From the Futures Team
Year 11 University Immersion Day
The whole cohort of Year 11 attended a university immersion day to get a sense of what university campuses and study may entail. They went to six campuses including Australian Catholic University (ACU), Torrens University, University of Notre Dame, University of Technology (UTS), UNSW and the University of Sydney. The students engaged in a variety of workshops and lectures. They had to find their own way there and home as part of the excursion. Harriet Harding’s reflection is included below:
On Thursday a group of 50 Year 11 girls spent the day at Australian Catholic Uni. We had chosen two lectures to attend which best aligned with our interests – I chose physiotherapy and occupational therapy (OT). In these lectures we got firsthand experience of a class at university is like at ACU and how it compares to school. In both my lectures, I was able to learn about the roles of these professions and how to qualify for one in the future.
We also had an amazing time playing with the equipment and mobility aids that the physio’s and OT’s use to help their patients which was really cool to see. Overall, this experience allowed me to understand more about what university is like and provided me with more information about what my university journey may look like.
Written by Harriet Harding (Year 11)
International Women’s Day with Stephen Edwards Constructions
On International Women’s Day, Pymble girls were hosted by Stephen Edwards Constructions at the UN Women IWD luncheon, providing a valuable opportunity to network with women in the construction industry. We learnt essential skills needed in this field, such as networking, teamwork, financial management, and problem-solving. We were also inspired by listening to speakers, Governor General, Hon. Sam Mostyn and comedian Celeste Barber, who emphasised the importance of retaining and gaining women’s rights, balanced representation, and self-confidence.
The luncheon highlighted that companies are eager to provide opportunities for women in construction, offering paid placements by the second year of university for those studying construction management. The event underscored the diverse skills required in the industry, including budgeting, on-site testing, and communication, and promoted scholarship opportunities at UTS, demonstrating the wide range of career possibilities in construction.
Main takeaways:
- If you choose to study construction management, you’ll be able to get paid placement by your 2nd year at university compared to engineering which offer positions much later
- Scholarship opportunities are available at many universities including UTS
- You get to do a bit of everything – lots of networking/meeting new and different people, budgeting, on-site testing, calculating estimates for jobs, working on exciting projects.
Written by Yuyin Luo (Year 11 Futures Leader)
Upper and Senior School
UTS BAcc. Accounting Co-op Scholarship
The UTS Bachelor of Accounting program has the aim of producing potential business leaders of the future via an accounting career.
The COOP Scholarship a tax-free scholarship valued up to $56,000, a year of full-time work training and great career prospects with the major employers who support the course.
For further details on the Bachelor of Accounting program, please visit UTS Bachelor of Accounting Email enquiries: carin.alberts@uts.edu.au
Masterclasses in Week 7
| Tuesday 18 March | University College London | Jo Turner | KM10 | Lunchtime |
| Friday 21 March | UTS BAcc Coop Scholarship | Claire Spring (ex-student Pymble 2024) | Library Learning Studio | MBS time |
| Friday 28 March | St Andrew’s Scotland | Ashleigh Fraser | Library Learning Studio | MBS time |
GAP Applications for 2026 LetzLive: Lets Live
Close: 18 April 2025
External Opportunities
University of Sydney marine scientists will be featured at Bondi during the general public festival talks on the weekend of 22 and 23 March with the Ocean Lovers Talks. These panels and expert presentations will cover everything from the ethics of shark nets to traditional Indigenous ocean knowledge and sustainable eating of sea urchins – and much more! These talks are free to attend but registration is strongly recommended. Register: https://www.oceanloversfestival.com/ocean-lovers-talks
Study in the UK: Community Forum by University College London, 18 March at Ravenswood School for Girls. 5.30pm refreshments for 6.00 pm start
Work Experience
During my work experience at Taronga Zoo, I spent four days in the marine sector, primarily working with the seal presentation and penguins, and on Wednesday, I assisted in the bird presentation sector. My main responsibilities throughout the week involved cleaning and preparing food for the animals. Cleaning tasks included wiping the pool windows, sweeping the floors, cleaning cages, and washing containers used for feeding. Preparing feed included weighing, placing it in the fridge, taking out fish from the freezer, and cutting up. While I participated in various tasks, much of the week involved observing the work of the zoo keepers which included training the animal, observing animal’s abnormal behaviours, and reporting data.
Most of my work was alongside volunteers and students enrolled in Taronga Zoo’s certificate courses. Typically, each sector had one student at the zoo and one volunteer per day to support the zoo keepers, whose work is often quite demanding. The students I worked with were completing Certificate III, a qualification required to become a zoo keeper. Some of the most memorable moments of my experience included holding an eagle on my arm, touching the zoo’s largest seal on my final day, seeing a newborn seal not yet on display, and observing the last baby penguin of the season before it had fully matured. The entire week was an unforgettable experience, and I highly recommend to anyone interested in the wildlife conservation industry.
Written by Nina (Year 11)
