Great Gold Coast Careers
YOUR ROADMAP TO STUDY, LIVE AND WORK
ON THE GOLD COAST
Contents
Introduction............................................................................... 8
Building STEAM.................................................................... 9
1. The Gold Coast - STEAMing ahead.................................... 10
2. Career inspiration................................................................ 12
Expos and events............................................................... 13
Online resources................................................................. 14
Tertiary engagement........................................................... 15
Associations and sector support....................................... 17
3. Career development............................................................ 18
Career quizzes.................................................................... 20
4. Education............................................................................. 21
5. Employment......................................................................... 26
6. Occupations........................................................................ 30
Great Gold Coast Careers
3
Message from the Mayor
It is my pleasure to support Study Gold Coast, as the city’s peak
education and training industry body, in the launch of this ‘Great
Gold Coast Careers’ kit.
Study Gold Coast plays an important role on the Gold Coast, and
works in close collaboration with City of Gold Coast to develop the
Gold Coast as an ‘Education City’.
By promoting our skilled workforce and educational excellence
locally, nationally and internationally, aspirations can be raised,
negative perceptions changed and talent attracted.
The city’s workforce is a key element underpinning the growth
of a diverse and prosperous economy. It drives innovation and
industry diversification and promotes job creation. Achieving tertiary
qualifications leads to great career opportunities and the ability to
maximise potential earnings.
This ‘Great Gold Coast Careers’ kit is designed to to help plan
pathways into tertiary study and rewarding futures. A particular
focus of the kit is on knowledge-based skills and jobs in STEAM
fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths + Arts) as there is
predicted to be a growing demand for skills in these fields.
The City and Study Gold Coast encourage school students and the
broader community to ‘aim high’ in education and employment, so
that we, as a city, not only meet national average tertiary qualification
levels but surpass them to become known as a city with a highly
skilled population and a great lifestyle!
Yours sincerely,
Mayor Tom Tate
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Message from Study Gold Coast
As a Gold Coast former student, I can truly say the city offers a
quality educational experience in an unbeatable location. With the
Gold Coast’s diverse offering of education and training delivered
in a clean, vibrant, modern and safe environment, the region is the
perfect backdrop for students both locally, domestically and from
across the world to come and learn.
Study Gold Coast is the city’s peak education and training industry
body. The team at Study Gold Coast is committed to helping
promote and grow the education, training and innovation industry on
the Gold Coast and we work closely with our members, partners and
stakeholders to achieve this.
Our goal is to ensure that students and prospective students have
access to relevant, current study opportunities and education
pathways that will lead to employment outcomes.
The Gold Coast is experiencing job growth in higher-skilled
occupations, where qualifications are important and employability
skills are essential. Finding the right career within the city’s fast
evolving economy requires thought and planning. The career
resource kit provides a roadmap to a ‘Great Gold Coast Career’
and we encourage students to read it and be inspired by their future
career options.
We look forward to meeting with your organisation.
Shannon Willoughby
Great Gold Coast Careers
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The information in this kit has been prepared based on available information. While all due care has been taken, changes to this information will occur
over time. Details like average weekly wage and expected OP entry scores are to be used as a guide only and should not be relied upon when making
important career decisions. We recommend that you speak with a qualified, professional career development practitioner in conjunction with the use of
this kit. Version 1, 2015.
Sources: Australian Bureau of Statistics (2014) Labour Force, Nov 2014; Australian Government (2013), Core Skills for Work Developmental Framework;
Australian Government (2014), Where the jobs are, Gold Coast Labour Market; Australian Government (2015) Australian Jobs; Australian Government
(2015), Labour Market Information Portal; Australian Industry Group (2012), Lifting our Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Skills;
Feldman, A. (2015), STEAM Rising - why we need to put the arts into STEM education; Future Tense, New York, USA; Gold Coast Bulletin (2015),
Gold Coast IT Wiz wins “Oscar”; Gold Coast Bulletin (2015), Hewlett Packard enters Gold Coast market as city gears up for Comm Games economic
boom; Gratton Institute (2014), Mapping Australia’s higher education 2014 – 2015); Macfarlane, Hon I. (2015). National Science and Research Priorities;
Neville, I. (2014), Presentation on the Gold Coast Labour Market; Department of Employment, Office of Chief Scientist (2014), Technology, Engineering
and Mathematics: Australia’s Future; and Universities Australia (2012), STEM and Non-STEM First Year Students.
