2026 Next Step Year 12 Completers Survey

Year 12 students are encouraged to check that their contact details are correct in their learning account with the QCAA student portal. 

In March 2026, students will receive a letter from the Minister for Education and the Arts inviting them to participate in the Next Step Year 12 Completers survey, following up on their activities after graduating. They may also receive an email or phone call from the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Their feedback helps our school improve services for future students, and students can win a laptop for participating. For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/nextstep.

The Ville 2026 School-based Apprenticeship and Traineeship Intake program

The Ville Resort Casino is excited to open their 2026 school-based traineeship and apprenticeship opportunities early to capture passionate individuals who want to kick start their careers in hospitality earlier. 

Available Traineeships in 2026 are:

• 3 x Food and Beverage positions - Certificate III in Hospitality

• 1 x Hotel Reception position - Certificate III in Business

Available Apprenticeships in 2026 are:

• 2-3 Chef apprenticeship positions - Certificate III in Commercial Cookery

Key Recruitment dates:

Applications open: Monday 29 September

Applications close: Monday 10 November

Candidate shortlisting: 11-14 November (all students will hear from us during this time - successful students will progress to interview stage

Interview evening for shortlisted candidates: 17 or 18 November

Program start date (and Induction): Monday 1 December 2025

To be eligible students will:

• be entering Years 10 or 11 in 2026
• be able to have a weekly release day from school
• have private transport to and from work

To express interest in the school-based traineeship:

• reach out to our VET Coordinator, Mr Kyle, or our Career Development Practitioner, Miss Tebble, about your interest in a school-based traineeship and how it aligns with your SET Plan. 

Cowboys Leagues Club 2026 School-based Traineeship Intake program

The Cowboys Leagues Club is excited to welcome applications for their 2026 School Based Traineeship programs!

Available Traineeships in 2026 are:

• Certificate III in Hospitality
• Certificate III in Business
• Certificate III in Commercial Cookery

CLB will be holding 2 information/enrolment sessions in October:

Session 1: Tuesday 21 October, 4pm

Session 2: Thursday 23 October, 4pm 

Location: Cowboys Leagues Club, Flinders Street

Interested students must register their attendance and bring along a parent/guardian.

In these sessions CBL will explain the various Traineeships, what’s involved, and why the Club’s traineeships are an incredible opportunity for students interested in developing a career in Hospitality or obtain a nationally accredited qualification.

 To be eligible students will:

• be entering Years 10 or 11 in 2026
• be able to have a weekly release day from school
• have private transport to and from work

To register to attend the information/enrolment session:

• email your resume to Anita Poorta at Cowboys Leagues Club

anita.poorta@cowboysleagues.com.au

• reach out to our VET Coordinator, Mr Kyle, or our Career Development Practitioner, Miss Tebble, about your interest in a school-based traineeship and how it aligns with your SET Plan. 

Celebrating early university offers

We proudly acknowledge and congratulate the following Year 12 students who have accepted early conditional offers into their preferred course in 2026 at James Cook University:

• Andria Direen
• Melanie Blacklock
• Rylee Hewitt

QTAC Applications

Year 12 students can still apply for university courses commencing in 2026. The due date to apply for the main offer round in January is Monday 8 December. However, 

University key dates and events 

Scholarships

Scholarships can make a big difference when it comes to the cost of education. Whether students are finishing school or thinking about further study, there’s a chance they could be eligible for one or more scholarships – and they don’t have to be the top student to apply.

A scholarship is money that helps you pay for expenses related to education. It doesn’t need to be paid back, and it’s usually given to in one of two ways:

• as a lump sum (e.g. $5,000 once)
• or in smaller instalments (e.g. $1,000 each semester)

Scholarships can cover course fees, books and equipment, travel, living costs – or just help take the pressure off. They’re funded by universities, businesses, community organisations, individuals, and sometimes government departments. Each one will have its own goal – some are set up to support students with financial hardship, others aim to attract talented students into specific fields.

The following articles may be helpful with finding and applying for scholarships:

• Unlocking scholarships: Application tips and advice
• 7 tips for maximising your scholarship application

Townsville Catholic Education Office

Townsville Catholic Education is taking a hands-on approach to attract future educators by offering targeted scholarships. Three scholarships have been created specifically to address the national teacher shortage and provide financial assistance to local high school and university students who are passionate about pursuing a career in teaching:

• Year 10 students completing the CIII in School Based Education or CIII in Early Childhood Education and Care in Year 11
• 1st Year University students in the Bachelor of Education in 2026
• 3rd Year University students in the final two years of study in an approved education course (third year of an approved Bachelor of Education or first year of a two year Master of Teaching in 2026)

Scholarship applications for 2025 are currently open, and close on Friday 10 October! 

James Cook University - Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship

The JCU Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship is part of JCU’s commitment to rewarding and supporting high-achieving school leavers with an ATAR of 97.00 or above. $40,000 will be awarded for up to four (4) years of study ($10,000 per year). The Scholarship provides financial support to high-achieving undergraduate students commencing full-time study at JCU in Study Period One, 2026. The JCU Vice Chancellor's Scholarship is assessed automatically for Year 12 applicants. There is no separate application required for these scholarships. Course exclusions: Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry.

