Career Practitioners Update – Term 2 – June Edition
(Inside this issue)
Open Night Dates
School Holiday Workshops
Tech Games Fest 2017
Alternative Options to School
Course Information and Updates
Chisholm News
Ordering publications
Key Events
4 – 6 July – Tech Games Fest – Frankston campus
10 – 14 July – School Holiday Workshops – Berwick campus
15 August – Open Night – Berwick Campus
2017 Open Night dates
Tuesday 15 August, 5pm – 7pm – Berwick campus, Kangan Drive, Berwick, Victoria.
Tuesday 12 December, 5pm – 7pm – Dandenong campus, Stud Road, Dandenong, Victoria.
During the Open Night visitors can:
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Learn more about pathways and the benefits of gaining more than one qualification in the same time
as gaining a degree
Learn more about scholarships, payments, enrolments, and meet our teachers and students
Take a tour of the campus
Attend information sessions about the specific courses
Explore the alternatives to mainstream high school and learn how Chisholm students can get the same
qualifications (foundation courses, VCE, VCAL and certificates) as they would if they remained at high school.
Attend a Career Guidance Session
For further information and a chance to win $1,000 Westfield voucher visit: chisholm.edu.au/open
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School Holiday Workshops 2017
School holiday workshops are being held again this year between 10 - 14 July at our Berwick campus. The workshops
are aimed at students in years 9 - 12 (aged 14 to 19 years old) to help them explore different career paths,
highlighting courses that are available during and post-school while having an opportunity to learn a new skill and
make friends.
Each workshop is $30 (payment online) and runs for five hours across a range of subject areas and dates during the
winter school holidays.
For further details on the choice of workshops available, please go to www.chisholm.edu.au/workshops .
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Monday 10 July – Early Childhood and Education and Photography
Tuesday 11 July – ICT/Gaming and Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol Awareness
Wednesday 12 July – Hospitality Coffee and Mocktails
Thursday 13 July – Exploring Health & Fitness and Trades - Bricklaying
Friday 14 July – Trades – Carpentry and Hair and Beauty
More are being added so keep looking! Visit: chisholm.edu.au/workshops
Also being held during the winter school holidays is the TGF from 4 to 6 July, 2017 at our Frankston campus. See next
story.
Tech Games Fest 2017
For anyone in Years 9 to 12 and TAFE students, the Tech Games Fest at Chisholm Institute, Frankston is the most
exciting three days students will experience these Winter School Holidays.
If interested in the development of games, games culture, ICT networking and other areas of ICT, then this year's
TGF is the perfect place to meet other liked minded people.
The Tech Games Fest 2017 has a Heroes Vs Villains theme and will include industry presentations, gaming workshops,
e-sport tournaments, networking for gamers, network security, games programming, ethical hacking, course
information, Cosplay, competitions and more.
The Tech Games Fest is being held at the Chisholm Institute located on Fletcher Road, Frankston from Tuesday 4th
July to Thursday 6th July, from 10am each day and registration is FREE. Spaces are strictly limited and registration is
essential. Register via the Chisholm Institute website: chisholm.edu.au/tgf
Work Experience is also available (5 days Monday 3rd July to Friday 7th July).
There is surrounding street parking, possible parking at the Frankston train station, Frankston shopping centre and
Frankston CBD street parking.
This is a FREE three day event. For further information go to: chisholm.edu.au/tgf
Alternative Options to School
DO YOU KNOW A YOUNG PERSON WHO HAS NOT COMPLETED THEIR SECONDARY EDUCATION OR IS
EXPERIENCING UNEMPLOYMENT? If so, WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP THEM TO “RECONNECT”!
Reconnect is a State Government funded program providing engagement and learning supports to young people, 15
– 24 years old, who are not currently in training/education/full-time work.
Our catchment areas are the Cities of Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia.
Youth Pathways Officers work individually with the young person, to assess their needs, create realistic goals,
develop a pathway plan and facilitate transition to education and training or employment. Pathways Officers will
also consider the barriers holding the young person back from achieving their goals and refer appropriately, or work
collaboratively with agencies currently providing support. A very appealing aspect of the program is that funding will
cover the costs of initial pre-accredited training and some accredited training, through recognised training providers
such as TAFE, and Learn Locals.