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1. The Gold Coast – STEAMing ahead
The Gold Coast is a place of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, ideally positioned for jobs growth
in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics. Learn about why STEAM careers are
perfect for the Gold Coast.
2. Career inspiration
Explore local events, associations and online resources that promote STEAM careers and education.
By seeing and doing, you might discover the right career path for you.
3. Career development
Explore rewarding Gold Coast careers and the educational pathways towards them. Using the right
career development resources will help you make great career choices.
4. Education
Studying on the Gold Coast gives you a great education, a great lifestyle and the networking pathway
to Great Gold Coast Careers. In this section you’ll learn what to study locally and where.
5. Employment
The Gold Coast is experiencing job growth in higher-skilled occupations, where qualifications are
important and employability skills are essential. Learn how to transition from tertiary study to the
working world.
6. Occupations
Want to learn more about Great Gold Coast Careers? Check out these examples of exciting STEAM
jobs that people living on the Gold Coast are doing.
Great Gold Coast Careers
7
Introduction
Planning your career journey can be daunting, challenging and exciting in equal measures.
Living and working on the Gold Coast is the aspiration of many Australians, but finding
the right career within the city’s fast-evolving economy requires thought and planning.
This career resource kit provides a roadmap to a ‘Great Gold Coast Career’, a rewarding
professional future in a destination city where lifestyle and opportunity meet.
Using this careers guide
For teachers within a STEAM subject area
Use this kit as an aid when discussing with students
careers within STEAM subject areas. By linking careers to
the curriculum, you will increases student engagement
through their understanding of the real-world applications
of subject content.
For Students
This career kit will help you decide on and plan a career
pathway into a Great Gold Coast Career by providing:
• data on the fastest-growing employment sectors on
the Gold Coast and the qualifications you may need to
pursue a career within them
You could, for example, set students the task of selecting
occupations that appeal to them. Through this kit, students
could absorb occupation snapshots and watch related Great
Gold Coast Careers videos.
• an introduction to the city’s leading education providers
and the courses they offer
For guidance officers and career advisors
• the types of skills needed to increase your employment
prospects
For school career practitioners, this kit can be used as
part of a student’s research activities in developing Senior
Education and Training Plans or when discussing their
thoughts on careers.
• information on local events that provide opportunities to
engage directly with industry and universities
• career development resources you may use by yourself
or with your teacher
• snapshots of some of the jobs that people are doing here
in the Gold Coast.
According to industry data and trends, many of the best
future job opportunities in the city will be in the STEM and
STEAM fields:
Students may follow the links to a career assessment,
research the occupation snapshots and watch Great Gold
Coast Careers videos for inspiration. As part of the careerplanning process, students may also decide to participate in
university programs and activities described in the kit, or visit
workplaces and career expos.
Many of the best future job opportunities in the city will be in the STEAM fields
STEAM
Science
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Technology
Engineering
Arts
Mathematics
Building STEAM
The Gold Coast is a place of innovation and entrepreneurial
spirit and is ideally placed to capitalise on the growth in
employment in science, technology, engineering, arts
and mathematics.
Once based primarily around tourism and construction, the
Gold Coast economy is diversifying to encompass growth
across a variety of industries, offering a range of exciting
future work opportunities.
The city is also famous as a great place to live and work;
each year many people make the positive lifestyle choice to
move here.
There is considerable data highlighting the need for STEAM
skills in Australia’s workplaces. Many of the career pathways
mapped in this kit therefore focus on the STEAM industries of
science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.
In 2014, the city had an estimated population of 546,000.
The Queensland Government forecasts population increases
between 12,150 and 18,958 people per annum to 2036,
growth that will support expanded industry and jobs.
