Careers & VET

It’s been a big year for the Careers and Vocational Education and Training (VET) Department. Although these areas within a secondary school setting relate so closely with each other, it is the first time at Redeemer that the two specialty areas have been merged. This is particularly important as we focus, as a College, on developing more individualised learning pathways for students.

As a team, we identified and created opportunities for students to connect with experts and organisations from other industries and experience university life and highly specialised fields of study with day visits to various campuses. This year we ran lunchtime Career Insight sessions where we focused on a particular occupation or range of related occupations in an industry. It was great to see students across different year levels attend to learn more about a possible career path of choice. Our Senior Information and Career Pathways Expo allowed students to listen to and speak with Redeemer Alumni who each presented their career stories with students and parents. This was a great evening to learn more about the choices students have in Years 11 and 12, and to explore opportunities that lay beyond graduation via the Expo. There were many students who had a head start in their career journey by committing to study through the TAFE at School program or another private registered training organisation. Some commenced apprenticeships and traineeships. These students generally studied Certificate II, III and IV level programs which all contribute to their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). I commend these students for their organisation, dedication and eagerness to build their employability skills and qualifications. Quite a number of Year 11 and 12 students successfully completed their first university course. For these students, such studies helped them affirm what it is they would like to study at university. They also received credit towards their QCE.

The Career Counselling Team have thoroughly enjoyed working with students to assist them with academic choices, VET program suitability, career pathway planning and SET Planning. It has been particularly exciting to see the number of students in the lower year levels of the Senior School come to talk to one of the Career Counsellors to learn about different opportunities.

MRS STEPHANIE MACKIE HEAD OF CAREERS & VET