Careers Breakfast

On Wednesday 20 September, the Careers Committee hosted a Careers Breakfast for students in Years 10, 11 and 12 who nominated to attend. The event provided students with the opportunity to gain insights from industry professionals, including Wilderness old scholars. Professor Tania Leiman, Dean of Law at Flinders University, spoke about the legal implications of health tracking apps. This sparked discussion on privacy rights and data protection.

Students engaged with professionals in fields including Law, Medicine, Creative Industries, Forensics and Criminology, Speech Pathology, Gap Years, Data Analytics, Environmental and Agricultural Science, Advanced Mathematics, Engineering, Business, Journalism, Nursing, Occupational Health and Safety, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Psychology and Sport and Recreation Management. This unique opportunity offered valuable career and university insights. Personally, I learned about the legal profession’s nuances and misconceptions when speaking with the Law/Business representatives present.

The event’s success was thanks to Mrs Caroline Palmer, Mrs Deb Cleggett, the Careers Committee and the café, catering and maintenance staff who supported the event. We believe students gained substantial insights.

Thisagi Jayasekara
Year 11

Careers in STEM Event

On Monday 18 September, Year 11 students Zara Emery, Eleni Papagiannis, Siyeon Kim, Rosie Lioulios and I, with Mrs Caroline Palmer, attended a ‘Women in STEM’ event at Loreto College. This was an engaging experience where we learned about the benefits of Women working in STEM roles. We were able to listen to the experiences of six panel members: Elena Casiano, IT/Software Engineer (Loreto College old scholar); Rachael Zeuner, Engineer (St Dominic’s Priory College old scholar); Dr Eva Balan-Vnuk, Chief Information Officer SA Government (St Aloysius College old scholars); Shannon LeBlanc, Clinical Geneticist (Seymour College old scholar); and two Wilderness old scholars—Susie Greco, final year Civil Engineering student, and Sophie Dolling, Scientist in Residence at St Peter’s Girls School. What became apparent were facts about how male-dominated the STEM industry currently is and what we can do to change these statistics, issues of gender inequality in STEM roles and how we can work towards changing stereotypes.

Victoria Phan
Year 11

UTAS – University of Tasmania

• Virtual Tour
• 2024 Course Brochures

Flinders University Equal Consideration Dates

The information below applies to Year 12 students applying for competitive courses at Flinders University. Students must check the SATAC (South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre) website to see if a change of preference after Friday 1 December will result in non-equal consideration, as there is a difference between Equal Consideration and Change of Preference and their various dates, which is explained on the SATAC website. There are a dozen or so Flinders competitive courses that are affected by the Equal Consideration date and changing the order of SATAC preferences after this date, which results in a ‘shuffle-block’. All courses should be flagged accordingly on the SATAC website.

Some of the courses impacted are:

• Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Bachelor of Speech Pathology
• Bachelor of Midwifery (Pre-Registration)
• Bachelor of Clinical Science/Doctor of Medicine
• Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Physiotherapy
• Bachelor of Health Sciences/Master of Occupational Therapy
• Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Vision Science)/Master of Optometry
• Bachelor of Exercise Science
• Bachelor of Exercise Science/Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology
• Bachelor of Paramedic Science
• Bachelor of Human Nutrition
• Bachelor of Human Nutrition combined with Bachelor of Exercise Science.

If SATAC preferences are changed (after the Equal Consideration date), student (SATAC) status should automatically turn to ‘ineligible’. At this point, students must immediately send an email (or, in the first instance, simply telephone them for advice) with all details (pertaining to the preference swap) and they will then be individually assessed on a case-by-case basis by Admissions as to the state of their application.

Flinders University

• Festival Plaza 2024
• Pathways into Flinders University courses from 2024

University of Sydney – Indigenous Australian Engineering School (IAES)

IAES offers:

• a fully sponsored week-long program where attendees can explore various engineering fields
• site visits and cultural activities
• networking with industry professionals
• recreational fun on Sydney Harbour.

First Nations high school students in Years 10-12 in 2024 are eligible for the program from Sunday 14 January to Saturday 20 January at the University of Sydney Camperdown Campus.

The IAES offers First Nations high school students the opportunity to come to Sydney and explore study and work opportunities within various fields of engineering. All costs including activities, accommodation, flights and meals are fully funded by Engineering Aid Australia and the University of Sydney. Online applications must be submitted by Friday 20 October 2023.

Prior to submitting the online application form, please ensure your daughter has prepared the following:

• a current passport-sized colour photo of the student
• her school’s letter of recommendation or letter of support
• her latest school results (half-yearly marks/grades are fine if she does not have an end-of-year report before the closing date)
• a copy of student photo ID, such as a passport, driver’s licence, student card or proof-of-age card
• confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent (only signature declaration is required at this stage, but if the student’s application is selected, she will need to provide document confirmation).

