Building pathways to a bright future
AS secondary students begin to navigate the often-complex transition from school to an ever-competitive workforce, the role of career education in schools has never been more important. At a time when choices made in the classroom can shape opportunities for years to come, the guidance students receive from dedicated Careers and Pathways teachers, as well as from whole-school initiatives, can make all the difference.
At Shepparton ACE Secondary College, it is well understood that the opportunities provided through its Careers and Pathways program, along with the dedicated guidance and support of its teachers, led by Sile Coleman, can be crucial in helping students pursue fulfilling career pathways.
From Year 9, students are introduced to a wide range of
industries through hands-on activities and visits from volunteer professionals. In Year 10, they explore their interests further through work experience and community-based volunteering. By Years 11 and 12, the program becomes increasingly personalised. Students take part in tailored industry excursions, receive one-on-one planning support, and many begin schoolbased apprenticeships or traineeships.
Strong partnerships with La Trobe University and GOTAFE help ensure that students are well supported in pursuing diverse and meaningful pathways toward bright and rewarding careers.
Brock Hood, a former student who attended Shepparton ACE from Year 8 to Year 12, is a shining example of the program’s impact.
Local skills showcased at National Championships
AUSTRALIA’S largest skills and trades showcase — the 2025 WorldSkills Australia National Championships & Skills Show was held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from 12–14 June.
This was a showcase of nation’s best young apprentices and trainees in a variety of fields. The Apprenticeship Factory had one of their very talented apprentices Jed Coolahan represented Victoria in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning trade. Jed is hosted to John Morrow Refrigeration in Shepparton and is in the third year of his apprenticeship. After winning the regional World skills
event, Jed was named in the Victorian Team to compete at the National Championships. This required extra commitment and dedication to be ready for the event and over the last few months Jed has attended training camps and undertaken extra tuition to ensure he was prepared for the World Skills Championships.
At the WorldSkills Competition, Jed competed for three days undertaking a number of tasks which involved problem solving, recalling knowledge, completing activities to exceptionally high standard, all whilst remaining focused to complete a number of tasks within set timeframes.
Now in his second year of a Certificate III in Locksmithing at Solar City Locksmiths, Brock said,
“Sile Coleman pushed me quite strongly towards a career. Originally, it was in automotive, and then my boss, Keegan Moylan, came in for an industry talk. I thought it was quite interesting, so I did some work experience and found that I really enjoyed it.
“Sile organised a lot of the work experience—she handled the paperwork and contacted the businesses I worked with during my time at ACE. She was the main driving force behind a lot of the trade work I did.”
Brock believes his experience at ACE shaped not just his career, but who he is today.
Whilst working on tasks, Jed was being shadowed by a judge, watching his every move.
The event brought together more than 35,000 visitors, who witnessed over 600 competitors from every state and territory go head-to-head across more than 60 skill categories, ranging from cyber security and cabinetmaking to
CHAMPIONSHIP
cookery, floristry and plumbing. The Apprenticeship Factory and John Morrow Refrigeration are certainly very proud of what has been achieved by Jed to date. A huge congratulations to him on the way in which he conducted himself and showcased his skills and knowledge at such a high standard.
since 1984.
SKILLS... Apprenticeship Factory apprentice, Jed Coolahan, represented Victoria in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning trade. John Morrow Refrigeration in Shepparton is where the third-year apprentice is learning his Jed his trade.
Pictured from left, Apprenticeship Factory’s Nat Simpson, Jed Coolahan and John Morrow Refrigeration owner Darren Maxted. Photo: Aaron Cordy
REWARDING
Proof TRUCK DRIVER
Local logistics company, Brady & Kibble, has been fortunate to engage a highly skilled and competent work force over the last 40 plus years. In recent years, some of those long-term drivers have retired... and... they have been extremely difficult to replace. Australia’s truck driver shortage is exacerbated by an aging workforce and a lack of younger drivers entering the profession.
TRUCK DRIVER
However, Brady & Kibble has been fortunate to attract a couple of new drivers, including a young recruit, Jack Vecht, who recently joined the team.
On the job learning is essential in the industry, and Jack is a fast learner. The long hours and enormous commitment can be off-putting for some, but for those who are ready to build their driving and loading skills, it is a way of life, requiring enormous discipline and patience. Jack says the knowledge and experience that the long-term Brady & Kibble drivers share with him, has been totally invaluable... and the hands-on training the only way to learn.
‘More than a place’ also means more than a job
Across its three sites around Greater Shepparton, Shepparton Villages prides itself on offering a sense of
SHEPPARTON Villages is well known as a leader in retirement living and aged care in Shepparton, long promoting itself with the line “More than a place”.