Great Gold Coast Careers
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“Ultimately, STEAM is people-centric,
not subject-centric; it puts student personality
and individuality at the forefront.”
ANNA FELDMAN, FUTURE TENSE
1. The Gold Coast - STEAMing ahead
Industry data gathered in the City of Gold Coast’s City in Focus report highlights the
growing demand for STEAM-related skills.
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The growth trend for STEAM-based occupations on the
Gold Coast takes in disciplines such as medicine, ICT,
engineering, design and science.
South East Queensland’s position as a leader in many new
technologies has been recognised internationally by the
staging of the 2016 World Science Festival in Brisbane.
The Gold Coast is well placed to take advantage of the
increasing demand for STEAM employment; our universities
have world-class teaching and research facilities and Gold
Coast employers are embracing innovation and technology
that is driving employment opportunities in occupations that
did not even exist five years ago.
The event brings some of the world’s greatest thought
leaders in science to the Gold Coast’s doorstep and
showcases local scientists and performers from around
the Asia Pacific region. For more information on the 2016
World Science Festival, including ways that your school can
participate, visit worldsciencefestival.com.au
Gold Coast STEAM sector growth case studies:
1 Opmantek, a Gold Coast-based information
technology company, is an example of a local company
demonstrating to the world that the Gold Coast is at
the cutting edge of new technology. Employing 40
people, Opmantek has exported software to 60,000
organisations across 130 countries. CEO Danny Maher
says he is on a mission to show that the Gold Coast can
be Australia’s own Silicon Valley.
2 Hewlett-Packard, one of the first Silicon Valley start-up
technology companies, has recognised the Gold Coast
as a technology hotspot in the lead-up to the 2018
Commonwealth Games. Sean Girvin, HP’s Vice President
of Sales for the South Pacific, says that it is an ideal time
for technology companies to partner with Gold Coast
schools and Universities. Hewlett-Packard is preparing
for a boom in the local economy by establishing offices in
Southport, the Gold Coast’s CBD, and supporting local
initiatives such as the Mayor’s Telstra Technology Awards.
3 The Gold Coast is home to a number of leading
advanced manufacturing companies that employ
engineers, designers and other staff with STEAM skills.
Examples include PWC which manufactures high
performance alumimium radiators, intercoolers and oil
coolers for leading race categories and teams such
as F1, NASCAR and V8 Supercars. Mexx Engineering
manufactures robotics and automation systems.
Yellow Goat Design is an award-winning company which
designs and constructs elaborate lighting installations
for casinos, clubs, hotels, resorts, apartments and
shopping centres.
4 Gold Coast University Hospital opened in 2013 and
is one of the largest hospitals in Australia, with 750
beds. It sits at the heart of the Gold Coast Health and
Knowledge Precinct (GCHKP) that also includes Griffith
University. The health industry consistently tops the list of
employment growth in the Gold Coast and the GCHKP,
together with other expanding hubs of health and
medical services in the city, provides many jobs for young
graduates in relevant disciplines.
5 The City of Gold Coast is moving forward on creative
infrastructure projects such as the Cultural Precinct
redevelopment and developing a significant program of
cultural activities for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
The Gold Coast also hosts several creative festivals that
celebrate our beach culture, such as the Swell Sculpture
Festival and Bleach*, providing further professional
platforms for local artists and creatives.
Danny Maher, CEO Opmantek
Great Gold Coast Careers The Gold Coast - STEAMing ahead
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2. Career inspiration
If you’re the type of student that appreciates a practical approach, the
spark for your future career might come from an experience or conversation.
Sometimes talking with a mentor from a relevant field or
seeing how a profession works at a convention or expo
provides the inspiration that guides your career path.
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The following events provide opportunities to engage
directly with real-world STEAM career options and
practitioners on the Gold Coast, online and throughout
South East Queensland.
Expos and events
Gold Coast Science and Tech Festival
studygoldcoast.org.au/gold-coast-science-tech-festival
The Gold Coast Science and Tech Festival is an annual event that encourages student engagement with Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics industries on the Gold Coast. The event provides interactive, fun and family-friendly activities that
showcase education, industry and innovations within the STEM sector.