If this sounds like it would help someone you know, please pass on our contact details:
Rosa Misitano - Project Manager Reconnect - Phone: 9212 5161 or Mobile: 0414 741 984 or Email:
[email protected]
VCE & VCAL YEAR 11 & 12 MIDYEAR INTAKE
Students can complete their secondary schooling at TAFE and take advantage of Chisholm’s pathways into
employment or further study. They can experience studying VCAL Year 11 or 12 in an adult learning environment
where young people successfully achieve their qualification and build their skills toward a future career.
Courses commence July
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Berwick TEC – VCAL & TRADE PRE-APPRENTICESHIPS
For further information phone - Frankston 9238 8140, Berwick TEC & Cranbourne 9212 4577, Dandenong on 9212
5167.
Course Information and Updates
Diploma of Nursing
If you have any students interested in the Enrolled Nursing course at Chisholm, please advise them to follow this
process when applying:
 Prospective students search for the nursing course and then applies to attend information session via the
website
 They will be asked to complete the BKSB online test (Basic Key Skills Builder is an approved online testing
tool which we use to help determine applicants reading and numeracy levels within the Australian Core Skills
Framework (ACSF).
 Applicants must obtain an immunisation record as discussed at information session, a police check and a
working with children's check (volunteer version is fine)
 Applicants will then be invited to attend an interview with teaching staff - written task/assessment and
questions will be covered in this process.
Once the above are completed, it takes approximately 2 weeks before letters of offer are sent to successful
applicants. There will usually be 2 offers depending on those who accept and enrol.
Alternative courses to also consider include: Dental Assistance, Health Services Assistant (theatre technician) and
Allied Health. These are shorter courses (6 – 9 months long) and enable students to get into the health sector.
VET Business
Students can start training for a business career while completing their secondary school studies.
This course gives participants the opportunity to develop skills for employment in an office environment and also
provides a pathway into higher level business and business administration qualifications.
Participants will develop comprehensive administrative skills and complete the Certificate II in Business in one year.
General administrative skills including the latest Microsoft Office computing software give students a well-rounded
base to apply for a range of administrative roles in a variety of industries or general office positions.
Note: VETiS enrolments are processed through secondary school VET coordinators.
For any other queries, please email [email protected] or phone Bernie on 9238 8180.
Cancelled courses
The following VETiS courses will no longer be offered by Chisholm:
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Certificate III in Building and Construction (multitude pre-apprenticeship)
Certificate II in Integrated Technologies
Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways
Certificate III in Individual Support
News:
James Simonis is an award-winning former student who completed his Certificate III in Automotive (Heavy
Vehicle) apprenticeship at Chisholm.
In 2015 he started Jascon Equipment, which specialises in repairing mobile plant equipment and Volvo engines. He
works on a variety of machines used by his clients in the construction, quarry, forestry and road transport industries
across Victoria. Jascon Equipment also has an equipment rental arm where they hire out to clients.
After completing his apprenticeship James started his own business, Jascon Equipment, in 2015. The decision to
become a business owner came about from his long standing passion to work for himself.
“I decided to start my own business. It all happened rather quickly where I made the choice that it was better for
myself financially, take care of my own interests and really establish customer relations of my own”.
James says that the business is doing better than he could ever have imagined. With numerous prospective clients
and a steady list of repeat clients, James reputation and expert knowledge in Volvo machinery ensures he stands out
from the rest. Most clients are through word of mouth and James’s reputation.
Since identifying a gap in the market for a mobile, heavy vehicle mechanic two years ago, James has been his own
boss and now employs an apprentice who will study at Chisholm – just as he did.
James says he looks forward to sharing his knowledge and skills with the next generation and hopes his apprentice
will have the same positive experience he had at Chisholm, where the teachers “really pushed me to move forward
and expand my knowledge”.
As an employer James wants to give his apprentice a positive experience by treating him with respect and
empowering him to learn as much as he can and provide the same opportunities that were presented to him.
As a student James won multiple awards including the 2013 Chisholm Apprentice of the Year. “The awards were a
great motivator for me to push year after year to get better and better. I managed to (do that) throughout the whole
apprenticeship.
“To be awarded every year from my first year onwards…the recognition from my peers was fantastic to motivate
me, to push me to go further and ultimately put me where I am today.”