James Cook University - Deans’ Scholarship

The JCU Deans’ Scholarship is part of JCU’s commitment to rewarding and supporting high-achieving school leavers with an ATAR between 95.00 and 97. $20,000 will be awarded for up to four (4) years of study ($5,000 per year). The Scholarship provides financial support to high-achieving undergraduate students commencing full-time study at JCU in Study Period One, 2026. The JCU Deans’ Scholarship is assessed automatically for Year 12 school leavers. There is no separate application required for these scholarships.Course exclusions: Medicine, Veterinary Science and Dentistry.

James Cook University - QCoal Foundation Scholarship

The QCoal Foundation Scholarship will be offered again this year to a student from regional or remote Queensland who is planning to study at James Cook University (JCU) in 2026. The QCoal Foundation Scholarship is a $30,000 scholarship provided over three years for students from a range of disciplines including medicine, vet science, speech pathology, chemistry, engineering, geology and dentistry.  The scholarship is not only for students who do well academically, but also for those who are supporting their local community and who have an aspiration to work in regional and remote locations after graduating.

Value: Up to $30,000 

Open Date: 1 October 2025

Close Date: 16 January 2026 

James Cook University - Cullinane Law Scholarship

The Honourable Kerry Cullinane QC has had a long-standing interest in supporting students to study law in North Queensland. This has driven his valuable connection with JCU’s Law School which started with him being part of the steering committee that established the School in 1989. This program has been established with a generous donation from Professor Cullinane to support students aspiring to study law at JCU in North Queensland.

Value: up to $6,000 

Open Date: 1 October 2025

Close Date: 16 January 2026 

James Cook University - North Queensland Gas Pipeline Regional Women’s Scholarship

North Queensland Gas Pipeline (NQGP) is committed to supporting women to enter non-traditional professions such as engineering, advanced science and environmental science. To assist with this commitment, NQGP is establishing a scholarship program for regional women, who have completed secondary school in a regional or rural location in Queensland.

Value: $8,000 

Open Date: 1 October 2025

Close Date: 16 January 2026 

James Cook University - Pat and Bill Mahoney Scholarship (First in Family)

Ms Sue Kosse graduated from Queensland University and during her studies was a student of JCU’s predecessor institute, the University College of Townsville. As the first in her family to attend university, Sue recognises the positive impact that having a tertiary education has made upon her life. To acknowledge the financial support and sacrifices made by her parents and siblings in order for Sue to attend university, she would like to establish an enabling scholarship for other first-in-family students to attend James Cook University - open to first year students whose parents are guardians have not attained a bachelor level qualification.

Value: $5,000 

Open Date: 1 October 2025

Close Date: 16 January 2026 

James Cook University - George Alexander Foundation Scholarships 

The George Alexander Foundation has an emphasis on helping talented young people, especially those from regional and rural areas and those who must move away from home in order to undertake higher education. The Scholarship Program forms the core of the Foundation’s work and the first programs commenced in 2002.This scholarship is subject to the provisions of James Cook University’s Coursework Scholarships, Bursaries and Grants Policy.

Value: $8,000 per year for up to 3 years

Open Date: 1 October 2025

Close Date: 16 January 2026 

James Cook University - CSIRO Indigenous STEM Scholarship

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) would like to support further engagement with the sciences for Indigenous Australians, by supporting JCU Indigenous STEM students to complete their studies. Established in perpetuity, this scholarship supports Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate coursework study in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) degree at JCU. This scholarship is also an opportunity to engage with the CSIRO and build a relationship and pathway into a career in the Sciences

Value: Up to $40,000

Open Date: 1 October 2025

Close Date: 16 January 2026

Griffith University - George Alexander Foundation Scholarships for Students Relocating to Study

This scholarship assists a school-leaver with costs associated with accommodation. To be eligible, you must have recently completed secondary school and be accepted for full-time admission to an undergraduate degree at Griffith University.

Value: Up to $24,000 

Open Date: 1 July 2025

Close Date: 19 January 2026

University of Melbourne Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarship Program for Education or Accommodation Costs

The Indigenous Commonwealth Scholarship program is provided by the Australian Government and offered to Indigenous students who are enrolling in an undergraduate or graduate coursework course.

Value: Up to $36,000 

Open Date:4 August 2025

Close Date: 13 January 2026

Healthcare Education Scholarship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

At GlobalHealth Education, we are passionate about supporting healthcare students on their education journey. This is why we have created our Healthcare Education Scholarship to provide financial support to a health student who experiences financial disadvantage and has the potential for far-reaching positive impact on the community. The scholarship award money can be used for tuition fees, learning materials, course equipment and travel costs.

Value: $5,000

Open Date: 27 March 2025 

Close Date: 28 February  2026

Work Experience

Ergon Energy (Energy Queensland)

Applications are now open for students in Year 10 to 12 to gain trade-based work experience with Ergon Energy in 2026. Placements are for dates between 2 February 2026 and 15 May 2026. Interested students will need to apply now as applications close at 5pm on Sunday 19 October. As part of the application, students will need to have their General Construction Induction card (White Card). Click on this link to apply: Energy Queensland - Jobs List - Trade and Technical

As school approval is required, and to help navigate the application process, please reach out to our Industry Liaison Officer, Mrs Kiah McKenzie, or our Career Development Practitioner, Miss Kathryn Tebble, regarding your child’s interest in Ergon’s work experience program.

Key Events

For career counselling and information:

Miss Kathryn Tebble

Career Development Practitioner 

4751 7300 or ktebble1@sacc.catholic.edu.au

www.stanthonyscareers.com