TAFE skill-assessed certificate courses offering training on how to become an auto mechanic, commercial chef, air conditioning repairer, massage therapist, or pastry chef (to name but a few of the many courses on offer), can be the perfect option for many different types of people. Higher education is not for everyone, and even if you already have a degree, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have all of the skills required to enter the workforce in the field you studied. Plus, in Australia it is often the case so-called ‘blue collar’ jobs can provide even better financial returns.

For some, you may have studied a course at university that you’ve now lost interest in, so studying afterwards could offer you another chance to find your true calling. Even if you’ve already made Australia your home, you can still go down this pathway to look for new options and start afresh on your career journey.

There are a number of potential advantages to studying a VET course. First of all, these courses don’t put nearly as much financial pressure on parents or families back home. Secondly, these courses require an IELTS score of 5.5, while degree courses require IELTS 6.5, or even IELTS 7.0 for some courses. This means it takes less time to achieve the necessary score. In the end, it amounts to decreasing the possibility of extended English study.

VET courses such as training to become a commercial chef can lead to a prosperous career in Australia.

Finally, you get an opportunity to study an Australian qualification. This can result in obtaining a better job when you go back to your home country (overseas qualifications of any type are looked upon favourably), you can start your own business there, or if you’re fortunate, you can work for an Australian company and stay on here.

We also want to tell you that getting a degree is still possible once you’ve completed your VET studies. VET sector courses can provide a pathway to second year entrance at some universities who recognise the accreditations you’ve earned throughout your VET program.

In all honesty, there are also challenges to studying VET sector courses. First, you will need more documents to support your visa application, especially if you’re from a ‘Level 3’ rated country (ranked by the Australian Department of Immigration). Second, you may be called for an interview before your visa is granted to check and make sure you have the genuine intention of studying in Australia on a temporary basis. Questions are asked to test whether or not you have adequate knowledge of your chosen institute and course, such as course content, duration of study, tuition fees, expected career outcome, and your future plans once having completed your course. In addition, you may also be examined on financial capabilities and source of income needed in order to afford study in Australia.

You’ll be asked questions like, ‘Why do you want to study this course? Why do you want to live in this city? How will you be supported financially? How much does your course cost? Why did you choose this school? Where will you live? How will you cover your living expenses?’ You’ll need to be able to answer these questions honestly to show you are genuinely interested in undertaking VET studies.

One of Max Therapy’s many Melbourne massage clinics where while studying students can apply their skills in a practical setting.

Now for our example case: We spoke to the Marketing Manager at the Max Therapy Institute, a training provider for people desiring a career in remedial massage therapy. Max Therapy is a Melbourne-based company who has been in business for over ten years, and as of early 2015, has 24 massage clinics in and around Melbourne. At the Max Therapy Institute students can study several VET accredited courses, ranging from a 10-month Certificate 4 program right through to a 3-year Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy. The advantages of studying at the Max Therapy Institute is the company behind the school has great branding, a strong network, is highly recognised in the market, and it has its own group of associated massage clinics.

The Max Therapy Institute’s curriculum is practical, and while you study you can apply your skills in its own clinics. This entails to real clinical practice while you study. The end result could be a pathway to a prosperous career in Australia, or potentially opportunities to set-up your own Max Therapy franchise, manage your own business, or further your studies at a recognised university.

If you’re interested in studying a VET sector course at the Max Therapy Institute, or at a wide range of other VET programs, Australia One Stop Support can help you register. It costs the same as if you went to the school directly, but by registering through Australia One Stop Support your registration fee will be waived. For more information, contact Australia One Stop Support today!

By Lai Hoong Chan

Australia One Stop Support

*Thanks to Travis Nep Smith for use of the second image via a Creative Commons License.

The post The Advantage of Studying Vocational Education & Training – VET Courses – in Australia appeared first on Australia One Stop Support.

Harriet has worked for many years as a counsellor, teacher, and has a background in psychotherapy. She has also lived and travelled extensively overseas throughout Asia. She is very experienced in working with young people (14 years+) who are going through a difficult time, as well as being knowledgeable about the best ways in which to fit in at a new school in a new country. As a student mentor, she is adept at encouragement and support, with the major goal being the increase of her students’ overall level of confidence.

