04 Aug 2021

People talk about getting a degree like it’s supposed to be one straight line, from senior years to getting the exact marks you want, to smashing it all out in 3 years. Not only does that sound absolutely breathless, it’s pretty inaccurate when it comes to how real life works. As in all parts of life, stuff just comes up sometimes, and the idea of managing the rest of your life plus Year 12 can get a bit too much. That’s where student pathways programs, like the one at Chisholm TAFE come into play.

We asked them a few Q’s to see what they have  to offer if you’re taking a different path as you leave high school:

First, the big one: do I need an ATAR for student pathways?

Nope! You don’t need an ATAR to enrol in a Chisholm course. That being said, there are some courses which need prerequisites, but that’s on a case-by-case basis. An example might be for a first-year Bachelor program, if you don’t have a VCE, you might need to do a pre-admission interview or an English placement test to check up on your reading, writing, speaking and listening skills. Talk about a load off!

I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish high school atm - are there any more options for me?

If you’re over 16, Chisholm has an option to do year 10, 11 or 12 programs. What’s great about this is if you need to take a step back for a little while to work or sort some stuff out, you can get back on track when you’re ready. Chisholm also offers smaller class sizes, and loads of ways to customise your experience while you’re there so you’re learning stuff you’re passionate about.

I've heard people talking about pathways - what's the deal with those?

Basically a pathway lets you customise your learning journey to meet your needs - if you want a job in a particular industry, a trade qualification or to go on and do further study like a bachelor’s, they’ll mentor you, and work with you to get you up to that level. If you’re not sure what you want to do, you can also switch it up as you go, and try out a bunch of different options until you find the right fit for you.

What qualifications can I get?

Chisholm offers a variety of qualifications from certificates, to diplomas and bachelor’s degrees. If you’re doing a pathway, you can get a certificate, diploma and/or an advanced diploma as well as a bachelor’s degree and in many cases receive credits enabling you to shorten your degree study time. The Australian Qualification Framework has a good rundown of all the different qualification levels and what they mean over here.

If you’re looking to take a different path in your last couple years as a kid, taking a pathways program can be a great way to learn at your own speed, build confidence and get the mentorship you need. If that sounds like something you’d be into, take a quick look at the Chisholm TAFE site and see what they’ve got on offer!