Gold Coast Kids STEM Convention
goldcoaststem.weebly.com
This award-winning program is a partnership between Gold Coast primary and secondary schools, Griffith University and
local companies working in STEM fields. Over the inspirational eight-week event, mentors support students as they explore
STEM university study pathways and participate in conference workshops and a forum where students’ work is presented and
celebrated. Teachers also receive professional development in various STEM teaching areas.
Gold Coast Careers and Employment Festival
studygoldcoast.org.au/gold-coast-careers-expo
The Gold Coast Careers and Employment Festival is held annually each May and brings educators, career advisors, students,
parents, prospective students and jobseekers together to explore study options and career pathways on the Gold Coast. The
expo highlights training and employment opportunities as well as up-skilling pathways.
2970° The Boiling Point
moregoldcoast.com.au/2970-degrees-arts-innovation
2970° The Boiling Point is a three-day Gold Coast event that examines links between the arts, science, technology, architecture,
politics and culture. It is directed at scientists, futurists, activists, artists, social-change agents, cultural workers, academics and
anyone with a curious mind.
National Science Week
scienceweek.net.au
National Science Week is an annual event that takes place across Australia in August each year and features many opportunities
for schools to take part in the celebration. Visit the website for the full event calendar and funding available for your school.
Mayor’s Telstra Technology Award
goldcoast.qld.gov.au/community/mayors-technology-award-21829.html
This award for Gold Coast secondary schools recognises students that have developed new ideas using technology. In the
annual event, students and teams from participating schools compete for prizes and support for their innovations.
Great Gold Coast Careers Career inspiration
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Online resources
The Conversation - Science and Technology
scientific community.
theconversation.com/au/technology
Science by Doing
The Conversation is an independent source of news and
views, gathered from the academic and research communities
and delivered direct to the public. Its technology section
features articles on science and technology from academics
and universities across Australia.
sciencebydoing.edu.au
Science by Doing is a comprehensive online science
program for Years 7 to 10 available free to all Australian
students and teachers. The program is supported by awardwinning professional learning modules and a research-based
learning approach.
The Conversation 2025 Series
theconversation.com/au/topics/australia-2025-series
National STEM Centre (UK)
How will science address the challenges of the future?
In collaboration with Australia’s chief scientist Ian Chubb,
The Conversation presents a series of articles asking how
each science discipline will contribute to Australia now and in
the future.
nationalstemcentre.org.uk
The Australian Science Media Centre
smc.org.au
The Australian Science Media Centre is an independent,
not-for-profit service for the news media that gives journalists
direct access to evidence-based science and expertise. The
centre aims to better inform public debate on the major issues
of the day by improving links between the media and the
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The National STEM Centre houses the UK’s largest collection
of STEM teaching and learning resources, providing teachers
of STEM subjects access a wide range of high-quality support
materials with practical classroom application.
Tertiary engagement
The Red Zone
The ConocoPhillips Science Experience
griffith.edu.au/redzone
scienceexperience.com.au
The Red Zone is a destination within Griffith University for
school students with an interest in science, technology, health,
business and the arts. Through interactive and immersive
installations, students can explore the possibilities opened up
by the application of new technologies.
The ConocoPhillips Science Experience is a three to fourday program of science activities for Year 9 and 10 students.
Staged in universities across Australia (including Griffith
University, QUT and the University of Queensland), each
program is designed to provide students with an opportunity
to engage in a wide range of science activities under the
guidance of qualified scientists.
Science On The Go
griffith.edu.au/griffith-sciences/science-on-the-go/events
Science on the Go is a Griffith University web resource (and
calendar of associated events) that delivers classroom and
online activities to engage students with STEM study areas.
STEM Education Network Project
The STEM Education Network Project is a partnership
between South East Queensland universities and schools to
engage students in STEM. Contact Kay Lembo at k.lembo@
griffith.edu.au for more information.
