Earn while you learn
You can elect to undertake paid employment and training through
apprenticeships, traineeships, by joining the Defence Forces or
doing other on-the-job accredited training.
This is a great way
to learn while you earn and usually involves some study periods
through TAFE or a registered training organisation. There is usually
a Group Training Organisation that visits your school and can help
plan this career move.
Other sources of information are:
School-based apprenticeships
and traineeships
School students have access to part-time apprenticeships and traineeships
so that on completion of their Senior Certificate or Queensland
Certificate of Education from 2008 onwards, they can also have
obtained a nationally recognised vocational qualification such
as a Certificate II or III, or possibly the first year of an apprenticeship.
School based traineeships and apprenticeships are available in
a wide range of areas including hospitality, information technology,
child care, hairdressing, aged care, child care, horticulture,
motor mechanics and office administration to name a few.
This means
you can be working part-time and completing all or some of your
qualification while still attending school.
VET courses
VET stands for "Vocational Education and Training" and
is another way to develop some specific employment skills and qualifications
in an industry area while still attending school.
VET courses are
available in Years 11 and 12 to develop entry-level work skills
for industries such as tourism and hospitality, construction, retail,
information technology, horticulture, business administration and
others. Teachers who have accreditation are able to teach VET courses
at school and all modules studied are recorded on the Senior Certificate
or the statement of attainment for the Queensland Certificate of
Education.
Students in the lower grades at secondary school may
also study vocational subjects in some schools. VET courses gain
accreditation under the Australian Qualifications Framework and
may provide credit towards higher-level qualifications such as
a diploma.
Australian Defence Forces
The Australian Army, Navy and Air Force recruits Australians 17
years and over to a wide variety of careers. There are rigorous
requirements for entry but if accepted the Defence Force will pay
you to study at university or in a trade or for a technical qualification
with a return of service contract.
Contact the Brisbane Defence
Recruiting Centre on tel: 13 19 01 or log on to www.defencejobs.gov.au.
Use the "Career Explorer" option for specific job information
in the Forces.
Recruitment offices are also located at Cairns, Coolangatta, Maroochydore,
Toowoomba and Townsville.
TAFE Queensland
TAFE institutes and colleges offer a wide range of vocational courses
in Queensland. These include:
- certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses;
- pre-employment programs such as pre-apprenticeship and pre-vocational
courses, and
- preparatory courses such as access to work and bridging programs
to provide background knowledge and skills.
TAFE courses emphasise practical skills and a qualification from
TAFE may be a your ticket to a job or may provide a basis for entry
to a university. You may also get credit towards a university degree. For
more information log on to www.tafe.qld.gov.au or
contact your local TAFE institute.
University courses
When considering a particular university or course, investigate
the skills you will be learning and where the courses could lead.
Visit open days and expos and look at their websites.
The Good Universities Guide provides information for all
universities and is available in bookshops and from newsagents.
Visit the website www.thegoodguides.com.au and
select “information for secondary students”. You may also want to
visit www.goingtouni.gov.au for
more information on higher education in Australia.
Gaining entry to a uni,
TAFE or college
In general for university courses and TAFE full-time diplomas
and some private college courses, you should apply to the Queensland
Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).
For other TAFE courses and courses
offered by private providers, usually you must apply directly
to the institution. Some TAFE courses are offered under a “School
Reward” program with direct entry for students who have
completed year 12.
Queensland Tertiary Admissions
Centre (QTAC)
Applications for entry in 2008 can be made by current year 12 students
via the website at www.qtac.edu.au.
Other applicants can also apply by the website or by using a hard
copy form found in the back of the QTAC Guide which is
available for purchase from newsagencies. The QTAC Guide is
provided to all Year 12 students free of charge each year through
schools. The closing date for applications for 2008 is 28 September,
2007. Applications will be accepted after this although late fees
will apply.
Early round offers to some creative/performing arts, distance
education and other courses will be made on 6 December, 2007. The
major round offers will be available from l am on Thursday 10 January
2008 on the QTAC website. A second round of offers will be made
on Thursday 31 January 2008 to fill places still available. In
general the second round offers often have higher cut-offs than
the first round since there are many people competing for a more
limited number of places.
For more information visit the QTAC website at www.qtac.edu.au or
tel: 38581222.
The website also has an email enquiry service, and an Electronic
Correspondence Service for more secure communication.
It is important to check the fee structure for individual courses
offered through QTAC. These are listed on page 11 of the 2008 QTAC
Guide. You should also check the QTAC application fees and
charges on page 9 and the Quick Facts about Higher Education
Charges on pages 9 and 10.
If you are a Queensland student not eligible for an OP but you
have applied for a tertiary place, you can view your Selection
Rank on the QTAC website.
You will be selected on the basis of
- meeting pre-requisites (subjects, auditions, folios, interviews) and
- merit (OP or Rank)
Queensland Studies Authority (QSA)
The Queensland Studies Authority will mail Year 12 results on Friday
14 December 2007.
These results include year 12 students' OP and
FPs and Queensland Core Skills Result as well as final subject
results for all subjects studied for a semester or more. It is
possible to find out your OP by:
- web
- freecall
- SMS, as well as in the mail.
You need to register for this service by accessing Smart OP on
the QSA website before 13 December 2007. You will need your QSA
student number and you will then create your Smart OP pin. From
9am on 14 December 2007, you can then access your OP information
using the password you gave when you registered for the service.
You can also freecall the interactive voice response service and
use the same password. It is also possible to give your mobile
telephone number when you register and QSA will send you an SMS
with your OP. www.qsa.qld.edu.au
Upgrading for further
study
Remember that even if you believe that your qualifications are
below those required for entry to the courses of your dreams, there
are still ways to get there! There are many ways to upgrade and
improve your chances.
Upgrading means gaining a new rank (or OP if repeating senior
internally).
To upgrade, you can undertake:
- a repeat year 12 at a secondary school or college, at a private college or at some TAFE institutions
- study in a less preferred degree course preferably for one year;
- a diploma, advanced diploma or certificate course;
- a bridging or preparatory course;
- external senior, Certificate IV in Adult Tertiary Preparation
- specific bridging program for a particular group (e.g. Indigenous
Australians, women, mature age people and international students)
For advice on these pathways, students should make an appointment
with their school counsellor, careers advisor or guidance officer.
Staff in the admissions section of tertiary institutions should
be able to provide advice and Enquiry and Information staff are
available at QTAC on tel: 3858 1222. Check the website at www.qtac.edu.au
A specialist counselling service called TACS (Tertiary Advice
and Counselling Service) - tel: 3858 1298 - is available at QTAC
for a fee of $115 for 1 hour, either in person or by telephone.
Credit towards university
programs
Many TAFE Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas are recognised for credit
towards university programs. For instance it is possible to start
in TAFE or with a private provider in a Diploma in Business and
when this is completed, to obtain one year's credit in a business
degree course at some universities. This can be a less expensive
pathway but may take longer than going directly to uni.
Some universities
will recognise experiences outside the lecture room for credit
towards their courses and if students believe they are eligible
for credit they should apply directly to the university using the
appropriate application forms for that institution.
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