Careers Spotlight @ SSC

Career Women’s Network Breakfast

Recently we celebrated National Careers Week which aims to encourage individuals of all ages to recognise that careers are much more than just a job and to promote career development as an important and ongoing process that enables individuals to achieve fulfilling careers. We ended the week with our annual Career Women’s Network Breakfast which was a great success. Hearing former student and television host Justine Schofield share her career journey to date inspired students and her key messages to take risks, try new things and have a strong work ethic were particularly pertinent. Thank you to all of the mentors who attended and shared their career insights with interested students. Your willingness to support students and their future career aspirations is greatly appreciated. Below are the reflections of some senior students who attended the breakfast:

The 2024 Career Women’s Breakfast was an incredible experience that gave me invaluable knowledge for my future. Not only did I gain crucial information on the legal world, but additionally key insights into possible university courses, exchanges overseas and career opportunities with professionals who I met.

The event gave me the ability to hear from a variety of solicitors, barristers and associates with a wide breadth of expertise. Ranging from experts in construction law as well as corporate and commercial lawyers, I had endless perspectives from different specialties.

This was a fantastic opportunity to learn more about my chosen pathway, and I am incredibly appreciative to the professionals I met. I would highly recommend other students to attend the breakfast in future years as it has been pivotal for me in moving forward with career choices.
Alessia Mancuso
Year 11

At the Careers Women’s Network Breakfast, I sat at a health and medicine table, where I had the opportunity to talk to a dentist, GP, epidemiologist and optometrist. I was able to ask all kinds of questions about why they picked their chosen fields, the kind of travel opportunities and placements that are available with each career, and the university pathways they all took. It was extremely helpful to me, being in Year 12, while starting to look at the uni courses I want to do. I also have the opportunity to do work experience if I choose, and I would recommend this to any senior students, especially if you are feeling confused about what career path you want to follow.
Lillian Rochester
Year 12

The Careers Women’s Network Breakfast gave me the opportunity to explore the business/marketing industry and connect with many women who had jobs in this area. Furthermore, we were able to hear from Justine Schofield, an ex-student who has come very far in her career, and was not only on the first series of Australian Masterchef but also now has her own cooking show and cook books. All of the mentors I spoke to emphasised the importance of hard work and going outside your comfort zone in order to achieve something. I left feeling very inspired to work towards my future career goals.
Siena Dewhurst
Year 11

Work Experience Spotlight

Our students continue to show initiative and enthusiasm around seeking valuable work experience opportunities to explore possible career paths. Below is a reflection from Year 10 student Emily Hirschhorn who was one of approximately 80 students recently selected across the state to participate in a highly competitive and hands-on engineering work experience program organised by the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNSW. Below is her reflection on her experience in the program:

During my week at the Engineering Work Experience hosted by UNSW, I was immersed in a series of activities that showcased the field and its real-world applications. The program began with an in-depth exploration of advanced water treatment technologies at the PRW Discovery Centre, where we studied Ultra Filtration-reverse osmosis and UV advanced oxidation processes. This was followed by a visit to Rode Microphones, where we gained insights into engineering telecommunication sites, emphasising the intricacies of audio technology as well as manufacturing and testing protocols. We were then given the opportunity to have a session on Quantum Computing at UNSW with Diraq, which highlighted the cutting-edge developments in this revolutionary field. At the Sydney Opera House, we engaged in geospatial and surveying exercises, employing theodolites, 3D scanners, and GPS/GNSS technologies, which taught us the precision and importance of these tools in maintaining and developing key structures.

We also took part in visits to active work sites at the City Tattersall Club that provided a practical perspective on the challenges and innovations in contemporary construction projects. The integration of high-grade drones and virtual reality technology we used further illustrated how modern engineering leverages advanced tools for planning and problem-solving. The week concluded with university lectures on structural, biomedical, and design sectors of engineering. These sessions not only broadened our  understanding of the diverse fields within engineering but also showed the innovative and interdisciplinary nature of the profession. Reflecting on this experience, I recognise the critical role of engineering in shaping our world and the potential it holds for future advancements. This week gave me the incredible opportunity to explore engineering as a career path and be inspired by women in various roles in STEM.

Emily Hirschhorn
Year 10

I encourage any student in Years 10-12 looking to seek work experience to contact me in order to discuss this further.

Year 10 Morrisby and Subject Selection Evening

Thank you to the many parents and students who joined us last week for the Morrisby Information Webinar. I hope that it was helpful in understanding how to unpack the Morrisby Profile and use the interactive features of the website. I encourage any students wishing to explore their profile further to arrange a time to meet with me by contacting me via email. I look forward to seeing many parents and students and the Year 10 Subject Selection Evening where I will be able to assist with career-related and TAFE enquiries.

Careers events and opportunities

Please click here  to see the upcoming careers events and opportunities. I encourage students to review these and register for relevant events.

Eva Guirguis
Head of Future Pathways and Partnerships