RPCS FUTURES - CAREERS Newsletter November 2017

Edition 7 - November 2017

Career Profile Youth worker

Youth workers work with juveniles who are at risk or are experiencing social, emotional or behavioural issues by providing support & counselling. They aim to address the disadvantages young people experience by devising programs & activities to promote overall wellbeing and target positive outcomes. Youth workers collaborate with teachers, social workers, parents and local authorities and communicate directly with young people to help identify their problems. Daily Duties: Youth workers assess individual clients’ personal needs and devise counselling and support services. They assist with any behavioural, emotional or social disadvantages. They operate in outreach, engaging with young people in public spaces. Youth workers provide advice on issues such as drug rehabilitation, homelessness and employment services. They may also direct programming, coordinate activities and provide ongoing or short-term crisis counselling. Youth workers need outstanding communication skills. They should have a strong drive for helping others, emotional resilience, patience and tolerance. Being able to take on challenging work is required. The ability to work well under pressure in challenging situations and to deal with other people from a range of backgrounds is also necessary. A number of potential career paths are available within the scope of youth work. Drug and alcohol worker, Family support worker, Accommodation worker.

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So whatever you do, do it all for the honour & glory of the Lord, 1 Cor 10:31

RPCS FUTURES - CAREERS Newsletter November 2017

STAFF CAREER PROFILE:

Mrs Megan Duong

I was in year 9 when I got my first part time job. My sister and I worked on a ‘milk run’ in our local area. The job involved travelling in the back of a milk truck, leaving milk on people’s doorsteps, collecting money and giving change. I really loved the job and worked hard. One night the truck stopped and I jumped out ready to deliver the milk, only to realise that the driver had merely stopped at a red light. It was too late, the light turned green and I found myself chasing after the truck!

In year 10 I applied for a part time job at Big W. It was close to Christmas and I spent most of the school holidays working in the toy section and the children’s clothing section. When school resumed I was able to work on Thursday nights and Saturday mornings. I remember being paid about $3.00 an hour! Even though I loved the job I decided to take a year off during year 12 so I could concentrate on my final year of study. It was a good decision.

I was the first member of my family (on my Mum’s side) to have the opportunity to finish year 12 and go to university. My Nanna was so excited that she came to the UNSW enrolment day with me! I’d wanted to be a teacher for a long time but I wasn’t quite sure what I would teach. I really loved sport and thought about becoming a PE teacher. After a lot of thought and prayer I decided to study to become an English and History teacher.

My years studying at UNSW were incredibly busy! I had the opportunity to work part time back at Big W, I joined university sporting teams and took part in Campus Bible Study. I was able to arrange my university schedule so that I could teach scripture classes in primary schools. My early scripture lessons taught me to be more observant. There was a beautiful girl in my year 6 class who was vision impaired – in fact, legally blind. I managed to teach her for three lessons before realising.

My first teaching appointment was at Westfields Sports High School in Fairfield. I had such a great time working at the school. Not only could I teach English and History but I was sent away to all kinds of sporting events! Having attended RPCS (formerly CCHS) for my High School years I can see that I learned a great deal from my experience of teaching in the State system. I was definitely challenged to think more about my beliefs.

When one of my former teachers showed me an advertisement for a teaching position at CCHS I thanked him and said I was happy at my school. Even though I loved many things about CCHS, I hadn’t planned to return. However, in the days that followed I couldn’t stop thinking about the position. I decided to go to the interview. It was a hard decision to leaving my job at Westfields Sports High School but as I reflect I can see that God provided exactly what was best at exactly the right time. When our trust is in the Lord we can always be sure he will guide us.

RPCS FUTURES - CAREERS Newsletter November 2017

STAFF CAREER PROFILE: Mr Frank DOGAO

I was born in Coonabarabran in 1954 of Italian migrant parents. We moved in 1956 to the big smoke (Merrylands) so I could have a good education. As I moved to my senior years in secondary I thought I wanted to be a flight engineer for Qantas. It seemed a dream job, exciting and good money. Over time and with the realisation that I needed a higher level of maths than I was doing (or capable of) my ideas began to change.