The Cube
thecube.qut.edu.au
The Cube, consisting of 48 multi-touch screens soaring
across two storeys at Queensland University of Technology
(QUT), is one of the world’s largest digital interactive learning
and display spaces. The installation provides an inspiring,
explorative and participatory experience of QUT’s Science and
Engineering research. The Cube is open 10am-4pm daily, is
free to visit and class groups are welcome.
Great Gold Coast Careers Career inspiration
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Associations and sector support
Queensland Museum’s Schools Program
Australian Academy of Science
qm.qld.gov.au
science.org.au
Queensland Museum is a museum of natural history, cultural
heritage, science and human achievement that tells the
changing story of Queensland. The museum’s Schools
Program offers learning activities and excursions for all year
levels and their new Biodiversity Youth Ambassador Program
is open to Year 7 students wanting to deliver a message
about preserving Queensland’s biodiversity. Information
on the museum’s interactive Sciencentre is available at
sciencentre.qm.qld.gov.au
The Academy champions Australian scientific excellence,
promotes and disseminates scientific knowledge, and
provides independent scientific advice for the benefit of
Australia and the world.
CSIRO
csiro.au/en/Education
Primary Connections: Linking Science
with Literacy
primaryconnections.org.au
Primary Connections: Linking Science with Literacy is an
innovative program developed by the Australian Academy of
Science that links the teaching of science with the teaching
of literacy in primary schools.
The CSIRO has for more than 30 years provided a range
of activities, boot camps, resources and awards that help
school students engage with science. The organisation’s
innovative learning opportunities are structured to support
students, schools, teachers and the wider community.
Study Gold Coast
Young Scientists Association
The peak education and training body for the Gold Coast,
Study Gold Coast promotes the city as the ideal destination
for both domestic and international students. Key events
include the annual Gold Coast Careers Expo in May and the
Science and Technology Festival in August.
ysa.org.au/brisbane
studygoldcoast.org.au
Young Scientists Association Brisbane is a group of young
people aged 14-25 who share an enthusiasm for science.
The group is dedicated to promoting science to the youth
of Australia and conduct interactive schools visits and live
demonstrations at science events.
Great Gold Coast Careers Career inspiration
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3. Career Development
Deciding on the right career path is an exciting journey in itself. To make sure you arrive at
the right destination, get the best possible ‘career development’ directions.
Career development is the ongoing process of managing life,
learning and work over your working lifetime.
As a student, you have access to a range of quality career
development activities and resources while at school,
which are helpful for mapping pathways to Great Gold
Coast Careers.
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The following career resources and links provide industryspecific career advice, support and guidance services, job
guides and more.
Australian Apprenticeships
My Health Career
australianapprenticeships.gov.au
myhealthcareer.com.au
This site hosts relevant news and information for anyone
considering an apprenticeship. It lists all apprenticeships
available in Australia, support organisations (such as the
Australian Apprenticeship Centres) and information on
financial assistance.
This site hosts information on a range of different careers in
the health industry, including career resources, industry news
and video interviews with people working in the field.
Queensland Government Career Site
Enterprise Network for Young Australians
enya.org.au
The Enterprise Network for Young Australians (ENYA) is a
not-for-profit organisation run by young people, for young
people. ENYA provides support and guidance for young
people planning to start their own business. The organisation
supports and promotes the ethical and sustainable
participation of young people in enterprise.
Job Guide
jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au
The Job Guide provides an in-depth look at a range
of occupations, as well as their education and training
pathways. It also provides useful information about
determining a career path based on your interests
and abilities.
Job Outlook
qld.gov.au/jobs/career/advice
The site provides information on where to go for career
advice, how to improve your employability, suggested jobs
that match your skills and qualifications, and planning for
getting ahead in your career.
Queensland Health – Work for Us
health.qld.gov.au/employment/work-for-us
The site has information on various careers within
Queensland Health and features testimonial from current
employees and an explanation of the application process for
Queensland Health jobs.
The Serious Jobseeker
seriousjobseeker.net/resumebuilder
The Serious Jobseeker is a book, website, resume-maker
and career quiz in one. It also features a downloadable app
for career explorations on the go.
joboutlook.gov.au
Job Outlook is a careers and labour market research site
hosting information to help you decide on a future career.
