Recent News and Events

Spotlight on Work Experience

Over the past few weeks students at St Joseph’s have undertaken a variety of work experience opportunities. It is great to see our young people engage in post school pathways, explore potential career options and develop a better understanding of where their strengths and interests lie. Below is a brief overview of just some of the work experience program our students have engaged in:

Qantas - Work Experience Program, Mascot

Dylan Dhiresh and Kevin Praveen (both Year 11) took part in a week-long placement at Qantas headquarters in Mascot. Below are some reflections from their experience:

Can you describe the work experience and what your role was?

During the 5 days we were there we had to engage in many team based activities and follow the team's instructions as they took us through the many destinations in Qantas such as the domestic airport, the planes, the cockpit, etc. The work experience was a thriller of an experience and we took many valuable lessons from it, most noticeably the engineering side of Qantas. We both really enjoyed visiting Qantas over the 5 days it definitely beat going to school.

Were there any particular tasks that stood out to you? Why?

KEVIN - Yes, I really was interested in the activity where we did practice Job interviews with the graduates and workers in Qantas. I had an interview with one of the workers in Qantas. The feedback he gave me has really helped me to better understand how I should approach future interviews. Some tips that he gave me was to be more confident and try to talk to the interviewer like he is your friend in a formal way. It really stood out to me because I never expected this in Qantas as I thought we would learn what they do around here and not how to get a job. Overall i really enjoyed this task.

How did the work experience help you understand more about the industry?

It helped us have a better idea of the different types of jobs that are available in Qantas for example HR in which they make sure humans are satisfied to work and Finance where they manage all the money that Qantas earns and their profits. It helped us to understand the process of becoming a graduate in Qantas.

Has this influenced your career aspirations or future plans? If so, how?

Yes it has, Now we both plan in the future to become a graduate in Qantas when i get my degree in the future. we plan on doing the engineering/tech stream in qantas and try and better my skills in engineering with the support of qantas

What advice would you give to other students considering work experience placements?

Most important thing in work experience i would recommend is to make the most out of it and dont waste time. Everything that is explained in work experience is really valuable and you should really listen to this information.

What was the most valuable lesson that you learned from your work experience?

One thing that the Qantas team said to us was for us to be optimistic in what we want to do. This message took a whole toll on us and now because of that I put more effort into our work.

You should be a Cop - Police Work Experience Program, Bulli PCYC

Alex Daly (Y12), Lachlan Nixon (Y12), Mia Neill (Y12) and Gemma Cresswell (Y11) took part in the five day police force immersion program held at Bulli PCYC earlier this term. They weren’t hanging around there for long however. During the five day experience, the students visited the Port Kembla Water Police, the Police Dog Unit in Camden and even got to watch a graduation ceremony in Goulburn.

Some reflections from Alex Daly:

What was the most memorable part of the work experience?

Meeting the Canine Cops! The dogs were extremely well trained and amazingly displayed the intelligence that dogs are capable of. It has led me to very much want a career in the canine section of the cops

Were there any particular tasks that stood out to you? Why?

Watching the Police Graduation Parade. It was quite a long parade, longer than I expected. There was a lot of work from the audience, and the work that went into the parade (about 2 hours of rigid, no breaks training a week!) was amazing

What advice would you give to other students considering work experience placements?

If it is a career you are already considering, go for it. This work experience has only confirmed that I want to be a cop when I leave school. It's always good to try out work experience, to see if you actually like it or not. In this case, I absolutely loved the cops.

NSW Health - Careers in Health Program

Brooklyn Brown (Y10) has spent the past three weeks in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Health Education Centre at Wollongong Hospital getting hands-on experience, working as a nurse in a hospital setting.

Primary Teaching - St Paul’s Catholic Primary School, Albion Park

Eight Year 12 students are currently engaged in a work experience program developed in partnership with our neighbour, St Paul’s. These students are assisting classroom teachers deliver lesson outcomes and offering one-on-one support to students.

Cabinetry, veterinary, real estate and so much more…

We also have had multiple students from Year 10 to 12 organise their own work experience placements through their community networks, engaging in a wide variety of industries and roles.

The school is always willing to support these requests, provided they align with the student’s future career aspirations and do not clash with formal assessment tasks.

Students in Years 10 to 12 interested in arranging work experience should reach out to me via email (morleyl01@dow.catholic.edu.au) or swing by the Careers Office for a chat during Recess or Lunch.

Upcoming Events at Joey's

White Card Course - 6 June 2025

Students interested in gaining work experience opportunities on construction sites in NSW are required to hold a general construction induction card (White Card)

St Joseph's is offering to run a White Card course during school hours. Details below:

Date: Friday 6 June 2025 (Term 2, Week 6)

Time: 8.15 am to 2.40pm

Cost: $100

There are 20 spots available. Positions will be based on merit.

Students interested in attending this event must lodge their expression of interest by clicking the link - https://forms.gle/zk9fWmcFtjqKBnHp8

St Joseph's Apprenticeship Careers Exhibition - 10 June 2025

This event will offer our senior students a valuable opportunity to explore various industries and career prospects within the Illawarra/Shoalhaven region.

We have secured representatives from a wide array of industries and training organizations. Each representative will be stationed at their own 'Industry Conversation Table.'

Students will rotate between tables, allowing each representative to discuss topics such as: a typical day in their profession, training pathways, employer expectations (including desired skills and qualities in new employees), tips on job preparation, strategies for securing employment, and future career opportunities within their industry.

All students from Year 10 will attend the event, along with students in Years 11 and 12 currently enrolled in VET courses.

Nursing & Health Careers Workshop - 19 June 2025

University of Wollongong (UOW), wl be running a Nursing & Health Careers Workshop targeted at Years 10-11 students who have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in nursing or healthcare.

Activities for the day include:

Basic health/clinical and career pathway information into nursing and other health careers

Hands-on practical activities in Nursing & Exercise Science

An expo area with health industry professionals from areas like Age & Disability Care and Occupational Health

Students interested in attending this event must lodge their expression of interest by clicking the link - https://forms.gle/29ZDX7cv1BSQ68BB6

UOW Y12 Early Entry Presentation + Y10 HSC Subject Selection unpacked - 16 June 2025

On Monday, June 16, 2025, our UOW school liaison officer, James Terry, will visit St Joseph’s. Accompanying him will be current university students who will assist our Year 12 students with their early entry and UAC applications. Additionally, James will conduct a separate session for our Year 10 students, guiding them through the HSC subject selection process and exploring pathways into university.