Hannah first met with Harriet in October of 2013, and after working together for a year, both Harriet and Hannah will tell you that Hannah has changed a lot over this time period. After Australia One Stop Support moved her to a new more caring homestay where Hannah now enjoys living, the pair has used their sessions to help increase Hannah’s confidence, as well as to practise her English communication skills. Harriet said at first Hannah was even too shy to speak, but now she’s happy to talk about why she likes Australia – the clean air, how school is different here from back home, and the tasty multicultural foods she’s eaten in Melbourne.

Hannah has just finished Year 11 at Ivanhoe Grammar, but if she had come to Australia using the Australia One Stop Support service, we would have recommended her to a specialist English language school instead of going straight into an Australian high school’s foreign student program. However, due to the legalities involved, this was something we couldn’t change, and so we did our best to deal with the situation at hand.

Studying in Australia could be a great experience, and helpful for your future career.

When Harriet first met with Hannah she discovered she only associated with other students from China, and that they only spoke Mandarin with one another! Straight away Harriet employed a number of methods to help ‘expand Hannah’s world’. Together they focused on building awareness about where Hannah was living, seeing, and experiencing things outside of school and homestay. Harriet worked on helping Hannah become more resourceful while being away from her home and family, to take care of herself (including her health), and to begin proper cultural transition and assimilation.

Harriet pushed Hannah to do things out of the ordinary, and outside of her natural comfort zone. The goal was to help Hannah become the best she could be while she studied in Australia, and Harriet knew the only way this could be achieved with a relatively shy international student was to help Hannah gain more confidence in herself, with her English communication abilities, and for living amongst a new and very different culture. Together they practised English, discussing Hannah’s weekly experiences, while sharing and exchanging ideas to boost Hannah’s self-awareness and empower her for life’s many challenges ahead.

Throughout the process Hannah has come to realise she loves studying maths, and she’d like to study commerce at a Melbourne university, something she hadn’t figured out on her own. She now believes coming to Australia was a good idea, and has recommended it to her friends back in China – some of whom who have already organised to make the trip over to study. Hannah now reads both Chinese and English books (She’s currently reading ‘Growing up Asian in Australia’), and although she does miss China, she thinks she’d like to do a postgraduate degree one day in a different country – she’s caught the travel bug! If she does go back to China after her Bachelor’s degree, Hannah would like to go to Shanghai and believes her English skills could really help her to find a better job there. She’d also consider coming back to Australia again to look for work.

Harriet has not tried to turn Hannah into an Australian. Hannah’s hobbies still involve playing badminton, watching Chinese movies (both new films and those about ancient Chinese history), listening to traditional Chinese music, as well as playing We Chat, Weibo, and What’s App – very normal activities for a Chinese teenager. On the contrary, as an educational mentor, Harriet treats students as an individual and gets to know them on a one-on-one basis. Australia One Stop Support student mentors are aware that every person has different issues and needs. By helping you settle into Australian life, we also work hard to help students evolve to become true citizens of the world.

By Jesse S. Somer

Australia One Stop Support

*Feature image by Michelle Robinson and body text image by ‘Star Guitar‘, both used via Creative Commons License. Thanks!

The post Client Profile: Hannah appeared first on Australia One Stop Support.

We ALL have areas that need support, as English isn’t our first language.

A one-on-one IELTS analysis and feedback session offered by Australia One Stop Support clearly identifies your problem areas, thus reducing stress and expense.

Sessions are conducted by highly qualified, certified IELTS Test trainers that know how to help you target and improve your English language weaknesses.

Australia One Stop Support is offering a one-on-one IELTS analysis and feedback session!

Contact Australia One Stop Support on 1800 155 326 or info@australiasupport.com.au!

Get started on the next step to your Australian journey!

(Australia One Stop Support is a division of New Careers Australia)

Thanks to Hans Mestrum for use of the Feature image via a Creative Commons license.

The post International student taking or re-taking the IELTS Test? appeared first on Australia One Stop Support.

Stay in Australia, OR go home?

