Frequently Asked Questions
HIGH SCHOOL
I strongly believe that parents play a vital role in their child’s careers process.
Parents are invited to all of my meetings and at least one parent attends almost all of them.
I deeply value parental involvement and work closely with parents at every stage during their child’s careers process.
In general, Years 9 and 10 are the ideal years to begin and this is the time most students enter the careers process. Starting at this time provides more opportunity for students and parents to plan for senior school subject selection and research tertiary courses and career options. But it is never too late and I have successfully worked with many students seeing me for the first time in either Years 11 or 12.
No, not at all.
Many clients start working with me in Year 12, with great success.
Yes.
It is not too young and I have worked with numerous students in Years 7 or 8.
Yes.
I am familiar with the International Baccalaureate (IB). I understand its design and purpose, how it differs from the VCE (or other states’ equivalent) and how it affects tertiary rank and selection.
I can provide advice to students considering taking IB about whether it is the right choice for them.
No, except for James Cook University.
Nine universities in Australia offer Medicine programs to Year 12 students. Eight of them DO NOT require Maths Methods as a standalone pre-requisite for Medicine. The ONLY course that does require Maths Methods as a standalone pre-requisite for Medicine is James Cook University in North Queensland.
Because there is a lot of discussion on this topic, I will provide a separate article in the near future providing weblinks and summaries from each university proving that Maths Methods is not a Medicine pre-requisite, except, as mentioned, for James Cook University.
I will shortly be providing an article on Maths Methods and its role in university selection in Victoria.
Early entry programs allow students to apply for tertiary courses during Year 12. Successful applicants will receive a provisional or guaranteed university place before they have finished Year 12, provided that certain conditions are met as set out by each university.
Because early entry applications are submitted before students even finish Year 12, universities cannot assess applications based on the ATAR. Instead, universities assess early entry applications based on a student’s Year 11 results and extracurricular activities in and outside of school, with a strong focus on leadership and community service.
Not all universities offer early entry programs and not all courses are available for early entry at those that do.
This is an important topic and I will post an article soon providing more detail.
Yes.
I use the Morrisby Online Careers Assessment, one of the leading careers profiling tools available. The Morrisby can provide valuable insights into a student’s aptitudes and interests and help guide careers discussions.
Many students take the Morrisby through their school. If they have, I normally ask for students to forward their Morrisby report to me for review before our consultation.
If students haven’t taken the Morrisby through their school, I can arrange for them to do so. There is no charge for this.
No.
I generally recommend the Morrisby for most students, but it is not a requirement for a student to work with me.
For some students, the Morrisby provides helpful and accurate results. For others, it does not.
I consider the Morrisby to be helpful in generating discussions on a student’s aptitudes and interests.
The Morrisby, like all psychological profiling tools, has its strengths and weaknesses. It should not be seen as a definitive statement of a student’s aptitudes, interests, personality or character, and its career suggestions and recommendations should be seen in that light.
One of the key reasons I recommend it is because it may suggest an idea, angle, insight, option or pathway that we may not have otherwise considered, which can be valuable.
When the results are viewed in the right context, there is no downside from taking it (just the time required) but there is a potential upside, which is why I consider it a valuable tool.
CONSULTATION PROGRAMS
Yes.
I offer multi-year structured consultation programs to support high school students and parents through to the end of Year 12.
For students beginning their program in Year 9, we hold one meeting in Year 9, one meeting in Year 10, one meeting in Year 11, and two meetings in Year 12.
For students beginning their program in Year 10, we hold one meeting in Year 10, one meeting in Year 11, and two meetings in Year 12.
For students beginning their program in Year 11, we hold one meeting in Year 11 and two meetings in Year 12.
For students beginning their program in Year 12, we hold two meetings, one in the first half of the year and the second in Term 3. The Term 3 meeting focuses on tertiary applications.
All programs include ongoing support by email and phone as required.
All programs also include an optional consultation at no extra charge at the end of Year 12 to discuss results and change of preference.
Not every student needs a consultation program. Some students have just one meeting and that is all they need. Other families prefer to arrange meetings on an as-needed, ad-hoc basis without any kind of structure.
There is no obligation, fixed agreements or lock-in contracts of any kind.
I refer to these arrangements as ‘structured consultation programs’, and many students and families follow the structure and find it helpful, but there are also families who want or need a more flexible approach yet would still benefit from support until the end of Year 12.
Sometimes more sessions are added, at no extra cost, and sometimes students skip planned meetings if they are happy with how they are tracking, and these meetings are not charged.
So, it is all very flexible and my only goal is to provide students and parents with the support they want and need.
APPLICATIONS
In Victoria, SEAS stands for Special Entry Access Scheme, but is commonly referred to as special consideration. For more information, please see VTAC’s SEAS page.
There are similar schemes in New South Wales, Queensland, and Western Australia.
The Australian National University (ANU) accepts applications for special consideration as part of its direct entry process during Term 1 of Year 12.
There is no special entry access scheme for university entry in South Australia and Northern Territory.
For most courses in Tasmania, there is an early entry scheme which makes early offers based on school recommendations and Year 11 results, which therefore negates the requirement to apply for special consideration.
Yes.
This is a very important part of my work. I assist students with every aspect of applying for SEAS.
In Victoria, there are four categories of SEAS. Applicants can apply for one or more categories. The four categories are:
Personal information and location
Living with a disability or medical condition
Difficult family and life circumstances
Evidence must be provided for each category except personal information and location, which uses personal data and is automatically applied.
