“Many of our students are planning a university pathway; however, approximately one-third of our boys are looking at trade pathways, which can be started while they are at TGS.”— Mrs Anthea Ritchers
The Toowoomba Grammar School Careers department is always a hive of activity. We are a team of four and usually work with the boys from Year 9 onwards.
Our focus is to work with each individual student to assist in creating awareness of the world of work, helping students to articulate their interests and identifying what is important to them and their values. We assist the boys in developing the skills to explore the different careers out there. We connect them with employers and industry professionals and help them navigate towards the job or career they are interested in. We work hard to individualise each student’s unique School journey to help prepare them for life after school.
Our academic program caters to all students, whether they are interested in pursuing careers in the creative arts or medicine. We have the capacity for our students to follow a straight academic or vocational pathway or a combination of both. This leaves many doors open for the boys when they leave the security of TGS.
How do boys know what they want to do after School when they are only in Year 10?
Subject selection and career planning are a big part of Year 10. How do our students know what they want to do after School? The answer is — they don’t know yet, and that is okay. At Toowoomba Grammar School, we aim to support the boys in making informed decisions and provide them with the skills to navigate the many and varied career options available to them. There is always a way to get to where you want to go; the pathway may just look a little different for some students. We are all about pathways!
Career plan interviews
In Year 10, our boys undertake career profiling, which looks at career interests, aptitude and abilities, personality profiling and transferable skills. Each student receives a personalised report which is used in our career plan interviews with our students and their parents. In these meetings, we discuss possible pathways and assist the boys with subject selection for Years 11 and 12. We are fortunate to have the time to see each student and his parents for an individual meeting. This allows the Careers department to get to know each boy and assist with his pathway planning for senior studies.
Industry exposure and work experience
Throughout Years 10, 11 and 12, all of our students have the opportunity to complete work experience, attend industry-based tours and hear from employers across our region. Some of these employers are TGS Old Boys - we love it when our Old Boys come back to share their career journeys with us. The connections and opportunities for our students to explore different careers helps them to make more informed decisions about life after school and develop an understanding of different industries.
University visits
Early preparation for university entry is also important. During the career plan interviews, subject selection and university prerequisite subjects are often hot topics of conversation, as it is important to choose subjects that will keep options open. I often have boys who have changed their minds from Years 10 to 12, so planning is important. Each year, the University Showcase event allows the Year 12 students to engage face-to-face with representatives from Queensland and northern NSW universities. The students are also provided with the opportunity to visit several university campuses and residential colleges during Years 11 and 12.
The key message is that it is going to be okay. At TGS, there is excellent academic and vocational support to assist the boys and help them make informed choices about life after school. We enjoy travelling through the final stage of their school journey with them. We hope to equip them with the tools they need to navigate the tertiary system, the trade pathway and the world of work. As our vision states, we aim to ensure the boys exit TGS with the skills to be independent, well-balanced and successful in life, to respond well to challenges, and to achieve lifelong wellbeing.
Latest Blog
A New Season for Coach Kabe
Highly respected Head of Basketball and 1st V Coach, Kabe Ciccolini is embarking on a new and inspiring chapter. This season, he takes up the role of Assistant Head of Corfe House, guiding our youngest boarders with a warmth and passion that is uniquely his own. Kabe’s decision to transition into the role of Assistant Head of Corfe House reflects his unwavering commitment to mentorship and leadership. For him, this move signifies a positive step in his career. “It’s an opportunity to further…
Embrace Every Moment
In the words of one of the greatest leaders of all time, Albus Dumbledore, “it does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.” The wise wizard spoke these words to Harry as he stood before the Mirror of Erised, a magical artifact that reveals one’s deepest desires. These words tell the story of the balance between our dreams and the richness of the present moment. We live in a world that often urges us to focus on our aspirations; , sometimes we get so lost in our dreams that we do not…
What is the TGS Athletic Development Academy?
As a TGS Old Boy (2003-14), sport has always been an integral part of my upbringing. As a young boy I discovered the joys of cricket, track and field and touch footy. This love of being active led me to studying Exercise Science at University and I was fortunate enough to work with a range of national and international level athletes, culminating in an internship at the Brisbane Broncos. This experience launched my career in the strength and conditioning space, allowing me to work with…
The Boarding and Day Family Connections
My husband Ben and I are four years into our boarding journey at Toowoomba Grammar School, we have two boys in Mackintosh House, Josh in Year 10 and Archie in Year 9, and a daughter Ella who is home with us for one more year before we become empty nesters. We are in the fortunate position that we live reasonably close, so we have the privilege of taking our boys home often and can attend most School events. For many of our boarding families, this is not the case, they live great distances away…
Streamline Success
Education is a transformative journey where the path we choose exerts a profound influence on our ultimate success. A streamed class is like an express locomotive: swift, efficient, and filled with eager passengers zooming towards their educational destination. Meanwhile, an unstreamed class resembles a motley group of hikers who accidentally wandered onto the wrong trail, stumbling and bickering as they struggle to find their way. Imagine the express locomotive of streamed classes, full of…
Reducing Stress: the Key to a Peaceful Life
Have you ever felt the soul-crushing burden of stress dragging your life through the mud? Ever had your precious time dwindled away at the hands of stress, while you are left powerless and alone? Well all this pain and anguish can be resolved in an instant; and all it takes is a change in the way we think. This alteration in brain chemistry is defined as mindfulness, the ability to obtain momentary awareness and recognition of our thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness is the key to defeating…
Gaining Ground with a Growth Mindset
I have seen the posters. I have sat the assemblies. I have watched the ads telling us about growth mindsets and how to develop one, and I'm sure you have too. But what we don't do is apply it to ourselves to help benefit our lives, however, there is no reason to blame yourself. The growth mindset is a deep topic that has many layers to it and is extremely important to have today. While we might blame other things on our weaknesses, it all links back to one thing – our mindset. To benefit our…
Sleeping Away the Mental Health Crisis
Two in five. That’s how many young Australians between the ages of 16 and 24 have experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months (ABS, 2022). Let that sink in. Think of your closest five mates. Odds are that two of them are suffering right now from a crippling mental illness. According to recent studies conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia is witnessing an unprecedented rise in mental health issues among its youth, leaving them vulnerable and struggling (Headspace,…
Time for a Wake Up Call
Did you know that one in five 12–17-year-olds average over 8 hours of screen time a day? That means that in a 14-hour day, 57% of their waking hours involve looking at a screen! This madness is contributing to a very significant problem all teenagers face - sleep deprivation. It is killing us. We are becoming walking zombies rather than happy, growing lads. However, we can end this treacherous technological tyranny by putting down our screens before bed. Stop and think for a second. How much…