Use the search options to access a wealth of information
covering around 350 individual occupations.
Myfuture
Skills Road
skillsroad.com.au
This site is an ideal resource for planning your career journey.
It features a career guidance quiz, occupation videos and
advice on how to prepare your resume. There are also
resources for teachers to use when planning career lessons.
myfuture.edu.au
The myfuture site, a joint initiative of the Federal, state
and territory governments, is a one-stop-shop of career
information and includes an extensive resource centre and
career planner.
Great Gold Coast Careers Career Development
Study Assist
studyassist.gov.au
At Study Assist, you can find out about financial assistance
available for tertiary study in Australia. It has information
on the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP), Higher
Education Contribution Scheme-HELP, student income
support and scholarships.
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Career quizzes
Career quizzes are fun and easy ways to determine the types of careers that best match
your abilities and interests.
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Job Outlook’s Career Quiz
My Career Match
joboutlook.gov.au/careerquiz.aspx
mycareermatch.com.au
This quiz will help you identify what types of work you most
like doing; the result can be helpful in determining broad
career direction. A Career Quiz app can also be downloaded
free from the iTunes app store and Google Play by searching
‘Career Quiz Australia’.
My Career Match is a leader in online student career
assessments, matching students’ strengths and personality
with the careers they best suit. Ask your school’s Careers
Adviser or Guidance Officer, who may already have free
access to My Career Match.
Bullseye Posters
The myfuture Career Explorer
education.gov.au/career-bullseye-posters
myfuture.edu.au/MiniCareerExplorer/index.html
The classic ‘Bullseye Posters’ illustrate a set of more than
30 subject areas and the hundreds of occupations that are
related to those subjects. Select the subjects that interest
you and the relevant Bullseye Posters will identify careers
relevant to those subjects.
The myfuture career explorer is an interactive quiz that helps
you identify career options depending upon areas of study
that interest you.
4. Education
Studying on the Gold Coast gives you a great education, a great lifestyle and a pathway to
Great Gold Coast Careers.
A Gratton Institute study, Mapping Australia’s higher
education 2014 – 2015, showed that people with higher
levels of education have lower rates of unemployment and
higher incomes throughout their lives.
The Gold Coast has one of the highest concentrations of
tertiary study options in Australia, including three awardwinning universities, a TAFE College with five campuses and
a large number of private training organisations.
Great Gold Coast Careers Education
The Gratton Institute report quoted above also revealed
that your field of study has more influence on your lifetime
earnings than the institution you attended.
This means degrees from capital city or ‘Group of Eight’
universities do not necessarily equate to higher lifetime
incomes and a well-chosen Gold Coast qualification can
unlock a truly rewarding career path.
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Griffith University
Highly ranked Griffith University was awarded five stars in
the prestigious QS Stars ratings for graduate employability.
The Gold Coast campus at Southport is the largest Griffith
University campus, with more than 18,000 students and
excellent facilities, including the new Health Centre and the
Griffith Business School.
Griffith enjoys a close association with the new Gold Coast
University Hospital and will also benefit from the expanded
Health and Knowledge Precinct to be developed after the
2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Courses offered at the Gold Coast campus include:
• Business and Government
• Criminology and Law
• Education
• Engineering
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• Information Technology
• Environment, Planning and Architecture
• Health and Medicine
• Humanities and Languages
• Music
• Science
• Visual and Creative Arts
Griffith University has many programs and activities for
school students including Science on the Go and a ‘Health
Ambulance’ that conducts school visits. Their GUESTS
program allows early entry to secondary school students;
you may also be eligible for special entry programs including
their OP 1-6 guarantee and Gold Coast OP Priority Access.
More information on Griffith University can be found at
griffith.edu.au/futurestudents
Bond University
Bond University is Australia’s first private not-for-profit
university and is located at Robina and Varsity Lakes.
