Careers

Learning about careers is a life long and life wide journey which is integrated across the College life in preparation for students' active participation in the knowledge society. All students are encouraged to critically reflect upon their learning strengths and areas for development. The course planning/subject selection process that students undertake in preparation for their studies in Years 9 through to 12 is structured and guided. Students are encouraged to access a diversity of resources available from the Careers centre, the Information Centre and through investigation and exploration of opportunities in the wider community. Partnering students in their post compulsory education decision making process is best facilitated when students, the College and parents engage in the conversation of possibilities and opportunities in their learning journey. Careers' learning and planning is lifelong.

Learning about Careers at Mercy takes place during:

Year 8 Course Planning: Students explore and investigate a diversity of independent program units (IPU) of their choice which they will undertake along with the core curriculum during Year 9.

Year 9 Course Planning: Students reflect upon their learning experiences during Independent Program Units (IPU) and make further selections for their Year 10 studies. They also commence work on their Health and Safety certifidcate and apply for work experience placements.

Year 10 Pathfinders program: focuses students' attention on their personal future directions and alerts them to the options available in post-compulsory schooling, university, TAFE and full, part time and casual work. Students are introduced to a range of important considerations and factors crucial to career planning. By exploring their personal qualities, characteristics, areas of interest and passion, experience in the local community, as well as academic strengths, students discover the importance of some of the factors that will influence their life long learning pathways. Students develop a careers folder which is used at subject selection time in Years 11 and 12.

Year 10 Course Planning: Students undertake this program to equip them to make informed decisions about the subjects they will study. The course planning program alerts students to the requirements of the VCE, VET and VCAL as well as providing career planning advice. Each student's course plan should address and manage their individual learning pathway strengths and needs whilst enabling and encouraging them to access a balanced range of learning experiences during post compulsory pathways.

Year 11 Course Planning: Students reflect upon their VCE studies and make decisions about learning pathways they wish to continue to pursue. A developing awareness of the wider community and the opportunities and possibilities it offers for study and the world of work is embarked upon. Students are encouraged to access Open Days, expert advice and information sessions as well as electronic resources to assist them in their decision making. Individual interviews for subject selection are conducted on a request basis.

Year 12 Course Planning: Looking beyond the secondary school environment, students investigate and explore future learning opportunities at University, TAFE and applied learning in the workplace. Careers counselling is critical to ensuring students are aware of all the opportunities available to themselves and they make choices that will optimize their success. Students are encouraged to regularly attend tertiary information sessions. Each student has individual interviews with Careers/VCE advisor to assist them to apply for tertiary courses, jobs, apprenticeships, traineeships and work with outside providers.