The results of a careers aptitude test indicated what I should be good at and what I shouldn’t be good at. One of the professions it said I shouldn’t get into was accounting. So here I am, more than forty years later, a lifelong beancounter. The moral is, follow your passions and what your gifts are.

I studied Business Studies at the University of Technology in Sydney. After three years of full-time study I graduated in 1975, thinking I knew it all.

My first job was with an audit firm as a trainee auditor. Not for me, after eight months I took a position with Borg Warner Sales and Service as the Assistant Accountant. This began my path in financial accounting, something I found I enjoyed and was good at. After three years I took up a position at Ron Hodgson Motors as the accountant. The motor industry can be a bit fickle and I found myself retrenched a short while later when the industry suffered a downturn. On reflection I realised that I attracted by the perks or benefits and didn’t properly assess the risks.

I soon found work as the accountant in Comalco International Division based at Yennora. My training and experience was a big factor in helping me get this job. The beauty of working for a large corporate organisation is that there are opportunities to advance internally which I did, moving into the Senior Financial Accountant role and then to Comalco Aluminium Supply as head Accountant. Whilst there I saw colleagues whose goal was to climb the corporate ladder at any cost and began to realise that I didn’t want to be like that.

I moved on after about five years and joined the Pacific Dunlop Group, another large multi-faceted corporate organisation. In my five years there, I worked in two of their divisions. My second encounter with retrenchment happened there when the Sydney office I was working in was closed down in a business rationalisation. This was painful for me as I had a mortgage and a young family to support.

I successfully applied for a position with a private distributor of Toyota material handling equipment as their Administration Manager & Financial Controller. This was quite different from the larger public corporate organisations and offered a wealth of different experience. It was much about the management of the business.

It was at this time that I became a Christian, age 37. Up until then I had been focused on doing well financially & supporting my family. My perspective changed when I found the Lord. After five years in this increasingly stressful role, I’m pretty thick sometimes, but I finally understood God was calling me out of that position. I did something I never thought I would do. I resigned my position trusting that God had something else in store for me.

Not long after leaving my job I came across this interesting ad for Bursar/Business Manager of a Christian school that I had never heard of, Christian Community High School. In August 1996 I took a significant cut in the salary I was accustomed to and started my ministry at CCHS/RPCS. With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight I see God’s hand in every step of my career journey, in both the good things and the not so good things that happened. He was preparing me for this ministry and it has been an amazing blessing to have served in this school for so long. In fact, it really doesn’t seem that long.

21 years later I find God is calling me to move on from this ministry which has been such a blessing to me. There will be many things that I will miss, particularly the people; staff, students, families, and others. Some things I will not miss including the traffic.

I don’t know what lies ahead in “retirement” but I know there is no such thing as a retired Christian.

May God continue to bless RPCS for many years to come.

RPCS FUTURES - CAREERS Newsletter November 2017

WHAT IS YEAR 13? (YOUTHWORKS)

If you want to spend a year being shaped by the word of God with other school leavers passionate about Jesus, serving in your church and engaging in mission both in Australia and overseas, then Year 13 for you! We are a gap year like no other –a discipleship gap year for Christian school leavers, specifically designed to grow and mature your love and knowledge of Jesus, and prepare you for the rest of life (whatever that might hold). During your Year 13, you will: Discover God's World: Play your part in God’s global mission as you experience real, life-changing ministry at home and overseas, including: An eye opening month-long mission to Fiji. We will partner with local Fijian churches and Christians to minister the gospel during a month-long mission trip. You will serve in orphanages, schools and prisons, participate in hands-on community projects, and experience life first-

hand in the homes of Fijian families. Two days a week serving at your church or school: You’ll serve in ministry for two days a week over the whole year, experiencing all the joys and challenges. Your placement will be supervised by a Minister, Chaplain or Teacher. Showing God’s love in action through opportunities to serve in youth and children’s camps throughout the year. You’ll share your life and faith with campers through Youthworks Christian Outdoor Education camps, WROK disability camps, Southern Cross disadvantaged kids’ camps, and HSC Study Conferences. You’ll see first-hand the challenges and difficulties facing those doing it tough during our Ministry at the Margins Day with Anglicare. Discover Yourself: Don’t want to waste your life? Year 13 will prepare you to change the world for Christ in whatever walk of life you choose:

Be discipled by our leaders and be inspired as special guests share their workforce and ministry experience

Get skills in career and financial management.