Remembering his time at Chisholm fondly, James keeps in touch occasionally.
“It’s not as often as I would like, but I do keep in contact with the teachers… they really pushed me to move forward
and expand on my knowledge. I’m thankful that they did that… so I’ve made sure that I keep in contact with them as
much as I can”.
His advice to those thinking about pursuing a career in the mobile plant or heavy-vehicle repair industry would be to
find a niche within the market.
“I would definitely suggest finding a niche within the market. I specifically chose Volvo machinery because they are
quite complicated, and not a lot of people know them. To have the niche skills is definitely an advantage when it
comes to starting your own business… because the less of you there are, the more potential there is to get clients.”
Senior Case Manager Gaynor Holmes is passionate about prevention of family violence and working with children
who have been subjected to violence
Employed at a large Children’s Community Agency funded by the Department of Human Services, Gaynor believes
that the landscape of Family Violence work has changed significantly in recent times.
“The biggest change is awareness, there’s an increase in reports of family violence and it’s no longer a private issue
that stays at home. There have been a lot of legal and systemic changes and better access to support for families and
children”
In possession of a strong sense of justice and equality, Gaynor decided at a young age that she wanted to work with
disadvantaged children and families. Unsure if she could go to university directly, Gaynor joined Chisholm Institute
to study for a Diploma of Community Services as a pathway into university. As she continued on to a Bachelor of
Social Work at Deakin University the Chisholm diploma qualified for Recognition of Prior Learning and saved her a
substantial amount of time in completing the degree.
“The Chisholm pathways were amazing, the Diploma of Community Services counted towards 1.5 years off my
degree and saved me over ten thousand dollars, and at a time that I had no networking opportunities, the placement
I did through Chisholm led to full time employment”
Having been in her current role for three years, Gaynor handles 10 cases at any given time and spends four hours per
week with each family. She engages in outreach by going out to the homes of families and children and also works
within schools and childcare centres. An integral part of her job is to also provide counselling and referral support
into related areas of mental health, drug and alcohol abuse and financial help. Gaynor most enjoys seeing families
get back on their feet and the work she does with children.
“I love the work that I do, it’s extremely varied. I work with newborn babies and babies in utero all the way through
to families. The reward that I get from helping children is phenomenal”
Gaynor’s advice to students aspiring to start a career in Community Services is to work hard at placements and to
keep networking.
“If you are committed to your placement there is a high likelihood of being offered employment. It is a closed
network and if you’ve got a good reputation you will have work coming your way”
She estimates a beginning case worker in the Not for Profit sector could on average earn 60K, while going into
specialist work, policy or senior management could increase your earning potential from $80,000 up to $130,000.
There are also opportunities for casual work which pay more and generous salary sacrifice options available.
A mum of three, Gaynor is proud of her achievements and believes that seeing her study hard for her qualifications
has in turn inspired her children to be studious. She plans to do her Master of Social Work and also hopes to teach
case management and family violence.
Publications:
Publications now available include Pathways, Course Guide, International Guides, Study Your Way, VETiS,
Apprenticeships and Traineeships and Berwick TEC. You can order any Chisholm publications via this link:
chisholm.edu.au/orderpublication or email [email protected]
Quote of the month:
Key Contacts:
Student Recruitment Team (for post school and pathways)
Email: [email protected]
Tania Pearce – Senior Advisor, Student Recruitment
Tel:
9238 8193 | 0417 386 575
Email: [email protected]
Michelle Pitcher – Student Recruitment Events Advisor
Tel:
9238 8283
Email: [email protected]
School Liaison Unit (for school programs; VETiS and SBAT)
Email: [email protected]
Conor Mullan – Project Manager, Youth Pathways, School Liaison and Trade Training Centre
Tel:
9238 8309 | 0419 533 897
Email: [email protected]
Cathy Nelson - Programme Coordinator
Tel: 09238 8340
Email: [email protected]
Carolyn Carter - School Programs Coordinator
Tel: 9212 5464
Email: [email protected]
Gillian Raeburn - D.R.E.A.M. Trade Training Centre Leader
Tel: 9212 5174
Email: [email protected]
Foundation College and Senior Technical College (For early school leavers. Minimum age of 14 yrs and 9 mths) Tel:
1300 517 459
International (for International Enquiries including international brochure requests)
Email: [email protected]