I am a Teacher

Encourage students to visit this website. The site features:

• Career Toolkit – Articles and activities to help through each step of career decision making. New items will be added each month.
• Resources – A quick access page to the activities in a downloadable format.
• Career Stories – where people share their own career to date. They’re great inspiration and a reality check on how careers vary greatly for each person.
• The Calendar – shows up coming events as well as a few things students should be doing at different times of the year to support their career exploration or decision making.

To find out what Year 11 and 12 courses are on offer across Tasmania visit the Year 11 and 12 Course Guide. Exploring post-year 12 courses should be part of the student’s exploration at this stage. Some courses have pre-requisite subjects that students can plan for in Years 11 and 12.

In Tasmania, all students must stay in education or training until they turn 18 or meet a leaving requirement, such as:

• Completing Year 12
• Turning 18 years of age
• Complete a Certificate III qualification

There are a number of course options available to make up an Approved Learning Program. This enables students to pursue a TCE or TCEA qualification:

• TASC courses
• VET courses
• Australian School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (ASbAs)
• University Connections Programs and High Achiever Programs (University of Tasmania)
• Recognised Formal Learning

• Continue with further education or training through a University or VET courses at TasTAFE or another VET provider
• Do a traineeship with an employer
• Do an apprenticeship with an employer
• Enter the workforce full-time or part-time
• Take a gap year

• Visit job outlook to see a pretty comprehensive list of occupations. It includes information on weekly pay, skill level and what the growth rate is for occupations.
• Visit the ‘my future’ bullseyes – these resources show occupation profiles relating to subject learning areas

Students don’t have to be enrolled in a VET course to do work experience. Work experience can give students insight into possible career options. It can also open up opportunities for apprenticeships/traineeships and employment (it’s good to be familiar with your school’s procedures on work experience).

A young person may not be ready to consider their career options. It could be due to other significant things happening in their life such as health conditions, living arrangements, financial pressures, relationships or other barriers. Reach out to these supports within your school:

• School support team
• Grade Leaders and Assistant Principals
• Home Group Teachers
• Subject Teachers

You can also get support by:

• Viewing the helpful contacts postcard prepared by the Student Wellbeing team
• Emailing the Career Education team

Get them trying different courses, work exposure and extra curricular activities. It will help them figure out what their interests, skills and values are. It will also help them find out what workplace and training environments they prefer.

Let them know there’s ‘no one size fits all’ approach to a career and that it’s a journey of trial and error. Just take one step at a time.

Prepare them for change, let them know their career will have many twists and turns, and highs and lows (and that’s ok). So always have a back up plan or two!

Help them understand there’s a process when making career related decisions and to trust it. Once they’re across it they will have the confidence to make career decisions now and later in life.

Help them identify who they can talk to while at school and once they leave. And get them to name up trusted people in their lives who can mentor and support them once they leave school.

Let them know they can connect with relevant services and groups in their community.

There are a number of education and training options available to young people. Avoid discouraging any particular pathway. Encourage them to explore the pathway that is the best fit for them.