School Profile - Looking to the Future

CAREERS

The Careers Program at Davidson High School provides opportunities for our students to develop the skills and knowledge needed to make a smooth transition from school to post-school training and work, and to make successful life choices.

There is a wide range of activities available to students, including:

• Careers lessons for Year 10 students

• Seminars for senior students

• Careers Room (Room 3) with resources and access to internet sites

• Career interviews and planning sessions

• Work Experience

• Northern Beaches Careers Expo and information sessions.

The Careers Adviser works closely with the Welfare and Senior Support teams and connects students with School to Work activities and Vocational Education and Training Courses to ensure all students make best use of their skills and abilities.  The success of this balance of programs supporting our students' academic development is reflected in the success of our students in tertiary training and in the world of work.

Over 90 percent of our students are in training within two years of leaving Davidson High School (in 2007, 55% at university, 27% at TAFE, 3% at private colleges and 10% in apprenticeships and traineeships). In the workforce our students are renowned for their diligence, initiative, teamwork and communication and entrepreneurial skills.

Please feel free to download newsletters:

•  1 July 2008

• 30 July 2008

SCHOOL TO WORK: CREATING FUTURE PATHWAYS - OUR VISION

All students in NSW government secondary schools will be enterprising and capable citizens, well prepared to take charge of their future.

They will gain the skills and confidence to be independent, self-aware, resourceful and alert to the choices and opportunities available in their lives.

Why is Future Pathways needed?

School to Work: Creating Future Pathways helps young people come to terms with the rapidly changing marketplace.

It gives students a head start in understanding:

• the growth in part-time, casual, contract and voluntary work

• skill shortages

• industrial relations

• globalisation and the 24/7 world

• flexible information and communication-based technologies

• increased mobility and telecommuting

• work-life balance.

It recognises that students need to actively manage their career planning and development throughout their lives to benefit from all the challenges and opportunities that arise.

School to Work: Creating Future Pathways is for all school students aged 14 - 19 years enrolled in NSW government schools. It helps young people develop employment related skills that can be applied to a range of jobs and careers.

It also encourages new and strengthened partnerships between schools and TAFE NSW Institutes as well as parents and carers, mentors, local employers and businesses, community organisations and industry.

This program will achieve its vision by focussing on four key result areas:

• Planning Transition Pathways – supporting students to develop confidence in self-managing their career and transition planning

• Exploring Career Futures – providing students with access to people, opportunities and a variety of media, which assists them to process information about work, education and training options.

• Strengthening Student Outcomes through Vocational Learning – supporting teachers to identify and provide a range of opportunities for students to make explicit links to vocational and enterprise learning in all curriculum areas.

• Building Networks and Connections – strengthening career, community and workplace learning opportunities for students through strategic connections, partnerships and networks.

TRANSITION ADVISER

A Transition Adviser is a teacher who works with the Careers Adviser, as members of a school career and transition team, to support targeted students to plan their transition within and from school.

The work of the Transition Adviser is in developing a connection with students to provide consultation, program tuition, initial mentoring and advocacy.

The role aims to promote active engagement and retention of targeted students. Also, to seek solutions through specialised community support for students most likely to disengage from school early.

At Davidson High School in 2008 our Transition Adviser is Ms Ruth Peek.