Mind the Gap
After 13 years of school you may not want to go straight into tertiary study.
Or you may need to work for a while to get some money to continue on with
your studies.
Taking a Gap Year – a break after year 12 before your either
go back to university, TAFE, or start a full-time job – is
becoming more popular in Australia and there are a lot of books,
websites and even companies now that specialise in helping you
get organised.
If you get accepted at a university you don’t have to take
up the offer immediately. Most universities have a deferment option
for at least a year, so if you feel like you need a break, or would
like to do something else before hitting the books again, now is
the perfect time to do it.
There are more than 20 countries into which young Australians
can now get working visas, so you can work your way around the
world and get some valuable life experience along the way. Or you
may want to volunteer in another country. There are a lot of agencies
that specialise in this type of Gap Year program.
Try looking at www.liveworkplay.com.au, www.statravel.com.au,
www.studentflights.com.au/promotions/gapyear/ for
some ideas. Another website www.lattitude.org.au,
has details about how to become involved in volunteer projects
in 16 countries.
The Australian Defence Force has its own Gap Year
program which can pay you up to $40,000 for 12 months with no ongoing
commitment after that. Or you may just want to work close to home
for a while until you decide what you really want to do. www.defencejobs.gov.au/ADFGapYear
Classroom or Work Place?
Learning new skills or getting further qualifications doesn’t have
to be done just one way. Some careers require a minimum undergraduate degree,
but working towards your dream job can also be done through a mixture of
study, on-the-job training or internships.
By now you should know whether you like learning in a classroom
or doing something more hands-on. If you like to hit the books
and enjoy study then university or TAFE is probably the best option for
your continuing education.
On the other hand, if you feel you’re better
suited to practical skills training, then looking into an apprenticeship
or traineeship could be the way to go.
Alternatively, you may find that you can do both. Some university
or TAFE courses combine work experience or internships so students
can get an all-round education.
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