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Where to from here? Life after the Higher School Certificate

09/11/2007 -

Vocational education receives government support of about $21.3 million per year in direct funding to VET in schools and $4 million for School Skill Centres.

At the recent Prime Minster’s Awards for Skills Excellence, the Minister for Science, Education and Training, Julie Bishop, highlighted the benefits of VET courses, commenting that: “Vocational and technical education in schools, including New Apprenticeship programs, allow students to develop industry-specific skills, gain nationally recognised qualifications and employability skills that are recognised and valued by industry.”

TAFE NSW also offers an amount of flexibility with two intakes of students per year. This is ideal for individuals who may wish to take time off before continuing their studies.

University courses tend to be of longer duration, with the average degree taking three to four years of full-time study to complete.

However, universities now offer a range of study options to fit in with the lifestyles and commitments of a variety of students. These options include:

part-time study;
online study – this option is becoming increasingly popular, with 26% of the 3.9 million adults accessing the Internet at home in the year 2000 for educational purposes. (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics); and
correspondence or distance education courses.

Visiting university websites and attending open days ensures prospective students are apprised of their opportunities.

The performing arts is an area which has become increasingly popular and there are a number of options for students wishing to pursue a career in this creative arena.

The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is perhaps the most well known, a centre of excellence in training for theatre, film and television.

While best known for its acting course, NIDA also offers unique courses with great career prospects in design, stage management, event management, lighting, sound, costume making, wardrobe management, scenery construction, properties and special effects. Applications are now open for 2008 courses tel (02) 9697 7600 or visit http://www.nida.edu.au/

Another option now available for performing arts is ED5INTERNATIONAL, which offers a Certificate IV in Performing Arts (Vocal or Dance Major).

This is a one-year intensive course boasting many of Sydney’s most respected teachers, dancers, vocalists, directors and choreographers covering all aspects of the Performing Arts, and providing graduates with a formal, recognised qualification. For a prospectus visit www.ed5international.com.au/NEW.htm

Schools and institutions such as TAFE have career advisers available to consult with students. These advisers can assist with determining the type of jobs that would best suit a student’s academic performance, personality and interests. A job is never just a job, it is important to look at other factors when making career choices like:

lifestyle choices;
family situation;
location; and
size of the job market.

Professional career advisers can offer assistance in taking all this into consideration.

Tertiary study is not for everyone and for some finding a full-time job is more appealing. Apprenticeships and other forms of on-the-job training are a great option for students who want to earn while they learn.

NSW apprentices and trainees receive ongoing support and advice, employment, training, government financial assistance and nationally recognised qualifications. Apprenticeships and traineeships are available in most industries including:

arts and entertainment;
automotive;
building and construction;
communications;
food industry;
finance, insurance and business services;
retail and wholesale;
sport and recreation;
tourism and hospitality; and
community services and health.

The duration of apprenticeships and traineeships varies from 12 months to four years full-time and there are hundreds of vocations available.

Contact the Australian Apprenticeship Centres referral line tel 13 38 73 or visit http://www.apprenticeship.det.nsw.edu.au/

One of the latest opportunities for school leavers is the “gap year”. The aim is to give young people a chance to explore their identity outside of the school and family structure.

A gap year does not have to involve overseas travel, there are plenty of organisations that offer different gap year programs.

Josephite Community Aid (JCA) in Sydney is a community of dedicated young adults, supported by the Josephite Sisters.

JCA brings together the talents and gifts of young people with real assistance and genuine giving to meet the needs of the poor. Young people over 18 are invited to spend six months or a year helping the poor and underprivileged.
Further details tel (02) 9799 6990, adrian@jcaid.com http://www.jcaid.com/

Life after the HSC is full of possibilities and rather than being daunted by the amount of choices facing them, students leaving school can prepare for their new adventure in the same way they would prepare for a big overseas trip – research the options, talk to others who have been there before and make a plan. The world outside school is waiting to be explored and there’s a path to suit each individual, you just have to know where to look.

Completing the HSC is a huge relief for most students, but at the same time it signals the beginning of a new phase in their lives – one that requires making exceptionally important and challenging decisions.

There are a myriad of choices facing today’s school leavers and it can be quite daunting to leave the security of the school environment and enter into the world of work or tertiary study. The most important thing is for students to be well informed about the options available them.

In 2007, school leavers have more than just the obvious options of going to university or entering the full-time workforce. While further study continues to be the most popular choice, with 54% of school leavers in 2006 enrolling in further study (Source: Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies), university is not the only option for students seeking further education.

TAFE and other VET (Vocational Educational and Training) providers are included in this statistic, showing that students are finding a range of alternatives to suit their individual needs.

VET courses are also available to students while still at high school, making it even easier to continue down this path once they have completed school.

These courses offer an emphasis on hands-on skills development, and anecdotal evidence from graduates points to a smoother transition from these courses into the workforce.