Bond University offers accelerated degrees (three semesters
per year), low student-to-staff ratios and personalised
attention. School leavers can apply directly to the university
for degree entry, which is based on more than just the
Year 12 results. Bond also looks at leadership qualities,
extracurricular activities, life experience and potential. The
university consistently receives high ratings from students
surveyed for the Good Universities Guide.
Courses offered at Bond University include:
• Actuarial Science
• Architecture and Built Environment
• Business and Commerce
• Communication and Creative Media
Great Gold Coast Careers Education
• Health Sciences
• Hotel and Tourism
• International Relations and Humanities
• Law
• Medicine
• Social Sciences, Psychology and Counselling
• Sport
School students can take advantage of several pathways to
entry, including Bond College, and can participate in activities
such as the Law Experience days. The Career Development
Centre works to assist students transitioning to employment
through programs including Beyond Bond, which all students
complete as part of their degree.
Visit bond.edu.au for more information.
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Southern Cross University
Southern Cross University’s Gold Coast campus is located
at Bilinga, next to the Gold Coast Airport, and features
state of the art health and science laboratories. With unique
courses such as the Bachelor of Podiatry and Bachelor of
Pedorthics, Southern Cross University is leading the way in
many STEM fields.
Courses offered at the Gold Coast campus include:
• Education
• Allied Health and Health Science
• Nursing and Midwifery
• Social Science
• Arts
• Sport and Exercise Science
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• Business
• Information Technology
• Tourism
• Law
Southern Cross University offers several pathways to a
university education, including the STAR early entry scheme
and Head Start program. First-year students are supported
by the UniMentor program, where established students help
out the newcomers.
To learn more about Southern Cross University, you can
attend the Gold Coast Health Careers Forum each August
and the university’s Gold Coast Senior School Information
day in October.
For more information visit scu.edu.au
TAFE Queensland (Gold Coast)
TAFE Queensland (Gold Coast) offers more than
300 vocational courses to thousands of students across
five campuses. TAFE also provides many pathway
opportunities into university.
• Music and Sound Production
Courses offered on the Gold Coast include:
Gold Coast campuses are located at:
• Allied Health and Fitness
• Southport – Scarborough Street, Southport
• Community Services
• Coomera Creative – Foxwell Road, Coomera
• Built Environment, Competitive Systems and Engineering
• Coomera Marine – Waterway Drive, Coomera
• Business, Justice Studies and Management
• Ashmore – corner Heeb Street and Benowa Road,
Ashmore
• Design, IT and Media
• Early Childhood and Education
• English and Employment Preparation
• Beauty and hairdressing
• Nursing
• Trades
• Coolangatta – Scott Street, Coolangatta
Visit tafegoldcoast.edu.au for the latest course
information.
• Events, Hospitality and Tourism
Great Gold Coast Careers Education
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5. Employment
Planning for a Great Gold Coast Career must include a look at industries that are growing
locally, as these sectors will naturally provide the best employment prospects.
This long-term strategy ensures there’ll be future
opportunities in your chosen field and keeps you studying,
working and living in the Gold Coast.
Currently, the largest-employing industries in the city are:
retail; health care and social assistance; consturction; and
accommodation and food services.
However, when we look at where the growth in employment
is happening in the Gold Coast, we see a slightly different
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picture. From November 2013 to November 2014, the
industries with the greatest employment growth in the
Gold Coast were: professional, scientific and technical
services; accommodation and food services; and health
care and social assistance.
Most of the Gold Coast’s job growth has been in
higher-skilled occupations, which means preparing for
many Great Gold Coast Careers will require relevant
STEAM qualifications.
Largest-employing industries
Industries with the greatest employment growth
RETAIL 13% OF ALL JOBS
PROFESSIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL
SERVICES 4900 NEW JOBS
HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
12% OF ALL JOBS
ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES
3900 NEW JOBS
CONSTRUCTION 12% OF ALL JOBS
HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL ASSISTANCE
3500 NEW JOBS
ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD SERVICES
9% OF ALL JOBS
Great Gold Coast Careers Employment
27
Finding the right job
Employability – core skills for work
In terms of finding a job after you graduate, all Gold Coast
based universities provide students with careers and
employment services that support the transition to work
after graduation.
