In Year 12, seize the opportunities and step outside your comfort zone

Firstly, congrats for making it to Year 12. This year is absolutely going to fly by, so try and make the most of it. This could mean stepping outside your comfort zone and having a crack at something you wouldn’t normally try. So ignore the little pesky voice in your head, back yourself, and go for it!

Some stuff to get a handle on in Year 12

Must Knows

Stuff you need to know

USI stands for ‘Unique Student Identifier’. It’s a reference number you’ll need if you end up doing any training courses in the future i.e. like First Aid, Responsible Service of Alcohol, Barista or any VET course. Find out how they work and how to get a USI number.

Trade Training Centres (TTC) are purpose-built facilities where accredited training takes place. Access to TTC is available to school students around Tassie. Find out more info on TTC’s.

Apprenticeships and traineeships are training opportunities with an employer. They could last between 12 months to 4 years with an employer. Apprenticeships tend to cover skilled trades i.e. plumbers, electricians, carpenters, etcetera. A traineeship can cover a broader range of occupations i.e. office administration, IT, retail. They’re run either part-time or full-time. Find out from the Fair Work website what the difference is between apprenticeships and traineeships.

Depending on the support you need there are services designed to give a helping hand. They range from accommodation, mental health support and disability support to name a few. Visit the Communities Tasmania website to find out more.

Career Connector provides expert advice to explore your options after school. You will get personalised career advice, and the support you need to confidently access training, connect to local Jobs Hubs, employment opportunities and other programs that you might be eligible for. Find our who your local Career Connector is by visiting their website Career Connector.

Must Do’s

Super important ‘must do’ Year 12 stuff

You’re going to need somewhere to put all the money you’re earning, which is why setting up a bank account is a great idea. Chat to your parents/carers about what type of bank account you should have. Research together which is the best bank for you to open an account with.

If you want a casual job then you’ll need to pay tax to the government on what you earn (sorry ‘bout that). This means you’ll need your very own tax file number (TFN) which is like a reference number so they can tax you. Get some useful info on what a tax file number is.

Start Exploring

Here’s stuff you can explore to figure out what occupations and courses would be a great fit for your skills and passions

Find out what apprenticeships and traineeships are. You can do them during school or after Year 12, or it could be an option to do whilst working towards your ATAR. Read up on the Fair Work website about apprenticeships and traineeships.

Now’s a good time to be looking at which scholarships are about and the uni enrolment process. Be sure to check out the Good Universities Guide. It shows uni ratings, courses on offer, Open Day events, scholarship listings and much more.  

Attend as many ‘work exposure’ events as possible. It’ll be great for a taste of what you can expect in a chosen job, industry or course. A bit like a ‘try before you buy’, these events help you test any ideas you have, so keep an open mind. Chances are you might discover something that is bang on for you (and if not, then keep trying). Find out more on work exposure events. To see what’s coming up in the next few months in Tassie check out our calendar of events.

Try doing work experience to learn what an occupation, industry or business is like to work in. Hopefully it ticks all the right boxes, but if not, then it’s better to find out sooner rather than later. Chat to a Teacher or Career Advisor to find out how this can be arranged.

If you’re thinking about going to uni or TAFE after Year 12, check out the Open Day events they have. Informative and friendly, these days show what courses are on offer and what life is like. See TasTAFE events or UTAS events.

Get job ready

Here’s a few things you can do to get job ready

You can start learning a bunch of different skills that build on your ‘employability’. That’s a fancy way to impress employers that you have a stack of relevant and transferable skills. Short courses range from First Aid, White Card, Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA), a Barista Certificate and loads more. To see what’s on offer check out TasTAFE short courses.

Like anything, practise makes perfect. To give yourself the best chance of landing a job, you need to nail the interview. Read about how to prep to have a confident job interview.

Do you like the idea of calling the shots and running your own business? Research government funding and mentor programs that are available. And check out the business.gov.au website and read this guide to starting a business.

Almost every job out there requires you to submit an application. See these handy guides on how to write a CV , and what to say in a cover letter.

Try doing work experience to learn what an occupation, industry or business is like to work in. Hopefully it ticks all the right boxes, but if not, then it’s better to find out sooner rather than later. Chat to a teacher or career advisor to find out how this can be arranged.


Key Takeaway

Key takeaway

You’ll have this year to build on your skills for life after school. You might have to back off on the late-night parties, and keep banging out the assignments, but that’s ok – you can see the finish line.

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