A key component of St Catherine’s School’s Thinking Agenda is providing our students with authentic learning experiences that equip them with the critical thinking skills and confidence to make independent choices throughout their lives. 

As part of this learning approach St Catherine’s School this week hosted a Careers Expo to provide Senior School students with access to university and TAFE providers from across Victoria. 

The event provided our students with the opportunity to: 

• Speak with tertiary representatives about career options and planning 
• Explore a wide variety of potential courses and career pathways 
• Learn more about subjects and pre-requisite requirements 

The Careers Expo provided valuable information to students to assist them in making informed decisions about their career journeys, including: 

• Subject selections for next term and beyond 
• Tertiary course applications 
• Future career pathways 

The Careers Expo forms part of St Catherine’s comprehensive Careers Program which supports every student, individually. Commencing in Year 7 and scaffolded throughout the Senior School, the Careers Program explores the many facets and influences on work including the differences between a job and career, and how making informed choices improves career prospects in the future.  

As students progress through our Careers Program, they begin to better understand their strengths, skills, qualities, and values. They begin to investigate their interests and passions within subject areas. In the senior years, students then begin to engage with the tertiary sector, like the Careers Expo, providing them with the opportunities to take a lead role in developing, assessing, and guiding their future career plans. 

Year 11 student Nguyen Thu (Anna) Nguyen Diep said the Careers Expo was a highly anticipated event amongst the VCE Cohorts.

“The Careers Expo was phenomenal! As an immigrant who recently arrived in Australia, the prospect of tertiary pathways can be quite overwhelming to tackle and navigate on my own. At the Expo I was able to meet with tertiary representatives from universities, TAFE, and even the Australian Defence Force, inquiring with them about my career plans,” shares Anna. 

“The Expo allowed me to effectively map out the next step, the doors beyond the Heyington Gates and my VCE journey. For each tertiary stand I stopped at, I was given a course guide to read more about the university or other tertiary options that I could consider. Additionally, I could even sign up to receive newsletters to look out for significant dates ahead, including Open Days, and workshops. I also learnt about Early Offers. This was extremely helpful as we are embarking upon our VCE journeys and envisioning a plan that is tailored truly to our interests and ambitions.” 

“One helpful thing that truly stands out to me was having many misconceptions cleared just by being at the Careers Expo. Often, we hear discussions and assumptions about a subject that may not be right. Without clarifying them, these misconceptions could obstruct our potential and tertiary options. If it were not for the discussions I had at the Careers Expo, I would have completely missed hearing about the opportunities to pursue international art internships and exchanges in Italy!” 

Thank you to all the students and their families who attended the Careers Expo and the staff who assisted in the organisation of the event. It is wonderful to provide our students with opportunities such as this to ensure they have the best possible foundation for their futures beyond our School. 

For a full list of Career Expo Exhibitors click here.