Careers and Vocational Education

Explore Your Future with Careers and Vocational Education at St Patrick's College Townsville

At the College, we are dedicated to helping students identify their strengths and interests, paving the way for career satisfaction. Our comprehensive Careers service offers expert guidance across various post-school options, ensuring students are well-equipped for their future endeavours.

Our Careers program provides the following:

• Career planning
• Advertising available positions
• Expert assistance with career research
• University experiences
• Job application support
• Professional resume writing
• Scholarship Guidance
• Upcoming event notifications
• Work Experience
• QTAC applications
• Personalised one-on-one careers counselling
• One on one coaching for interview skills

Work Experience Program:

Students in Years 10, 11 and 12 may participate in the Work Experience Program, which is optional. This is a valuable educational activity that enables students to observe and participate in an area of employment that interests them.  Students work in an industry of their choice for some time during their school holidays.

Other Work Experience programs include The Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS) - High School Health Careers Program.  Students will have the chance to explore a wide array of health careers, such as nursing, midwifery, medicine, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, radiology, speech pathology, nutrition and dietetics, social work, pharmacy, medical sciences, and exercise physiology.  This program is promoted through the school and students will have the opportunity to apply. 

The Defence Work Experience Program provides young Australians interested in Defence as a future career, the opportunity to sample life in Defence and learn more about the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Australian Public Service (APS).  For queries about the Defence Work Experience Program please email Defence.WorkExperienceProgram@defence.gov.au

All work experience must be approved by the College and a Work Experience contract is signed covering the student for insurance purposes.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Program:

• School-Based Traineeships/Apprenticeships
• TAFE – VET in Schools Programme/TCTC Programme and other providers
• Delivery of qualifications at St Patrick’s College Townsville in 2024

School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships:

School Based Apprenticeships and School Based Traineeships allow students to train and do paid work in their chosen area while still studying for their QCE.  Students should be capable of the additional workload and should be motivated.  Students sign a training agreement that commits you and your employer to the apprenticeship or traineeship.

Benefits for the student are:

• Contributes points towards Queensland Certificate of Education
• A head start in the job market
• Completion or progress toward the completion of a vocational qualification eg. Certificate III in Hospitality
• Paid employment for the time spent at work
• Training with a registered training organisation
• An easier move from school to work
• Gaining first-hand experience in the industry

TAFE – In Schools Program:

Students interested in vocational careers are offered the opportunity to attend TAFE on a one-day-a-week basis to complete a Certificate II outcome by combining school and TAFE studies over one period. Students must be in Year 11 or 12 to participate in this program. Completion of these certificates gains points towards the QCE.

Students must attend the TAFE College for one day per week for the school year and attend school on the remaining four days.  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are up-to-date with any school work they miss while they are at TAFE.

TCTC – Townsville Creative Technologies College offers students the opportunity to study Print and Media, Information technology, Music Production, Game production.

Students may only complete one fee-free course under the VETis program in Year 11 or 12.

Qualifications Delivered at St Patrick’s College Townsville

The College has formed partnerships with Binnacle Training RTO Code 31319 and Connect N Grow and can deliver a variety of Australian standard qualifications to our Year 11 and 12 students. The qualifications include:

• BSB30120 Certificate III In Business – Year 11 & 12
• Certificate II Health Support Services – Year 11
• Certificate III Health Services Assistance – Year 12
• SIS30115 Certificate III In Sport and Recreation – Year 11
• SIS20115 Certificate II In Sport and Recreation – Year 12

A Certificate III level qualification is a great stand-alone achievement and ensures that students are job-ready on the completion of Year 12. For more information on these courses, download our Curriculum Handbooks for 2024.

For the latest news and information about Careers and VET Services please visit the St Patrick's College Townsville Careers Website. For more information, contact our Dean of Pathways – Camille Flores at: cflores@stpatscollege.qld.edu.au