Q&A
With Careers Advisor and Education Officer, Kylie Peattie
“Parents play a crucial role in helping their child navigate career choices and are often the greatest influence.”
Choosing the right subjects can feel overwhelming for students and parents alike. With so many options and pathways, it’s easy to feel unsure about how to best support your child through these important decisions.
In this Q&A, Kylie shares valuable insights into how parents can support their child in choosing subjects that align with their strengths, interests, and future goals, whether that means university, vocational training, or jumping straight into the workforce.
How can parents effectively support their child throughout the subject selection process?
HSC subject selection can be a challenging time for parents, especially if it’s their first experience with the process. Schools will host subject selection evenings to provide valuable information for students, parents, and carers. These sessions are a great opportunity for families to gain a clear understanding of subject choices and HSC eligibility requirements.
These sessions help families understand subject choices and HSC requirements. Discussing post-school plans, whether university, an apprenticeship, or employment, can guide students towards informed decisions and the right study pattern for ATAR eligibility.
If university is the goal, encourage and support them to research courses aligned with their interests and intended degree. Are there prerequisites, assumed knowledge or recommended subjects they should be aware of?
For students who are aiming for university, but are unsure of their preferred course, keeping options open is key. Encourage them to choose broad subjects that offer flexibility and keep multiple pathways available.
If they are interested in an apprenticeship pathway, encourage them to choose subjects that allow them to develop their practical knowledge and skills. VET subjects offer an opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification and participate in valuable work placement opportunities that provide not only real-world experience but can open the door to post school employment.
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Support them to choose the subjects they enjoy. If they have a genuine interest in a subject, they will be more likely to work hard as they find the content engaging. Selecting courses that all point to a specific career outcome is unnecessary, as their plans will most likely change over the course of 2 years.
What key questions should parents ask to help their child choose the subjects that are right for them?
What subjects do you enjoy and perfrom well in?
Do you understand the course content, rigour and assessment methods? If they have major works or performances, do you have effective time management skills to manage your courses and this style of assessment?
How do your subjects align with your post school plans or career aspiration?
If you are unsure of what you want to do after school, are you choosing a wide range of subjects that allow for flexibility or add to your work readiness?
What is the most valuable advice you would give parents supporting their child’s career decision making?
Encourage conversation, listen and support them to explore a range of career paths. Help them to discover their passions and strengths. Create opportunities where you can discuss different careers and occupations, including education and training pathways. Encourage your child to be proactive and take up opportunities throughout school that will expose them to different industries and careers. This might be Work Experience, Industry visits, university or TAFE open days.
How can parents effectively support their children in preparing for careers that have yet to emerge?
The world of work is constantly evolving so staying informed about emerging trends and industries will help support your child as they navigate these changes.
It is difficult to know the exact occupations that will emerge in the future, but we know students will need a wide range of technical and transferable skills no matter the role. Encourage them to develop skills that will equip them for a global job market and assist them as they face different career decisions throughout their life. Critical thinking, digital literacy, problem solving and collaboration will be key to ensuring success for future careers.
What can parents do to help their child make confident, informed choices about their future?
Encourage them to think about their strengths, interests, values and passions and how these might align to different careers.
Parents can support their child to find industry contacts in fields they are interested in pursuing – or encourage them to speak with their Careers Adviser at school who may be able to assist. Participating in a work experience program is often the best way for a student to see if they are interested in a career path. Real world experience can provide valuable insights and build confidence.
Career pathways for young people are becoming more complex and are not linear. They will have multiple jobs and careers in their lifetime. Encourage them to develop their employability skills that will help them adapt to the range of workplaces they encounter in their working life is essential.
What are the 5 most frequently asked questions coming from students?
- How do I choose the right career?
- What course/institution should I study at?
- Do I have to study certain subjects to get a good ATAR?
- Can I do work experience in…?
- What does it mean when a university course has a recommended subject or assumed knowledge?
Do you have any words of wisdom for parents whose children are feeling lost and have no clear trajectory for their future?
What are you going to do when you leave school? can be a very confronting question for young adults, especially if they don’t know and feel pressured that they should be able to give an answer. Often these students have friends that have a clear direction, and they think they should know as well. It is common for students to be unsure of their career path, even at the very end of their schooling. The big picture can be daunting. Encourage them to just think of the next step and not too far into the future. Enrolling in a vocational training course, working fulltime or taking a working holiday might give them the time to explore options so they can make an informed choice.
