Transition can either be one of the most exciting times of year for students, or it can be quite daunting. During the first month and a half of this semester, conversations regarding subject selections are taking place for students across Years 8 to 11. While, our Year 12 students are navigating how to preference their university selections in anticipation for applications opening in two weeks.

Therefore, we thought it timely to share with you some tips to help families with ‘dinner table’ conversations. As parents ourselves, we appreciate that time driving with our children in the car allows us to have great conversations, but in lockdown, there is a lot less driving taking place. Take the opportunities over dinner, when out on a walk or instead of watching TV to have a ‘careers conversation’ with your child.

You may have already noticed your child is chatting more about their elective or VCE subject selections. Over the last semester, our Year 10 students have completed the Morrisby Profile and each girl has met with us to interpret these results and commence a Career Action Plan. The Year 10 students have also had numerous presentations and opportunities to navigate available tools and resources to assist with VCE selections.

The Years 11 and 12 students have been visiting the Careers office throughout the year for individual discussions. Both our senior years cohorts are very motivated and ambitious groups of students, driven to be as prepared as they can for Year 12, and post school pathways.

Our Years 8 and 9 students will have level sessions and an opportunity to make individual appointments to discuss elective choices for 2022 over the coming weeks and months.

Advice for Careers conversations at home predominantly comes from our experience in knowing what could work for a wide range of students. The Careers Education Association of Victoria has created a booklet for parents to help bust common myths by providing advice that is more factual for parents during these discussions. We have highlighted a few of these below.

It is important to remember this generation of students will move through many more careers than ever before. They will learn in different environments. Could you have ever seen yourself predominately or solely working from home in your current role? Sometimes factors, out of our control, force change and this generation needs to be ready for these.

So, we are not choosing electives or VCE subjects with a fixed mindset or plan. We need to be open to, and ready for, change. Career and subject planning should allow students to consider a range of options that suit their interests, skills and attributes. They will change, adapt and grow across their lives.

To help you engage in conversations, we have outlined some helpful prompts for parent conversations with their children – some of which are easier than others!

1. Set up a time to sit together to discuss the subject options available (don’t force it on them, but provide an opportunity when it can happen);
2. Give your child your full attention. Switch off phones and devices. Keep other siblings busy to reduce distractions;
3. Listen carefully to what they are saying and don’t interrupt (best not to plan your reply while they are speaking);
4. Stay as calm as you can. If you hear something you are challenged by, breathe deeply and be patient;
5. Read and listen to their emotions. Watch carefully, without comment; and
6. Try not to jump in with your comments too quickly. Wait before you start asking open ended, clarifying questions to gain a further understanding of what they are saying and feeling.

You are best to walk alongside your child as they explore and discover what interests and excites them. It is far more productive and enjoyable than pushing or pulling them in certain directions.

Other ways you can be engaged and supportive in their decision-making and research include:

• Asking what they may need from you:
  • Can you offer to help set up a chat with someone who works in an industry your child is showing interest in?
  • Should you encourage further conversations with the Careers Practitioners, Head of Faculty, Head of Year or subject teacher; and
  • Seek to find out how to access and use the research tools available so that you remain current and up to date in your knowledge and advice (eg: VTAC Course Search).

Sometimes facilitating a half an hour catch up with someone in your network provides further conversation starters and research for your child. It gets students excited about the future possibilities and more engaged in their options.

Myth Busting Subject Selection

Myth: The subject selection choices your child makes now will affect their entire career.

Fact: Making VCE and elective selections may help students assess interests and aptitudes and make selections accordingly, in no way is it defining their entire future pathway.

Students have the knowledge and tools to research VCE pre-requisite studies for tertiary pathways and understand the consequences associated with not completing these.

Myth: I have no influence on my child’s future career plans.

Fact: Parents and carers are still the biggest influencers on a young person’s career planning. They have been listening to your stories about your work from a young age. It is important parents remain current and willing to work with their children by researching, asking questions and learning about future opportunities.

Questions we ask the students to help clarify why to study a VCE or elective subject;

• What interests you?
• What do you enjoy doing?
• What are you good at?
• What subjects do I like best? What is it that you like and why?
• How do you like to spend your spare time?
• What is important to me?
• How much and what type of study do I wish to do after finishing school?

By asking these questions we start to gain clues about what may best suit and what will maintain interest when the subjects become more challenging. From here we are able to navigate options. The balance of their selections is also important, not too many of the same types of subjects, the same delivery modes, the same assessments. Adding a bit of variety, different learning styles and techniques keeps a student motivated and engaged.

At St Catherine’s we encourage the girls to gather lots of information to help them make their choices, to dream big, but keep things in perspective. They will always hear me say, “great choice, but what is your back up plan?”

We are strong advocates for those universities looking beyond the single ATAR figure and providing students with the opportunity to highlight other aspects of themselves, such as their ongoing community service participation, and their motivations to want to study in a particular area.

We are often reminding students that once they begin making subject choices their individual journey at School becomes unique. The winning formula is to be interested in the subject, show aptitude, determine if it is a prerequisite and continue to chat with people in your life, asking about what they do in their day-to-day jobs.

We remind the girls that in every choice they make, they will learn something that allows them to get to know themselves better, and make decisions that play to their strengths. No choice will therefore be a mistake.

I think we can all agree career choice is a personal decision. Part of the career planning process involves exploring opportunities. So, let’s get exploring and have fun doing it!

Below is a list of year level information evenings. We hope you can join us for these important sessions and we look forward to seeing you online.

The Year Level evenings commence at 6:30pm with an address from members of the Senior Leadership Team, Heads of Year and Careers Practitioners. All parents and students are required to register for each session to obtain the relevant webinar link. Register by clicking on the links below.

Prior to the Parent Information Evenings, students and parents are invited to view the subject selection pages on the MyStCatherine’s Portal where detailed information about 2022 subjects is provided. This resource is available here.

We also encourage parents and students to discuss specific subject information with the relevant Head of Faculty, available here.