Want a future in Australia? You’ll need to:

• Sit IELTS
• Process EOI & PR applications
• Prepare for job search
• Consider Professional Year/Career Experience programs

Want to begin postgraduate studies to meet migration requirements? What do you want/need to study?
New Career Australia can assist you with its Australia One Stop Support services!
If you think this event may be interesting to any of your Singaporean friends, please forward it on to them. Thanks!

The post Australia One Stop Support Advice & Info Event for SOV Members appeared first on Australia One Stop Support.

Australia One Stop Support Client: I’m 19 years old, and I came to Australia in February of 2013 from Malaysia to study a Foundation course, with the intention of moving on to a Bachelor’s degree at an Australian university. My course at Trinity College, which is affiliated with Melbourne University, started just after I arrived, and was completed at the end of 2013.

Personally, I found the Foundation course to be very worthwhile, as it was a different type of education than what I previously received in Malaysia. I learned how to work in groups, present in front of classes, do in-depth research, and use critical analysis in my thinking.

When I came to Australia my brother had been living in Melbourne for 1 year, and I essentially followed in his footsteps. The strange thing is, just after I arrived he moved to Sydney to continue his studies, and I was left alone in Melbourne. I didn’t know anyone there at all. It was a little scary, but I’d contacted Australia One Stop Support just after arriving (my brother had recommended them to me, as he had also used their services) and so I had people to support me right from the beginning of my journey.

While I studied the Foundation course AOSS’s Occupational Psychologist/Counsellor, Harriet Epstein, supported me at this time by raising concerns about making friends, time management, and most importantly for me – the need to boost my confidence. AOSS was there with me all the way; I even had an opportunity to partake in a ‘buddy system’ where I could meet and hang out with a local Australian.

I’ve always been an independent person, yet I have to admit ongoing conversations with Harriet had a subtle and gradual positive effect on my self-confidence. I courageously began to try and chat with other international students from the hostel I was staying in, and I found out many of them were in exactly the same position as myself. Making friends wasn’t much of an issue after all!

Ms Chan from Australia One Stop Support pushed me out of my comfort zone too. I had never been on a train before, and was quite nervous about Melbourne’s public transport system. Ms Chan enticed me to catch a train on my own in order to meet her, and the spell was broken. After that I caught trains and trams everywhere around the city without thinking twice. It was winning small mental battles like this that further helped to boost my confidence.

‘Australia One Stop Support pushed me out of my comfort zone. I had never been on a train before, but Ms Chan enticed me to catch a train on my own in order to meet her, and the spell was broken.’

After much deliberation and analysis done in conjunction with my parents, I decided to study at the University of Tasmania. I believed this school would be best for me, as I don’t like being under too much pressure. My brother had told me how Law students at Sydney University were under so much pressure they really had no ‘life’ at all, and I’ve had some challenging experiences in high school, which I didn’t wish to repeat.

The University of Tasmania’s Law degree is recognised by the Malaysian Bar, which means if I do decide to go back to Malaysia one day, I’ll be able to practice Law there. My father and I ultimately decided that for me, ‘it would be better to be a big fish in a small pond, than a small fish in a big pond.’

My current course is a double Bachelor degree in Law and Arts. I adjusted my Student visa, which now lasts for the entire 4-year program. At first I wanted to study Law to change the world for the better, but now I’m considering a career in Commercial Law – who knows, maybe I can still make some small positive changes in the world?

I’m not sure whether I’ll go back to Malaysia or stay in Australia once I graduate. Australian society has better social benefits such as the Medicare health system, has a more established, stable, and experienced economy, and is safer than my home city of Kuala Lumpur. I could walk around Melbourne at 3am with no problem at all – something you can’t do in KL!

On the other hand, Malaysia may have more opportunities for me. My Australian degree will give me some competitive advantages, as well as the real life benefits I’ve gained through the type of learning I’ve experienced here. It’s been a real character-building experience. Critical thinking, analysis, and research are much different to the rote education I received back in Malaysia.

I’m now in Tasmania, but whenever I come to Melbourne, there is no doubt in my mind I will come and see the counsellors and consultants at Australia One Stop Support.

By Anonymous Australia One Stop Support Client
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Law
University of Tasmania

Thanks to Daniel Bowen for the use of the image via Creative Commons license!

The post Interview with 1st Year Uni of Tasmania Law/Arts Student appeared first on Australia One Stop Support.