Career and Pathways Education

 

At Heathmont College we are committed to providing our students with a broad range of opportunities so that they may develop a sound awareness of the career and pathway options available to them. Our comprehensive career education program is designed to enhance student curiosity through career profiling, exposure to vocational and workplace learning and subject, course and career guidance. At each year level students complete a Career Action Plan which is used to guide relevant conversations and planning.

Year 7 & 8

The focus of career education in Year 7 and 8 is self-development and to build student’s capacity to reflect on their personal strengths, aspirations and desires. Students start to explore how the skills they develop in school, at home and in leisure activities could be applied in a paid workplace.   

Year 9

In Year 9 students complete the Career Insights Morrisby Profile which provides students with an overview of their strengths and interests and potential career and study options available to them. Each student has a 30-minute interview with a certified careers consultant to discuss their results.

Students have the opportunity to attend a variety of tertiary and industry emersion excursions designed to enhance their understanding through first-hand experience.   

Year 10

In Year 10 our career education is focused on enhancing student’s confidence in the workplace and exploring the pathways to tertiary study and careers. We conduct a one-week Work Experience program. This is a short-term placement that provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain insight into a specific industry and workplace. From this program our students will:

  • develop employability skills
  • explore possible career options
  • increase their understand of employer expectations
  • increase their self-confidence, maturity and independence.

In our Career Education lessons a significant amount of time is dedicated to ensuring our students feel safe and prepared for this learning opportunity.

To support students in the selection of their senior school certificate, we ensure students have a clear understanding of the VCE and VCE-VM qualifications and pathways relevant to these certificates. Students revisit their Morrisby Profile to complete additional assessments and use the resources available to them through this service to support their decision making. Students attend a school-based expo where they may speak to current staff and students who are involved in the subject and programs of interest.

We run a Senior School Subject and Programs selection information evening for students and their families to outline the programs on offer and process for selection so that guardians can support their children in this important decision. All Year 10 students are allocated an individual course counselling appointment with one of the college’s leading teachers to discuss their final selections.

Year 10 students have the option to begin a Certificate II Vocational Education and Training (VET) course from over 60 courses on offer in the local community. This enables them to explore an area of interests in a new learning environment whilst attaining a nationally recognised accreditation. 

Year 11

Allocated career education classes are focused on providing students with reliable and credible career resources and supporting students to implement these resources in their career planning. They are taught how to use the features of the VTAC website to conduct course searches. Year 11 and 12 students attend the VCE and Careers Expo where there are exhibitors from universities, TAFEs and training colleges. There is also the opportunity to speak to experts about career & employment opportunities, apprenticeships, internships, gap years and study advice.

The College’s Careers team work closely with the Head Start coordinator to support our School-based Apprenticeship and Traineeship (SBAT) students enrolled in VCE-VM over the two years of their program. Students continue to have the opportunity to participate in Work Experience or Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) to broaden their awareness in industries of interest.

Year 12

Our Year 12 Career Education lessons are developed to further enhance students’ implementation of reliable and credible career resources into their career and study planning. Students are invited to book individual career counselling appointments to discuss their specific post-school course and career choices. Our students hear from representatives in a range of industries such as the ADF, healthcare and education in relation to their career pathway. Up-to-date information about tertiary open days and selection criteria is regularly made available to students and families via Compass.

A VTAC information session is conducted in August to support students to create of their VTAC accounts, apply for tertiary courses and write SEAS and scholarship applications.

All Year 12 students have a learning mentor. The purpose of this program is to provide each student with one-on-one support throughout their final year of secondary education. During the fortnightly meetings with their mentor, students can further discuss their preferred pathway, study habits and revision techniques. The learning mentors utilise the ‘elements of agency’ to guide students in goal setting.

During the VTAC change of preference periods, students have access to individual appointments with the careers team and current resources from the tertiary providers.

 

Resources

Ms Melissa McMurray- Careers and Pathways Leader

Ms Mandy Kortholt- Careers Administrator

Mr Richard Alderton- Head Start Coordinator

All of our students have access to the Heathmont Careers website. This resource provides students with up-to-date information to support their career and study decisions and is implemented in our Career Education lessons.

 

VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre)

Australian Government

 

Career and Pathways Education Overview by Year Leve

Year Level Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4
Year 7 Career Action Plans Subject Selection 
Year 8 Career Action Plans Subject Selection – Information Evening 
Year 9 Morrisby Profiling & Interviews  Career Action Plans Subject Selection  Tertiary and Industry Excursions 
Year 10 Work Experience Preparation  Career Action Plans 

Trade Fit Expo Excursion 

Subject Expo/ Senior Programs & Subject Information Session 

Subject Selection – Course Counselling 

Work Experience 

Heathmont Careers Website – Job and Careers Search Feature 
Year 11 VCE Heathmont Careers Website – Job and Careers Search Feature 

OELLEN – SWL Portal Training 

VTAC – Course Exploration and Guidance 

Career Action Plans Mock Interviews

VTAC Course Search

Year 12 VCE & VCE/VM VTAC – Course Exploration and Guidance

ADF Recruitment Presentation 

Career Action Plans 

VCE/ Victorian Careers Expo Excursions

VTAC – SEAS and Scholarship Applications and Course Preferences

VTAC Information Sessions & Guidance