While qualifications are important when applying for jobs,
a 2014 survey of Gold Coast employers’ recruitment
experiences revealed that candidates’ employability skills
are essential.
The Griffith University Careers and Employment Centre
organises year round activities supporting students in their
transition to employment. These include industry mentoring
programs, Career Leaders peer mentoring, seminars,
resume rescue check ups and the Careers Fest event.
Some faculties offer courses such as Industry Practice
where students can enhance their career development and
employment transition.
Employability skills are the non-technical skills, knowledge
and understandings necessary to gain employment and
participate effectively in the workplace.
Beyond Bond is a practical, activity based program that
assists Bond University students to successfully transition
to the workplace. Undergraduate students select a series of
career, work or community based activities that can include
internships, mooting, volunteering, leadership and career
development activities.
The Southern Cross University Career Development Service
provides students with career and vocational guidance,
workshops and mentoring programs. Students have
access to staff and resources at all SCU campuses. The
Sustainable Partnerships and Community Engagement
program connects students to industry through a variety of
“Live Projects”. By providing students with work integrated
learning projects, SCU connects students with future
employment pathways.
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Sometimes referred to as ‘soft skills’, they include abilities
such as:
• interpersonal and written communication
• self-management
• planning
• decision making
• problem solving.
These skills are highly valued by employers and industry, and
your ability to demonstrate them is an important requirement
when looking for work.
In Australia, employability skills are based on 10 skill areas,
recognised in the Core Skills for Work Developmental
Framework. Each skill area is grouped under a general skill
category relating to your ability to navigate the world of work,
interact and communicate with others in work environments
and get work done.
Navigate the world of work
Get the work done
1. Manage career and work life
Manage decisions throughout life about how, when and
where to work.
6. Plan and organise
Identify and complete the steps needed to undertake tasks
and manage workloads
2. Work with roles, rights and protocols
Understand work roles, and workplace rights
and expectations.
7. Make decisions
Make a choice from a range of possibilities.
Interact with others
3. Communicate for work
Use communication skills to achieve work outcomes
4. Connect and work with others
Build the work-related relationships needed to achieve an
outcome within a workgroup, or achieve goals through teambased collaborations.
5. Recognise and utilise diverse perspectives
Recognise and respond to differing values, beliefs and
behaviours, to draw on diverse perspectives for work
purposes and to manage conflict when it arises.
Great Gold Coast Careers Employment
8. Identify and solve problems
Identify and address routine and non-routine problems in
order to achieve work objectives.
9. Create and innovate
Create, apply and recognise the value of new ideas to solve
problems, improve or develop new processes, products or
strategies, or deliver new benefits.
10.Work in a digital world
Connect to other people, information and context for workrelated purposes using digital systems and technology.
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6. Occupations
This kit includes 30 Career Cards that give a snapshot of a number of Great
Gold Coast occupations.
These cards include:
• short description of the occupation
• the average weekly wage before tax for the occupation
• recommended university undergraduate
degree programs
• the recommended skills for the occupation
• tasks involved in the occupation
• the predicted five year job growth
• the number of people employed in the industry
in Australia
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• the recommended knowledge for the occupation
• the recommended abilities for the occupation
• the matching interest for the occupation from the RIASEC
Holland Codes
• an indication of places you might work in the occupation
The 30 occupations covered by Gold Coast
career cards include:
Accountant
Actuary
Architect / Landscape Architect
Art Directors and Media Producers
Audiologist
Chefs
Civil Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Food and Wine Scientist
Graphic and Web Designer
ICT Business and Systems Analyst
Industrial Designer
Intelligence and Policy Analyst
Lawyer
Life Scientist
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Practitioner
Midwife
Nutritionist
Occupational Therapist
Pharmacist
Photographer
Physiotherapist
Pilot
Podiatrist
Psychologist
Software and App Programmer
Sonographer
Urban Planner
Veterinarian
Great Gold Coast Careers Occupations
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City of Gold Coast
P 07 5581 7528
F 07 5581 7838
[email protected]
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