Make decisions about your future shaped by the gospel of Jesus

Discover New Friends At Year 13, you’ll be part of an awesome Christian community!

Hang out, chat and pray with other Christian school leavers from all around the country and the world. Stay overnight on campus and share your lives and faith together. Connect on a deeper level and ask tough questions in small groups.

Year 13 is a program of Youthworks College, which is an affiliate college of the Australian College of Theology. More information at: https://year13.net/program/year-overview/

RPCS FUTURES - CAREERS Newsletter November 2017

CAREERS of the Gen Z – That’s you!

Born between 1995 – 2009, Generation Z make up about 20% of Australia’s population, and almost 30% of the global population. These highly individual, entrepreneurial, globally connected, digital natives, have high expectations of the world they’re stepping into – and of themselves.

$$$ smart + career ready: Gen Z are self-starters, already thinking about what they need to do now to succeed in future. Having watched Gen Y struggle to gain financial independence in a tough housing market, burdened by student debt, 64% of Gen Z have already started saving for the future.

Aware of the challenges that lie ahead in the changing world of work, Gen Z are ahead of the game when it comes to preparing for their careers and 17% of Gen Zers want to start their own business and employ others. While some may enjoy the idea of working for themselves, most are “risk-averse, practical, and pragmatic“.

Digital natives, creating not consuming: More than any other generation, Gen Z are plugged into digital technology in a big way – and they’re savvy to all of its nuances, tricks and opportunities. Having grown up in a world that’s always had internet, mobile phones and Apple – Gen Z doesn’t remember life without tech – in fact 82% of Gen Z Australians get the bulk of their info through social media/online more than any other medium.

Active and aware online, Gen Z aren’t just using social for selfies and food-art. They are creating, manipulating and rebelling via social media and digital means more and more. More and more young people are using online means as a way of expressing themselves or ideas and taking action on issues they believe are important.

Changing the world: Gen Z have experienced perhaps the most rapid, dramatic shifts of societal standards than any other generation. This means young people today are both more accepting of diversity and less tolerant of poor-attitudes toward negative social behaviors like bullying and discrimination. Gen Zers are 50% more likely to care about making an impact on the world than Gen Y were at the same age. These kids aren’t wasting any time by waiting to grow up.

Driven by causes and their values, they possess a strong sense of purpose. Faced with the question of purpose or profit, they are willing to trade dollars for passion when it comes to work.

Visit to Western Sydney U day – Milperra campus

If you are interesting in experiencing Uni life or maybe studying at Western Sydney Uni, then make sure you register for the next U day.

These days are a great opportunity to find out what it is like to be in a lecture with 100s of other students that you don’t know.

Find your way around campus and getting to the right room and trying not to be noticed when you walk in late.

You are not required to make any commitments to Western Sydney Uni.

RPCS FUTURES - CAREERS Newsletter November 2017

All year 7 – 12 students have access to JobJump. Jobjump is a website that focuses on all things careers. Parents & siblings can help the student navigate & search though endless career options & opportunities through to a year after high school finishes – year 13. Videos are available to delve deeper into each career path. Resume writers, cold calling, interview techniques, HSC, Work, apprenticeship, University, TAFE, ATAR, UAC, events, latest information are just a few of the options. If you haven’t created an account, you are missing out. Details on Moodle > Resources > Careers.

