Course and Career Chat

VCE results are released tomorrow, and whether you're feeling excited, nervous, or a mix of both, this episode is here to support you. Even though we all know ATARs aren't the most important thing in the long run, they do feel important right now — and that's completely normal. In this short pep talk, I explain why your ATAR is simply a piece of data that helps you make your next step, not a measu...

Now that VCE exams are finished, it's time for Year 12 students to prepare their VTAC preference list before results are released next week. In this episode, I explain why finalising preferences early leads to better choices, how to set up your list with dream courses and pathways, and what to do if you still have no idea what you want to study next year. Timestamps: 1:30 — What to do after VCE ex...

In this episode, I share why setting goals around a specific ATAR or study score can actually increase stress, reduce motivation and lead to burnout. Inspired by Dr Emily on The Imperfects Podcast , we explore a healthier approach to VCE goal setting — one that focuses on future pathways, not numbers students can't fully control. Timestamps: 1:48 — Why I've never liked ATAR-based goals 3:55 — Dr E...

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 a...

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...

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 impor...

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...

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 supp...

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...

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 actual...

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 whe...

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 industr...

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...

What we're talking about: 1:43 My observations around motivation as a Maths teacher I share my experience of teaching a particular class who were really focused, willing to learn, with high aspirations for their VCE results. Most people would assume that there's not much a teacher of a class like that needs to do to in terms of motivation, but what I actually found was that in the second half of t...

What we're talking about: Let's talk about how SACs work in VCE so that you know what they are, how they're used, and to bust some of the misconceptions around them that often come up throughout the year so that you can feel really confident as you move through VCE. 1:32 What is a SAC? Throughout your time at school from prep through to Year 12, you do different types of assessment. SAC stands for...

What we're talking about: This episode is all about explaining how VCE works and translating the jargon around VCE so that you can understand it more clearly and feel more confident supporting your child. Grab the free download The Parents' Guide to VCE to have on hand ( https://www.roadmapeducation.com/parents-guide ), and listen up as I clarify what the key organisations like VCAA and VTAC do, w...

What we're talking about: After working with parents first as a teacher and now as a career counsellor, and now being a parent myself, I know how hard it can be to navigate that line between allowing your child to have their independence and also wanting to support them as best you can. In this episode I share how you can best support your child through the decision making process around VCE subje...

What we're talking about: 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...

What we're talking about: An Instagram post from @biglifejournal prompted this episode. The story they shared about how parents supported a child in her dream of becoming a mermaid, in the process helping her learn fantastic life skills including how to reach her goals, made me think about how we are likely to dismiss teens when they come to us with ideas about their future career. 1:23 The post t...

What we're talking about: Do Year 11 results matter? Are they used to calculate your ATAR? Are my SACs in Year 11 important? It's the start of the new school year, and when you're new to the VCE system, it can be hard to understand how it all works. In this episode of Course and Career Chat, I'm answering your questions about what's important in Year 11 so you know what to focus on. 2:23 VCE termi...

What we're talking about: What if you don't know what university or TAFE course, or what career you want to pursue? I work with heaps of high school students who either have no idea yet what they want to do, or who want to do EVERYTHING and need help narrowing it down. Here are some ways you can start to work it out. 2:56 Talk to people The people who know you best, like your parents or friends, w...

What we're talking about: Exams are just about over, and now you've shifted to looking at your VTAC preference list and wondering what ATAR you might get. Lots of students are asking about ATAR calculators and which one they should use. Let's have a look at how you can best work out your ATAR. 1:33 How hard is it to work out what ATAR you might get? Guessing your ATAR is really difficult because y...

What we're talking about: I'm talking to anyone who is choosing and finalising their VCE subjects, and I'm answering the question "How many VCE subjects should I do?" 2:13 How many VCE subjects do you need to get an ATAR? According to VCAA, you have to do an English subject, and then at least 3 other VCE subjects (so 4 VCE subjects in total). Most schools will have their own rules about what they...

What we're talking about: If you're trying to decide whether you want to do a scored VCE, unscored VCE or VCE-Vocational Major (VM), then listen up! In this episode I'll explain the implications of choosing each type in terms of what happens when you want to apply to TAFE or university. 1:57 What's the difference between a scored and an unscored VCE? If you do a scored VCE, then you'll get an ATAR...

What we're talking about: 2:16 A note for parents about prerequisites If you finished high school a while ago, you need to know that the prerequisites for courses have changed dramatically since we were applying to university. We've seen an increase in mental health issues, anxiety and comparison for today's students, and this has led to less students choosing what some people call "harder" subjec...