The student will also need to prepare responses to the following questions:

1. What are your strongest subjects at school and why?
2. Why are you interested in engineering?
3. What do you hope to get out of the Indigenous Australian Engineering School?
4. Please provide some information on your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background.
5. Do you have any other interests and hobbies?

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in mid-November 2023. Apply here.

University of Sunshine Coast

Marine Science is now available as a major within the Bachelor of Recreation and Outdoor Environmental Studies program, designed to engage people in nature and encourage an active lifestyle.

When combined as a double degree with a Bachelor of Education (Secondary), this program qualifies students to become a Years 7-12 teacher in Marine Science, as well as another teaching area, increasing their employability and varying their skillset.

Featuring more fieldwork and expeditions, the Marine Science major complements the Recreation and Outdoor Environmental Studies program, which already includes 25 days of outdoor environmental studies fieldwork, creating a rich, immersive and unique learning experience.

Royal Veterinary School Edinburgh

Learn more here.

International Young Researchers’ Conference (IYRC) 2023-2024

Winter (Northern Hemisphere) programs for students: Teams from Columbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, University of Tokyo and Stanford University invite students to connect, share ideas and learn about Medicine, STEM and Research under the mentorship of physicians, researchers, medical students and college students from partner organisations. The winter program is scheduled to run from Saturday 16 December 2023 to Saturday 6 January 2024. Apply here.

Fall Conference 2023: There is a virtual option on Saturday 25 November, and an in-person option at the University of Tokyo, Japan on Saturday 23 December. Students can submit their project by Sunday 24 September here.

Medicine and Research ‘Summer’ Program 2024: This is an annual virtual summer program. Applications open in November. Learn more about the program here.

Careers in Business Intelligence

What are Business Intelligence Analysts? Business analysts use data to help companies spot trends in sales to predict what customers want next. These analysts turn raw numbers into valuable strategies. What skills and strengths are needed? Curiosity and eagerness to dig deeper into data, as well as strong analytical skills to break down complex information, a knack for problem-solving and a love for technology. Communication is key because they need to explain things in simple terms. For pathways, your daughter might go to university to study a degree such as data science, computer science or business with a focus on analytics. VET courses in IT and data analysis are also a step in the right direction.

Scholarship: WiseTech’s 2024 Earn and Learn Program

Year 12 students can access scholarship opportunities to supercharge their career in technology while gaining access to world-leading education coursework and experts.

What’s involved: The Wisetech Earn and Learn program is run in collaboration with the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Bachelor of Computer Science and Industry Degree Academy (IDeA).

Who should apply? Students who:

• are highly curious
• love coding
• thrive when faced with new and different problems every day
• work well with other like-minded people.

Applications close Saturday 11 November.

Careers in Economics

The 'Ask an Economist video series' has just been launched by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The series features a group of young economists sharing their thoughts on questions commonly asked by students about careers in economics and the benefits of studying it. The series consists of 15 videos on topics including:

• What is economics and why study it?
• The future of work
• Why is economics relevant to young people today?
• What jobs can you do if you study economics?
• What is the best thing about a career in economics?
• What is one project you have enjoyed working on?
• What is your advice to someone interested in studying economics?
• If economics was an Olympic sport, what would it be?
• What key concepts do you use in your daily life?
• Young economists sharing their study and career paths.

Careers in Cybersecurity

A cybersecurity specialist is someone who helps protect computer systems, networks and data from cyber threats like hacking, viruses and cyber-attacks. They use their knowledge of computer systems and software to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in security protocols and develop strategies to prevent cyber-attacks from occurring. Cybersecurity specialists work in a variety of workplaces, from government and large corporations to small businesses and non-profits. They use specialised software and tools to monitor network activity and detect potential threats. They typically work closely with other IT professionals to ensure that systems are secure and up to date.

Microsoft and Year13 have teamed up to offer students an immersive Virtual Job Experience so they can learn more about the dynamic field of cyber security and find out if it is right for them. Over the course of the interactive module, they will:

• meet a cybersecurity specialist, who will share their knowledge and experiences in the industry
• learn about a day in the life of a cybersecurity specialist, gaining insights into their routines, skills and responsibilities
• develop an understanding of the typical tasks these professionals perform and engage further with interactive activities
• discover training and educational pathways that can lead them to their dream cyber security role.

Round Square

Learn more about the gap year opportunity for students from Take Action Lab.

AFL SportsReady Traineeships – Opportunities in 2024

AFL SportsReady are currently working with host employers to create exciting traineeship roles for 2024 in areas such as sport, education support, business administration, IT and more. They have created a general online application form for current Year 12 students, to register their interest for a 2024 traineeship.

AFL SportsReady will advertise a range of traineeship roles as they become available. Right now, some of their current advertised positions include:

• First Nation Community Cricket Trainee at South Australian Cricket Association
• Community Program Trainee at Port Adelaide Football Club.