A Week of Work Experience

Gabby hanging out with her new Furry Friends at Great Whitsundays Vet. Photo Supplied: Gabby Appleton

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St Catherines Catholic College Year 10s return from school holidays to a week of work experience, set to gear the kids with practical skills and potential taste of the future.

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The week-long placements form part of the college's Year 10 careers education program, with students spending the year exploring future pathways before stepping into the workplace.  

This matches local businesses and students, giving them the chance to experience potential career paths before choosing their senior subjects and looking into future study options.  

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“We find that it can lead to better decision-making in their pathway through year 11 and 12 and beyond,” said Tundi Gosselink, VET, Career and Pathways leader.  

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Before students step into a workplace, they're encouraged to explore where their interests and strengths might best fit. Through careers classes, psychometric testing and interviews with people already working in different industries, students begin narrowing down potential career paths before selecting a placement.

"It's a really difficult conversation to have, so in preparation they investigate different careers, their own interests and strengths, and how those match different professions,” Mr Gosselink said.

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The students can pick from the likes of tourism, to trades, admin, agriculture or in the case of Gabby Appleton, animal care.  

Gabby started her first day at Great Whitsundays Vet this week and can already see herself pursue it as a long-term career.  

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“I think it's more valuable because you're actually doing the job,” Gabby said.  

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“I'm planning on finishing grade 12, then hopefully going to uni and becoming a vet.”  

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