Year 12 graduates should consider all their options

VICTORIA’S graduating high school students have received their year 12 results, but the Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA) says students should not panic and instead focus on what they could achieve.

CDAA national president Wanda Hayes said if students did not receive the results or offers they were expecting, they should start thinking about other possible pathways.

She said that school leavers need to remember that the ATAR only had one purpose: to get students into their first tertiary level program.

“I know some students believe that their results define them for the rest of their lives. But once they are in a university program the rest is up to them.”

After students have completed one full-time year of tertiary level study in any course, they receive a new rank based on the results of that study.

“So, if they don’t get the offer they want, they should look at what course they can get into, work towards a new rank, then try again for what they really want.”

If students could not get into any university course, Ms Hayes suggests enrolling into a university preparation course, which would also give them a new rank at the end.

She said that while statistics showed university graduates have higher workplace participation, university was not the right career path for everyone.

“There are many career paths that don’t require a degree. Students should also look into the study opportunities available at TAFE and other RTOs.

“Some employers actually prefer people without a degree, that way they can train them while on the job.”

She said these decisions were different for everyone, so students should get advice if they were struggling.

“Getting some advice is a smart move. It could be from an accredited career development practitioner at the school they’ve just come from, a tertiary admittance centre, the university or TAFE.”