Upcoming EVENTS

Tech Girls Movement: Check out these amazing women who have forged trail blazing careers in the STEM fields. http://www.techgirlsmovement.org/inspring-videos/ 7 Amazing Engineering Careers: Engineering careers take you to all corners of the world, from high in the sky to deep in the earth. https://careerswithstem.com/7-amazing-engineering-careers/ Australian Border Force Career Opportunities: Career opportunities in Department of Immigration and Border Protection: http://www.border.gov.au/australian-border-force-abf/abf-careers/career-with-abf Voiceworks Editorial Committee: Closes 3 December Voiceworks is a national, quarterly literary journal featuring new fiction, poetry, nonfiction, comics and art by Australians under the age of 25. Voiceworks is written, edited and produced entirely by young people. http://www.voiceworksmag.com.au/2017/10/join-the-voiceworks-editorial-committee/ STEM Girls at Sydney: 10 - 11 January 2018. 10.00am to 4.00pm – Sydney Uni. Interested in science, technology, engineering & mathematics (STEM)? Want to pursue a career creating positive solutions to the world's biggest challenges? STEM Girls at Sydney is a two-day workshop for female students in Year 9 to 11 in 2018, https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/stem-girls-at-sydney-tickets-38216535687 Fit in a TAFE Short Course after you finish the HSC: Looking to advance your skills or discover a new talent, or venture into a new career path, we have over 150 short courses to get you there. https://www.tafensw.edu.au/short-courses NIDA Young Actors Studio Program – 15 to 18 years Auditions: Collaborate with other young artists in an ensemble to develop skills for stage and screen. Work with the support and direction from core tutors and gain inspiration from industry professionals. Sydney 10 December, 2017 10.00am, 14 January, 2018 10.00am or 2.00pm GAP YEAR TIPS Taking a gap year means taking a year off between finishing high school and starting further study or training. Not sure what you want to do after finishing Year 12?, a gap year can give you time to consider the options. You can take a gap year whether or not you've been accepted into a university or TAFE course – this will involve deferring your studies. http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/studying-training/changing-your-mind/taking-a-gap-year WEP Student Exchange Scholarships WEP Australia, a not-for-profit student exchange organisation registered with the NSW Education Department, is now accepting applications from year 9 and year 12 students wishing to spend a semester or year overseas from January 2018 onwards. For more information, please visit https://wep.org.au/ or email info@wep.org.au or call 1300 884 733.

RPCS FUTURES - CAREERS Newsletter November 2017

Volunteer with Oxfam Great volunteering opportunities are offered throughout the year. Visit: https://www.oxfam.org.au/ Overseas Volunteer Experiences in Cambodia For High School Students: Join likeminded students from Australia & the world to get involved in meaningful, worthwhile and rewarding volunteer work in Cambodia. Work with children in the local communities of Phnom Penh to improve literacy, help with renovation work on community centres, enjoy a weekend visit to Siem Reap. For more information, https://www.projects-abroad.com.au/ Alternate Schoolies Programs in Samoa: Meaningful volunteer trip abroad in Samoa. Join likeminded students from around Australia to work in schools and kindergartens and support environmental campaigns in small villages and communities in and around Apia. https://www.projects-abroad.com.au/ Alternate Schoolies Programs in Sri Lanka : Celebrate final exams with a life-changing volunteer trip to Sri Lanka. Live & work in small coastal towns, spending time renovating local schools, assisting with care & education of disadvantaged children in kindergartens & running healthcare campaigns in the community. https://www.projects-abroad.com.au/ Habitat for Humanity: A volunteer trip to Cambodia. http://habitat.org.au/volunteer-overseas/upcoming-builds/schoolies-build Southern Cross Cultural Exchange. Scholarships Now Open: Experience student exchange, study and live abroad and develop lifelong skills at a significantly reduced cost. http://www.scce.com.au/scholarships/ Early Bird Cultural Homestay Program in China Year 12s gap year option. Live with a Chinese family, form friendships whilst teaching the children English. http://www.ebce.com.cn/en/ Lattitude Global Volunteering: Lattitude Global Volunteering is an international youth development charity. Their mission is to educate and develop young people worldwide by providing inclusive opportunities for them to make a positive difference to the lives of others through a challenging and structured international volunteering experience in a culture and community different from their own. https://lattitudeaustralia.org/

Every day there is new information coming into the careers office. Regularly check out

MOODLE – RESOURCES – CAREERS – ‘THIS WEEK’S NEWS ALERTS’.

Check out the Careers notice board every week. Check the daily student announcements.

Next RPCS FUTURES Term 1, 2018