But what does that actually mean?
It means that the organisation sees itself as not just responsible for providing retirement living and aged care accommodation – in other words, a place to go – but as something more than that.
Across its three sites around Greater Shepparton, Shepparton Villages prides itself on offering a sense of community.
As an organisation that has arisen from the local community and remains a proud non-profit contributor to that community, the ethos of Shepparton Villages
organisation with deep local roots since 1963, we’re proud to create a safe and supportive home for our residents and a fulfilling place to work for our team. We’re currently welcoming applications for key roles that are vital to our mission.
Career Paths Available at Shepparton Villages:
Medication Endorsed Enrolled Nurse (MEEN)
Deliver high-quality care by administering medications and supporting clinical assessments. You’ll work alongside our nursing team to create person-centred care plans and advocate for resident wellbeing.
Mandatory Requirements:
• Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Medication endorsement qualification
Personal Care Worker (PCW)
Be a compassionate and comforting presence in our residents’ daily lives. From assisting with personal care, mobility and supporting residents with empathy and genuine connection. PCWs form the heart of our frontline support.
Mandatory Requirements:
• Certificate III in Individual Support (or equivalent)
Food and Domestic Services Assistant (FDSA)
Play a vital role in nourishing our residents with freshly prepared meals that cater to dietary needs and personal preferences. Your attention to detail and hospitality will bring warmth to every dining experience.
Mandatory Requirements:
• Food Handling Certificate
• Understanding of safe food practices and hygiene standards
www.sheppvillages.com.au
Registered Nurse (RN)
Step into a leadership role where your clinical expertise and decision-making will shape resident outcomes. As an RN, you’ll mentor junior staff and personal care workers, conduct performance reviews, liaise with healthcare professionals, and champion continuous improvement in care. Your presence will guide and inspire a culture of safety, dignity, and excellence.
Mandatory Requirements:
• Current registration with AHPRA as a Division 1 Registered Nurse
• Demonstrated leadership and clinical experience
Note: All applicants must have a NDIS Worker Screening Check (or preparedness to apply for one) and a valid working right in Australia.
What We Offer:
• A work culture rooted in respect, compassion, teamwork, passion and choice
• Opportunities for ongoing learning and leadership development
• A diverse team that celebrates individual strengths and collaboration
• The chance to make a real impact in residents’ lives and your own
continues to emphasise dimensions of care that go beyond the clinical, and beyond checklists and compliance with standards (important as those things are).
It seeks to encourage an understanding that people want to feel part of a community, and receive recognition that where they live is their home – not just a place to stay.
The attitude extends to staff as well. The employees who do best at Shepparton Villages, across a range of occupations from personal care workers and medication endorsed enrolled nurses through to food and domestic service assistants and others (all currently being sought), all tend to have one thing in common. According to those who do the hiring, such employees understand the sense of community they find, and want to be part of it.
Shepparton Villages is always on the lookout for potential employees with the right skills and qualifications, where these are needed, but above and beyond that they say the search is on for more people who truly “get it” when they hear that Shepparton Villages is “more than a place”. For those who do get it, Shepparton Villages says it can offer more than just a job.
BRADY
YOUR FUTURE STARTS HERE
Visit careers.gvhealth.org.au to apply for a vacant position or register and create your profile to receive alerts about new opportunities of
Registered
Free workshops to boost your business
GREATER Shepparton City Council, in partnership with the Greater Shepparton Business Network (GSBN), is proud to present the Greater Shepparton Business Festival, running from August 4 to 21, 2025.
This free, three-week festival features more than 13 workshops, talks and networking events for business owners, entrepreneurs,
professionals — and anyone keen to build skills, grow their network or explore fresh ideas.
Topics include applying for tenders and grants, smart website design, branding, and how to build a 90-day marketing plan using AI — plus much more. Registrations are now open, and all sessions are free to attend. Find out more at: greatershepparton.com.au/business/gsbf
About MHA Care
“MHA Care is a not-for-profit organisation providing high quality Home and Community Care Services across the City of Greater Shepparton and Moira Shire districts.” Since commencing in 1999 we have grown to become the largest provider of home care services in Moira Shire and are continuing to expand these services into the City of Greater Shepparton.
We continue to offer the only comprehensive and coordinated system of community care services to the frail, aged, people with disability and their carers living in the areas we service.
