanding of the options in today’s job market. This was a great experience and showed me new perspectives for my future trajectory. I would undoubtedly recommend this to younger students.” Karis Chan, Year 11  

“The Careers Breakfast wasn’t just another school event; it was a wake-up call. I walked in tired and uninspired, but I left with a clearer sense of direction and a newfound excitement for what lies ahead. While I may not know exactly what I’m going to do in the future, I’ve found interests, opportunities, and invaluable advice all thanks to the Careers Breakfast. I’m so grateful for this experience and for the incredible people I met. I encourage all in the following years to attend even if you have your doubts.” Jessica Paterson, Year 12   

“In the past I have always found the careers events helpful and informative, but this morning was filled with spectacular people, who are enthusiastic to share their jobs and give advice. As students, we had the chance to select two tables ranging from speakers with careers in marketing, commerce, law, medicine, retail and fashion, aviation, speech pathology, and more. I would just like to say a massive thank you to the speakers, catering staff, and especially to the Head of Senior Years, Mrs Cassidy, Deputy Principal Mrs Lloyd, Principal Mr Marshall, Careers Practitioner Ms Tine, and Marketing staff for this wonderful morning and allowing us girls to have this opportunity.” Jessica Sibley, Year 11 

“The 2024 Careers Breakfast was the perfect morning to attend in the final weeks of school at St Catherine’s. Miss Tine organised this and I appreciate all the time and work she put into this special breakfast for us girls! A highlight for me was speaking to Claire Gifford (’14). Claire graduated from Melbourne University in 2019 with a degree in Pharmacology. Shortly after, she moved to London and began working for the Department of Health, where her role proved both challenging and rewarding, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Claire encouraged me to ‘START!’ and expressed ‘WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?’ Those words have been stuck in my head ever since. Claire explained to me how I should take the next steps in building up my network, LinkedIn, and internships and to get as much work experience as possible. When I got home, I instantly started networking and exploring connections that complement my passion and interests. Claire truly opened my eyes to see many more opportunities that I wasn’t thinking about.” Violet Johnston, Year 12