For equivalent information in other states, please visit the following links:
Unscored VCE is where a student completes VCE but does not receive an ATAR. This situation is managed in consultation with the school. I can advise and assist students with this process.
Absolutely.
I am passionate about working with students who have different learning circumstances.
I aim to inspire belief and confidence for these students and also help to identify support and resources at universities.
With the right support and guidance, I believe people can achieve anything.
Universities have MANY entrance options for students who do not receive the ATAR required for direct entry.
For example, a student applied for Law at Monash University. In the year of entrance, the ATAR required was 97.00. That student received a lower ATAR. The student entered university by taking an Arts degree, and was able to transfer into Law in the second semester of Year 1.
The Australian university system has a tremendous number of institutions and courses, with a wide range of entrance pathways. The ATAR does NOT define a student’s educational choices and career pathways.
Many of my clients do not receive direct entry into their preferred courses and we work together to develop plans and build a roadmap to achieve entry into the university and course they want. I have had great success with many students in this situation, as well as my own lived experience.
This also applies to students who do not have an ATAR. Universities have multiple entry pathways available for students in this situation.
The Selection Rank is the data that universities use to make offers. The ATAR is not the only measurement used in selection. Universities look at many factors over and above the ATAR.
Factors they consider include: living in a regional or rural location, Indigenous background, the circumstances considered in a SEAS application, Elite Athlete and Performer Schemes, and completing applicable Year 12 subjects.
When a student receives their ATAR, the selection rank will be higher, and it is important to be aware of this when finalising university preferences.
Yes.
I have detailed knowledge of the Australian tertiary system and I am able to assist students with applications to universities in all states and territories.
I also have experience and knowledge in applying for universities in New Zealand, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe.
Yes.
This is a key component of my work and there are many scholarships available across Australia and overseas.
I help students identify scholarships that they are, or may be, eligible for. I assist students with all aspects of this process.
Yes.
I provide support and structure for accommodation applications, in particular, those that require formal application, such as Melbourne University Colleges and Mannix College at Monash University.
Students can also apply for scholarships directly to their accommodation provider. These are separate to university scholarship applications.
It doesn’t.
Students can apply for university courses and accommodation as normal during the year they leave school, and then defer any offers until the following year. In most cases, universities only allow deferment for 12 months. Please note that some courses cannot be deferred so it is important to check this with universites.
If a student chooses not to apply in the year they leave school, they can apply during their gap year.
If a student has deferred an offer, and changes their mind and wishes to apply for another course, they can do so. Their school results will be considered current by universities during their gap year.
Universities generally do not allow scholarships to be deferred, however, a student can apply for a scholarship during their gap year.
I have information and resources available about various gap year programs.
Yes.
I have detailed knowledge of the US College system, particularly with sport and athletic scholarships, and have assisted numerous students to obtain positions in several US Colleges.
Yes.
I exclusively work with, and highly recommend, Study and Play USA. I have had a close partnership with founders Chris and Alexia Bates, and their outstanding team, for many years.
It is important to take a broad view of each course and look beyond the obvious career paths it leads to.
I believe in the application of skills and that knowledge is always valuable and never lost. The number of double degrees in the university sector indicates the many career options that are available.
For example, the University of Queensland offers a double degree in Music and Mathematics. That is one of many such degrees across Australia.
Another great example is at the University of New South Wales, which has a double degree in Fine Arts and Engineering.
One of my favorite examples is Dr Sanjay Gupta, an American journalist who reports for CNN. He is also a neurosurgeon.
I am often asked about the type of career paths that are available for someone studying Hiistory.
The two obvious answers are a Historian or Teacher.
But look further, and you will find that History opens up opportunities in a diverse range of fields, including international relations and development within both government and private enterprise, international business, politics and public policy, journalism and documentary production, Law, Human Rights, and Criminology, just to name a few.
Law and Engineering are other excellent examples. Both provide adaptable skills and knowledge that can be applied to a variety of fields, including leadership.
UNIVERSITY
I offer a range of services to university students, including:
Assisting with subject selection and choice of Majors and Minors.
Guiding students wishing to change courses and/or direction before graduating.
Helping students assess and apply for their post-graduate options, including whether to pursue additional studies, enter the workforce, or a combination of both.
Yes.
Parents are welcome at all of my university-level meetings, and frequently attend.
HOW MEETINGS ARE ARRANGED
Most meetings are scheduled for 90 minutes.
During school term, meetings are usually held in the afternoons and evenings.
During school holidays, most meetings are scheduled in business hours.
Meetings are also held on some weekends.
My schedule is flexible and I can always arrange meetings at times that are suitable for clients.
I am based in Geelong, and most of my meetings are held at my office.
I also travel to other locations in regional Victoria for in person meetings.
I also meet with clients online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Yes.
I meet with Melbourne-based clients at Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub periodically throughout the year. If you would like to meet in person in Ivanhoe, please let me know by email or in the web form.
Yes.
I regularly consult with students and parents in every state and territory in Australia. Meetings with interstate clients are held online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Yes.
I have consulted with students and parents in New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States. Meetings with overseas clients are held online via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Yes, I do work with adults.
Most of my work has been with high school and university students, but I have worked with adults over the years, and very much enjoy doing so. To determine whether I am the right person to work with adult clients, I normally schedule a 30-minute discovery call, at no cost, to discuss interests, goals and aspirations.