Why VCE Feels So Confusing for Parents — And How to Get the Information You Actually Need
Course and Career Chat
In this episode, I share how trying to navigate my son’s cricket club with zero information helped me understand exactly how parents feel when their child starts VCE. You’ll hear why VCE feels so overwhelming, why schools often don’t communicate clearly, and how understanding the system helps you make better decisions about VCE subjects, tertiary pathways and supporting your teen through Year 11 and 12. Timestamps: 0:45 — Trying to start cricket with no information 6:11 — Why VCE parents feel lost 10:24 — How I support families through VCE Links: Work with me: The Parents’ Guide...
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How to Choose the Right VCE Subjects, Tertiary Courses and Career Pathways (and Stop Cutting Off Your Options)
Course and Career Chat
Choosing VCE subjects and planning a tertiary pathway can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re worried about closing off future options. In this episode of Course and Career Chat, I share stories of four students who were unintentionally limiting their choices because of assumptions about what they could or couldn’t do. You’ll hear how, once they had the right information, they were able to make informed decisions about their VCE subjects, courses, and career pathways — and feel confident about their next steps. Timestamps: 1:00 – Penny’s story: Exploring creative careers...
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The Truth About ATAR Focused Tutoring Ads: Why They Feed VCE Anxiety (and What Really Helps)
Course and Career Chat
You’ve seen the tutoring ads — the ones bragging about all their tutors getting ATARs over 99, studying medicine or law, or being dux of their schools. These ads drive me crazy because they completely miss the point. In this episode, I explain why high ATARs don’t make someone a good tutor, how tutoring companies lean into a broken VCE system, and why they make promises they can’t keep. Most importantly, I’ll share how students can actually beat ATAR anxiety by finding their own path — no matter what results they get. 4:02 – Doing well in school doesn’t make someone a good...
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Becoming a Counsellor: Tamara’s Journey from a Bachelor of Arts to a Master of Counselling at Deakin University
Course and Career Chat
In this episode of Course and Career Chat, I talk with Tamara, who is currently studying a Master of Counselling at Deakin University. She shares her journey from completing a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in Psychology and History) to discovering her passion for supporting others through counselling. We discuss what it’s really like to study counselling at postgraduate level, the difference between counselling and psychology, and the career opportunities available after a Master of Counselling in Australia. If you’re thinking about a career change into counselling, or wondering how to become...
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Should You Drop a VCE Subject?
Course and Career Chat
What we’re talking about: It’s nearly the end of Term 2, and I’ve had a lot of conversations with students lately where they’ve been trying to decide whether or not to drop a VCE subject that they’re studying. To make an informed decision, there’s a few things you need to consider - do you know what you want to do when you finish school? Is this subject a prerequisite for that course? Can you support yourself to feel more confident in the subject with some extra help? Could you look at similar courses that don’t need it as a prerequisite? Is not liking the subject a clue that...
info_outline![How to Feel Confident About VCE and Choosing Tertiary Courses Part 3 [What Are You Really Good At?] show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/36639765?height=50&width=50)
How to Feel Confident About VCE and Choosing Tertiary Courses Part 3 [What Are You Really Good At?]
Course and Career Chat
What we’re talking about: In this third part of my mini series “How to Feel Confident About VCE and Choosing Tertiary Courses” I’m diving into another question that I’d love for you to consider - What are you good at? I don’t mean what subject you’re good at (although I did talk about that in episode 102), but instead what is something that comes naturally to you that you use in your everyday life that could be applied to any career you choose? Knowing this can help you see how you can bring key parts of yourself to any role you choose to take in the future. Links mentioned: Work...
info_outline![How to Feel Confident About VCE and Choosing Tertiary Courses Part 2 [What's Your Favourite Subject and What Do You Like About It?] show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/36531590?height=50&width=50)
How to Feel Confident About VCE and Choosing Tertiary Courses Part 2 [What's Your Favourite Subject and What Do You Like About It?]
