Wishing Our Year 12s All the Best!

As our Year 12 students begin their final exams, we wish them every success and confidence for the weeks ahead.

Whether their next step is an apprenticeship, traineeship, employment, further training, or university study, we are proud of all that they have achieved and excited to see where their pathway leads.

Transitioning from School to Work

The end of Year 12 can be both an exciting and overwhelming time. Parents and carers play an important role in helping their young person navigate this change with confidence, and there are many ways they can help prepare them for life after school. 

Begin with helping your young person to update their resume and collect written references from teachers, employers, or supervisors. 

Encourage them to register with online job boards such as Seek, Indeed, Jobs North Queensland and Smart Jobs, and follow local businesses and groups on social media for opportunities - Townsville Jobs Central, Townsville Job Vacancies, and Townsville Job Vacancies.

Encourage a social media detox to maintain a positive online image for employers, as they often check online profiles, so make sure theirs reflects the professional image they want to present.

If your young person is interested in a trade or traineeship, explore apprenticeship networks or training providers to find openings. They can also gain valuable experience through casual or part-time work, volunteering, or short courses such as First Aid, RSA, or White Card training.

Finding Your Next Step

It’s completely normal (and common) for young people to feel uncertain about what comes next after school. Career paths aren’t straight — many people explore a few different jobs, courses, or industries before finding a right fit.

You can support your teen by having open conversations about what they enjoy doing, what they are good at, and the kind of lifestyle they would like. Encourage them to talk to people in different careers, try work experience or short courses, and stay open to opportunities that help them learn new skills.

Most importantly, reassure them that it’s okay not to have everything figured out — career journeys often take many paths. Remind them that their next step doesn’t have to be forever, it’s just a starting point or a bridging pathway. Every experience helps them discover more about  themselves and what they want.

If your young person would like some help exploring options or planning their next step, reach out to our Career Development Practitioner, Miss Tebble, for guidance and support. 

Celebrating early university offers

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

• Fraser Bentley
• Isabella McRae
• Harrison Bowes
• Liam Kleier
• Jerome Feliciano
• Malcolm Rose
• McKenzie Koops

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. 

University key dates and events 

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.

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