Careers at Oxley

A Career is more than one’s job or occupation title – it is a holistic definition of all the dimensions of our lives that fulfill us. It is the culmination of years of development influenced by family, friends, peers, school education, and demographic factors. Along the way, we learn our own individual coping mechanisms and life skills enabling us to deal with varying situations and occasions in life. An incident in life can be the initiation for a career direction- a family loss can lead to an interest in psychology; being ill during childhood can point someone in the direction of health services; a motivational teacher can encourage a student to follow an educational path. What was your stimulus to be where you are today? These occurrences in life, with a genetic influence, will be the precursors for current students’ career paths. As the Careers Advisor I am here to help the students identify their interest areas, discuss varying occupations and the paths available. No career choice is impossible but may require modification to accommodate academic results, availability of courses and job viability.

Book an Appointment

Careers Corner offers a selection of brochures from universities outlining available courses. Students are able to access these at any time. Appointments with the Careers Advisor can be made.  Parents who have any concerns and require appointments are encouraged to do so.

Work Experience

Careers Advising is a compulsory component of Senior education at Oxley College. This enables the advisor to identify the interests of the students early. If there is indecision or uncertainty in career selection, work experience opportunities can be initiated and areas of uncertainty addressed before UAC submissions are required. Students are actually being encouraged to undertake work experience in areas of interest from the age of 15 onwards so that appropriate subject choices can be made for Years 11 and 12 as university courses indicate required, or assumed, knowledge for particular courses. Oxley College has initiated a database of workplaces connected to the school where this experience can be undertaken. We welcome members of the Oxley community to add their workplace to this list. College insurance covers the student while they are on work experience providing all consent forms have been completed and returned to the College prior to work experience commencing. It proves to be positive experience and helps the student to reinforce that the career path they have chosen is right for them. This work experience must be undertaken in College school holidays.

Subject Choices

Prior to the students making their subject choices for Years 11 and 12, Year 10 students undertake an online assessment. This assessment is undertaken in the computer room and sent to the Careers Advisor on completion. A report is generated based on the answers the students provide and generally reflects a student’s interest and academic ability. The in depth report explains all results and indicates the similarity between the student results and those of control groups already in given professions and occupations. These results are then discussed with each individual student and appropriate subjects chosen that are recommended or assumed knowledge for University or TAFE courses. Parents are encouraged to meet with the Careers Advisor at this stage if they have any concerns. The subjects chosen will again be revised at the completion of Year 11 after the students have decided on extension subjects, work load and changes in career pathways.

The results of the assessment, in conjunction with work experience, enable the students to be more confident in their career path choice.