Careers Spotlight @ SSC

Welcome back to Term 3, I hope that students and families had the chance to rest and reset ahead of another busy term.

Western Sydney Careers Expo

On the last day of Term 2, Year 12 attended the Western Sydney Careers Expo at Sydney Olympic Park. This was a wonderful opportunity for students to speak to tertiary institutions and employment organisations first hand to help guide their post school and career decisions. The expo helped some students to confirm their goals for the future whilst also assisting others to redirect or consider new options they hadn’t considered before.

Below is a reflection from one student on what she took away from the event:

At the end of Term 2, Year 12 attended the Western Sydney Careers Expo. From universities to TAFE colleges to cadetship programs, this invaluable experience opened our eyes to the range of opportunities available after high school. Through discussions with institutions such as UAC, we developed an improved understanding of application processes. We also attended seminars where tutors provided useful career, study and employment advice. Involvement in these sessions helped us to gain the clarity needed to navigate future academic and career pathways. For example, I had the chance to explore Sydney University’s rural health program. Learning about this course has inspired me to research similar community-based practical experiences. Another memorable part of the day was our conversations with the Australian Defence Force. The representatives engaged us with insightful details about the unique programs offered by the military. They explained the benefits of a well-rounded education, with the chance to advance communication, organisation and leadership skills. Having attended the expo, we feel inspired and better prepared for the next step ahead in our collective journey.
Ella Hodge
Year 12

Work Experience

Over the break, a handful of students showed initiative in securing a work experience opportunity to gain exposure to industries that interest them and insight into what working in the industry looks like. Year 10 student Charlotte Salameh was one of the students who went on work experience and was fortunate enough to be accepted in a competitive NSW Hospital Work Experience Program.

Below is her reflection from her time on work experience:

During the recent school holidays, I was fortunate enough to participate in five days of work experience organised by the Sydney Local Health District at Concord Hospital. Although I have long wished to study medicine, I had not had the opportunity to receive hands-on and practical insight into the daily activities of a healthcare worker. When conversing first-hand with employees from a range of departments and wards, I learnt that although they recognised the regular challenges associated with their role, including overworking and stress, the rewarding nature of their job outweighs these – as they are able to assist people in bouncing back from the lowest points of their lives, further fueling my motivation to do the same one day. Although the week as a whole provided an abundance of enjoyable and interesting opportunities, such as shadowing an occupational therapist, and attending a symposium at which Australian of the Year and Santa Sabina ex-student Professor Georgina Long presented, the highlight of my experience was my visit to the operating theatres, as pictured, where we were fortunate enough to observe surgeons at work on different procedures. Ultimately, I am certain that this will prove to be an invaluable experience that I will appreciate and cherish for many years to come, assisting me in achieving my eventual goal of studying medicine in the future.

Charlotte Salameh
Year 10

Learning about international diplomacy

On 1 August, students in Years 10-12 were fortunate enough to hear from ex-student and current US diplomat Carolee Williamson who spoke to students about her journey from Australia to the US which led to a career in diplomacy. Carolee shared some wonderful insights with our students into the nature of her work and some of the projects she has worked on in countries such as Afghanistan. Thank you to the Community Relations Department for organising this wonderful opportunity and to Carolee for giving up her time to inspire our students.

Below are reflections from students who attended the session:

Last week, students received the opportunity to hear from ex-student and US Diplomat Carolee Williamson who shared her insights on working for the American Government in the Foreign Relations section. She shared her story with us: telling us she grew up in Australia, completing a Bachelor in Commerce and then immigrating to the United States to become an American by choice. We gained a deep insight into the many benefits of her job that allow her to travel, meet new people, and help those who are in a state of helplessness. It was extremely insightful to be able to hear the firsthand experiences of a diplomat in the real world and to understand the day-to-day operations of such a role.
Kelly Ghali
Year 11

Attending the US diplomat session was a truly enriching experience that introduced us to a unique and multifaceted career path. We were able to engage in an interactive discussion, which was prompted by student questions. This allowed us to gain deeper and more personal insights into this complex and impactful career path. We learnt about the everyday life of a diplomat, key physical and moral challenges the role presents and the pathways to working in an area such as foreign diplomacy. Overall, Carolee Williamson was a highly engaging and passionate speaker who shed light upon how her experiences at Santa Sabina shaped her career aspirations and passion for international affairs. I highly recommend attending career sessions such as this one to all senior students who wish to engage in personal discussions about career paths they are passionate about.
Remi Apostolopoulos
Year 11

Important dates for Year 12

As Year 12 fast approaches the end of their formal education at school, there are many important dates they should be mindful of in making their post-school decisions. I sent a recent email to Year 12 reminding them of the dates for key institutions and I have also included this below. This is not an exhaustive list and I encourage students to reach out if they are unsure of what to do or are looking into other opportunities and institutions. Students were also reminded that if they are considering applying for scholarships, EAS and early entry, they should start these applications, collect any required evidence and reach out if they need assistance well ahead of the deadline.

UAC:
SRS due: 16 September
Registration with UAC due: 30 September
EAS due: 21 November

Early Entry:
Macquarie: 30 August (round 2)
Wollongong: 9 August
WSU: 4 September (round 1), 13 November (round 2), 11 December (round 3), 1 January (round 4)
UTS: 9 September
ACU: 16 September
Torrens Uni: applications reviewed as they are received. Apply any time before 30 November
Notre Dame: applications reviewed as they are received. Apply any time before 4 December

Open Days:
Torrens Uni: 8 & 10 August
Macquarie Uni: 10 August
ACU: 17 August, 7 September
USYD: 31 August
UTS: 31 August
Notre Dame: 31 August
UNSW: 7 September

Forthcoming Careers Events

To view the list of careers events and opportunities coming up, click here.

For any further career-related enquiries, please don’t hesitate to contact me or encourage your daughter to see me.