MHA prides itself on being a Local not-for-profit organisation with a commitment to delivering quality services and support to our clients. CARE WORKER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Like most organisations providing services in the Aged Care sector we are currently experiencing significant growth in demand for our services. We have teams based in Yarrawonga, Cobram, Numurkah, Nathalia and are in the process of building our Shepparton team to support our expansion into the Shepparton area. This means we are growing our teams! MHA Care is an employer of choice. One in which staff are skilled, motivated, valued and supported. Our recruitment and selection is based on our 5 values – Compassion, Transparency, Responsiveness, Accountability and Sustainability.
When you join MHA Care you become a vital part of the team. Our organisation seeks opportunities for growth, development and learning and as a result, our staff are
caring, professional, dedicated and highly skilled in their approach to their work.
MHA Care invites people from all ‘walks of life’ to apply for a Care Worker role. We also encourage new career paths and help support new staff to complete relevant certificate level qualifications in Aged Care. If our 5 values sing to you, and you want to make a difference in the lives of our clients and our community, MHA would love to hear from you.
Contact Us!
If you are interested joining our valuable team of Care Workers and performing this important and valuable work, please visit our website www.mhacare.org.au or send your resume with a covering letter to; hr@mhacare.org.au or call into our office in Orr Street, Yarrawonga for more information.
Greater Shepparton City Council Team Leader, Business and Industry Development, Michael Carrafa. Photo: Emma Harrop
Peter and Renee Carpinelli from Takeova Security. Photo: Emma Harrop
Jackie and Bradley Smith from Compusult, Gurpreet Singh from JB Tech and Alexander Tzelepis from the Victorian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Photo: Emma Harrop
Photo: Emma Harrop
Greater Shepparton City Council Manager of Economic Development, Anthony Nicolaci, and Ed Thomas from GOTAFE.
Photo: Emma Harrop
Sparking seriously good career pathways
THINKING about a trade? There’s never been a better time to start an apprenticeship in Electrotechnology. With government-funded opportunities, hands-on training, and the chance to earn while you learn, the pathway to a high-paying, flexible career has never been more accessible.
Watters Electrical is a top-tier local employer known for nurturing talent. Whether you’re a seasoned sparkie or just starting out, Watters offers a supportive, skilled environment to thrive in.
Family-owned with more than 65 years of industry expertise, the company operates across Shepparton, Wangaratta and Albury with a team that includes electricians, solar and battery experts, data and civil technicians, and project managers. The recent expansion integrating local trusted Audio-Visual experts SoundsAround to the Watters portfolio further broadens their team to include professional AV solution technicians.
Their commitment to excellence
extends beyond the tools – Watters fosters a positive workplace culture with regular team events, mentorship opportunities, and a strong focus on skill development. With around 70 to 80 apprentices across their three locations each year, there’s a solid track record of growing talent from the ground up.
Watters is always keen to hear from skilled tradespeople, especially A Grade Electricians ready to take the next step.
If you’re hoping to kick off your electrical career, applicants with Year 11 maths, previous work experience with Watters, or a completed PreApprenticeship course will be looked upon favourably.
Apprenticeship applications open each year in October/September and can be submitted via Seek, the Watters Electrical website or through their social media. Visit www.watters.com.au to explore current opportunities and apply for roles. Interviews for the 2026 intake will be held in October and November.
SKILLED ENVIRONMENT... Watters Electrical is a leading employer known for nurturing talent. Watters is always keen to hear from skilled tradespeople, especially A-Grade electricians who are ready to take the next step, or individuals eager to embark on an electrical career, with apprenticeship applications opening in October/September each year. Pictured are Watters Electrical first year apprentices training in correct trailer loading and unloading processes. Photo: Supplied
Kickstart your career at GV Health
KAYLA Doyle knows what it’s like to pivot. A former beautician, Kayla returned to study during the COVID-19 pandemic in search of a career that offered long-term security and purpose and found it in nursing.
“I used to run my own business, but when COVID shut everything down, I had two kids to think about,” Kayla said. “I needed an income that wouldn’t disappear overnight.”
She completed her Enrolled Nursing qualification in 2020, and after a year of hands-on experience at GV Health, went on to study a Bachelor of Nursing at La Trobe University. She graduated in late 2024 and is now completing her graduate year as a Registered Nurse with GV Health.
“It’s been a challenge,” she said. “But I’ve learned so much, it’s absolutely been worth it.”
As part of her graduate year, Kayla is completing three rotations across GV Health’s services, including a recent fourmonth placement at Euroa Hospital, now part of GV Health.
“That rotation was actually really special,” she said. “I worked at Euroa years ago as an enrolled nurse, so it was incredible to come back as a grad and see how things had grown. It’s
a smaller service and the team there is amazing. It felt like a family. Everyone was approachable and supportive.”