Course and Career Chat
What we’re talking about: In this episode, I continue the mini-series on feeling confident about VCE and choosing tertiary courses. Instead of jumping straight to career titles, I encourage you to reflect on your favourite subjects and, more importantly, what you enjoy about them. This approach can provide valuable insights into courses and careers that will allow you to do more of what you actually like. 0:45 – Recap of Episode 100 and the importance of understanding VCE In the last episode I shared some episodes where I explain key aspects of VCE so that you can really understand the...
info_outline![How to Feel Confident About VCE and Choosing Tertiary Courses Part 1 [Understanding How VCE Works] show art](https://assets.libsyn.com/item/36453390?height=50&width=50)
How to Feel Confident About VCE and Choosing Tertiary Courses Part 1 [Understanding How VCE Works]
Course and Career Chat
What we’re talking about: Thanks for joining me for the 100th episode of Course and Career Chat! This episode is Part 1 in a series I’m calling How to Feel Confident About VCE and Choosing Tertiary Courses, and in this episode I want you to think about what is stressing you out about VCE so that you can get your questions answered. I’ve created a list of past episodes of Course and Career Chat where you can find the answers to common questions I get when I’m working with my students and their parents, and if I haven’t answered your question yet, please send me a DM on Instagram to...
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How Will AI Affect Your Career Choices?
Course and Career Chat
What we’re talking about: AI is everywhere at the moment, and there’s a lot of discussion about how it will change jobs and career pathways. Many students (and parents) are wondering—will AI replace certain jobs? Will the careers that seem like a great option now still be relevant in 5 or 10 years? In this episode, I break down what AI actually is, the ways it’s already affecting different industries, and how students can make career choices that will set them up for success in an AI-driven world. 2:40 – What is AI, and why is it such a big deal? AI is already part of our daily...
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Should You Take a Gap Year After Year 12?
Course and Career Chat
What we’re talking about: Should you take a gap year after Year 12? It’s a big decision, and in this episode, I break down the benefits and drawbacks of taking a year off before further study. I also share practical advice on how to keep your options open, even if you're unsure about your next steps. 1:09 Common concerns about taking a gap year I’ve had a lot of conversations with parents recently about whether a gap year is the right choice for their child. Many students don’t know whether they should still apply for courses through VTAC, or if taking a gap year will impact their...
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1:40 What you can do if your measure of success in VCE is to get the best ATAR you can
Using a planner to keep on track, creating a study timetable, using a calendar to keep track of SACs, extracurricular activities and your casual job if you have one. Work out how you will get help when you need it eg homework club at school or getting a tutor (see the link to an episode below where I talk about how to choose the right tutor for you). Choosing the “right” subjects - some people will think this means choosing subjects that scale up, I think the right subjects for you are the ones that suit you best so that you will lean into your strengths and not have as much trouble finding the motivation to study.
6:21 Why I don’t think that getting a good ATAR should be your only measure of success in VCE.
If your only measure of success in VCE is to get a really good ATAR, you are going to spend a lot of time over the next two years feeling stressed out, feeling inadequate if you’re not ranked first in the subjects you want to rank first in for example or if you’re not doing as well on SACs as you think that you might. If that’s your only measure of success in VCE you are setting yourself up for a pretty awful couple of years. Two years of stress is too much as far as I’m concerned. There’s a difference between little pockets of stress the night before a SAC, and being completely stressed out for 2 years.
7:26 Your measure of success in VCE could be having a really great couple of years.
Take advantage of all the amazing opportunities your school has to offer, including extracurricular activities like sport, drama, music and debating, as well as fun activities like the school formal.
8:30 How can we reframe the importance of your ATAR and it being a measure of success.
The only reason that an ATAR exists is because it’s the most efficient way to get into a course. That’s it. Getting an amazing ATAR and having no idea what you want to do, that’s very short-lived success. And I know that because that’s what I did. I got the great ATAR, I got into the course that I thought I wanted, spent two and a half years in it being miserable until I changed my plans, and went back to wanting to be a teacher. I worked out how to do that and had an amazing career as a teacher. But getting that good ATAR was not what got me there. The plan was what got me to where I wanted, and successfully into a career that I really enjoyed. Really what I want you to think about is what success in VCE looks like to you, and what you can do to have a really great couple of years AND set yourself up for having many many fun, exciting years after VCE as well.
Links mentioned:
Work with me: https://www.roadmapeducation.com/services
Do You Need a Tutor or a Career Counsellor?: https://www.roadmapeducation.com/podcast/76