Hugh Blaikie, Former Principal, Wellington Secondary College:
Career education really begins from day one of Year 7.
One of the great benefits of having such a transparent interaction and conversation with our students is that we can support them through that journey.
Callum, Student, Frankston High School:
So a career action plan is more about your personality or your true self. It has occupations there. It's like skill sets, the skills you think you're better at, like communicating, sharing, caring.
Lucinda Huffer, Director Student Pathways, Wellington Secondary College:
I think career action plans have an impact on students throughout their schooling, and it's an opportunity really for students to stop and think about themselves and to reflect on themselves, which is not something that we typically give students space and time to do at school.
Sharon Bourne, Career Practitioner, Frankston High School:
We also focus on the Career Insights with the Morrisby at Year 9.
It is a diagnostic tool used for students to reflect upon themselves and it connects their aspirations with their strengths and their abilities.
Alyssa, Student, Frankston High School:
It really gave me a much deeper understanding of myself, which was kind of strange.
It gave me my interests, my strengths and helped me to pick subjects that I knew would be tailored to what I'm good at and what I'm interested in.
Lucinda Huffer, Director Student Pathways, Wellington Secondary College:
Work experience has value for students because it does help them to observe the workplace, to experience the workplace, and therefore develop some key employability skills.
For some students it helps confirm whether that particular industry or career is for them, or isn’t. And ruling a career out is just as important as ruling it in.
Alyssa, Student, Frankston High School:
I did work experience at Paratea Kindergarten. And through that I learned quite a few important life skills, communication skills, very important. But yeah, just the importance of communication with everyone and making sure everyone is on the same page.
Sharon Bourne, Career Practitioner, Frankston High School:
It is also fundamentally important that we talk to our students one on one and to their parents.
So that we need to have multiple touchpoints with parents and we need to have them as interactive, because they are the most significant influence on obviously their children.
We involve them in the course counselling from the word ‘go.’
Mia, Student, Wellington Secondary College:
After doing all these career activities, I have definitely a sense of confidence after high school that I'll be able to explore my options.
Andrew Batchelor, Principal, Frankston High School:
Career education links in with the other things students learn at school, it provides probably that overarching goal setting for them.
And also, ‘here's where I'm headed,’ and the skills they're going to need to be a part of society and do well.
[End transcript]
Updated