Currently based at the Graham Street campus in Shepparton, Kayla is finishing her surgical rotation before moving into Critical Care.
“It was great to ease into things at Euroa, and now I’m building confidence in busier settings too,” she said. “The support across GV Health has been really strong, it’s been a great place to start my career.”
Why GV
Health?
• Experience a wide range of regional healthcare settings, from the major hospital in Shepparton to rural sites like Euroa.
• Be part of a workplace where everyone plays a role in supporting community health, whether you’re on the frontline or behind the scenes.
• Access structured graduate and early-career pathways with hands-on support from experienced mentors.
• Employee benefits such as generous salary packaging
Future employment statistics
The future workforce:
The projected number of new workers expected in Shepparton, Seymour and surrounds, according to the Victorian Government’s Employment Projections Dashboard, is:
• 5,418 from 2024 to 2027
• 19,545 from 2024 to 2034
Over the next 3 years, around 392,000 new workers are expected to enter the Victorian labour market. This includes 168,000 workers in new jobs and 224,000 workers to replace retiring workers. These new workers will be in addition to the 3.7 million workers already in Victoria.
Top jobs with a VET pathway: Here are some top occupations in Shepparton, Seymour and surrounds which can be entered through a Vocational Education and Training (VET) pathway. Figures show the number of workers in 2024 and the new workers expected to enter the workforce by 2027 and 2034.
‘New workers expected’ accounts for workers adding new jobs to the economy and replacing retirees over the next three and 10 years. These projections are estimates only. There will be additional jobs available as people move between jobs and industries.
BEAUTY TO BEDSIDE
CARE... Kayla Doyle knows a thing or two about starting over. When the pandemic forced her to shut the doors on her beauty business, the Shepparton mum of two pivoted to nursing, chasing purpose, stability and a new future. Now, after completing her Bachelor of Nursing with La Trobe and beginning her grad year with GV Health, Kayla’s proving that it’s never too late to rewrite your story. Photo: Supplied
options, up to 5 weeks annual leave for full time staff, professional development support and more.
• Build your career with a health service committed to training, development and internal progression.
Ready to start your journey? Explore opportunities at gvhealth.org.au/careers/
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR 2026 TEACHING POSITIONS
SHEPPARTON, VICTORIA
• Bring creativity and adaptability to cater to diverse learning needs.
7, and 8, and welcoming our first cohort of Year 9 students. With plans to offer VCE to Year 10 students in 2027, this is a pivotal time to join our dynamic and evolving school.
Positions Available
We are inviting expressions of interest from enthusiastic educators for the following roles in 2026: Junior School & Middle School
• Generalist Classroom Teachers Middle Years Specialist Subjects
• Science
• Mathematics
• English
• Humanities
• Italian
• Health and Physical Education
• Performing Arts
• Visual Arts
• Technology
• Religious Studies
If you are an innovative and dedicated teacher eager to help shape our new Senior School, we encourage you to express your interest now.
About You
We are looking for educators who:
• Are deeply committed to student learning and continuous professional growth.
• Place children at the centre of all learning decisions and classroom practices.
• Are confident in planning and delivering engaging, evidence-informed teaching strategies.
• Have strong interpersonal skills and work collaboratively in team environments.
• Embrace contemporary pedagogy and digital integration.
• Create inclusive, nurturing, and dynamic learning environments.
• Are excited to contribute to our rich co-curricular programs.
• Have knowledge of or interest in the Science of Learning.
• Hold a current VIT registration or be eligible to obtain one.
Graduate teachers are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
To express your interest, please submit:
• A one-page cover letter detailing your teaching areas and why you wish to join the All Saints community.
• A current CV, including contact details of two referees.
Applicants must be Australian citizens, permanent residents, or hold a valid work permit.
Applications close on the 25th of July 2025
Why Join Us?
At All Saints Anglican School, our mission is to provide a holistic, Christian, and evidence-informed education that equips students for life in the 21st Century. We are a young and fast-growing school with the vision, resources, and energy to create something remarkable – and you can be part of it. Employment terms are governed by the Anglican Schools Commission Incorporated Victorian Agreement, with remuneration determined by the Principal in accordance with qualifications and experience.
Child Safety Commitment
All Saints Anglican School is a Child Safe organisation. We are committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of all children and uphold a zero-tolerance policy for child abuse. We ensure full compliance with all relevant legislation and regulations to maintain a child-safe culture. Help shape the future of education in Shepparton –we’d love to hear from you.