Careers

WBHS Class of 2024: A Strong Start to the Future

The 2024 graduating class of Warners Bay High School (141 students), has demonstrated a strong commitment to further education and career pathways.

An impressive 66% of students have enrolled in university, with 76% of HSC ATAR-eligible students receiving a university offer. Health, Science, and Engineering remain the most popular fields, attracting nearly 60% of university-bound students. Additionally, 8% of students have secured an apprenticeship or traineeship, while 7% have enrolled in vocational education and training (VET) through TAFE or an RTO.

The University of Newcastle (UON) continues to be the preferred choice, with 95% of university-bound students choosing to study there, although some also received offers from prestigious institutions such as UNSW, University of Sydney, and ANU.

Soaring to Success: TAFE delivered VET Pathways

Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualifications have been developed with the specific goal of preparing students with skills for the workplace. The number of students studying VET courses has been slowly increasing each year.

Last year saw over 45 Warners Bay High students attend TAFE delivered courses across our local campuses. Students study a variety of courses such as: Aviation (Remote Pilot), Animal Studies, Construction, Automotive, Business Services, Community Services, Design Fundamentals, Electrotechnology and Beauty Services.

We are incredibly proud of all our TVET graduates, especially Hosei (Year 11, 2024), who achieved his Certificate III in Aviation – Remote Pilot (Droning). This marks a historic milestone for WBHS, as he is the first student to earn an aviation qualification as part of an HSC pattern of study.

Youth Engagement Strategy (YES) Program at TAFENSW

The Youth Engagement Strategy program (YES) is a program which helps students identify potential career pathways through vocational tasters across a wide range of industries, delivered at a local TAFE NSW campus. This program gets students out of the school setting into TAFE-style learning, usually attending a TAFE NSW campus one day per week over 5 weeks.

We had over 60 Year students from Year 10 participate in these programs that included: Animal Care, Car Detailing, Animation, Nursing, Electronics, Metal Fabrication, Cookery and Barista, Mechatronics, Beauty Therapy, Hairdressing, Flooring, Cabinet Making and Introduction to Defence Forces. These courses took place at five of our local TAFE campuses and offered great exposure to life in a tertiary setting.

Work Experience: Exploring potential career paths

At Warners Bay High School, our work experience program has seen a significant increase in student participation. Our students engage in a diverse range of industries, from Fire and Rescue to diesel mechanics, vet assisting to digital media, and even workplace opportunities at the Hunter Medical Research Institute. This broad exposure helps students explore their interests, develop valuable connections, and gain experience that sets them up for future success.

Several of our Year 10 work experience students secured apprenticeships and traineeships at the end of 2024 after demonstrating excellent workplace skills during their placements. One standout example is Baxter (pictured here), who completed his work experience with a local plumber. His strong work ethic left a lasting impression on the employer and staff, leading to an apprenticeship offer, which he has recently started.

Excursions: 

Year 10 Careers Expo

In May 2024, over 200 Year 10 WBHS students attended the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Careers Expo, the region's largest event for transitioning secondary students.

With a record number of local and interstate exhibitors, including major universities, top training colleges, businesses, industry leaders, and community organizations, the event provided invaluable career insights. Students found the experience highly beneficial, with the most common complaint being that they wished they could have stayed longer!

Year 12 Schools Visit Day to the University of Newcastle

In July 2024, 90 Year 12 WBHS students attended the Schools Visit Day at the University of Newcastle, an immersive experience that takes learning beyond the classroom and textbooks. This event allowed students to step into the shoes of a first-year university student—attending program presentations, exploring the campus on guided tours, and engaging with academics and student ambassadors.

We encouraged students to make the most of the opportunity by attending presentations and asking questions to refine their program preferences, helping them make informed decisions about their future studies.

Safety in the Workplace

Over the past 12 months Careers has provided 80 students with the opportunity to gain their National WHS General Construction Induction training, also known as the White Card.  Last year, four courses were run at school to prepare students for work in the construction industry and on worksites which are under construction.

Many people are surprised to learn that students studying Entertainment Industry must also have this certification, as productions often require the construction of scaffolding for stages and sets. This general safety training is relevant and valuable to any student wishing to upskill.

In 2024, a WBHS Year 10 student gained valuable work experience assisting in the preparation for the Schools Spectacular at Sydney Olympic Park.

School Leavers Who Read Weekly Emails Succeed!

All students from Years 10, 11 and 12 are sent weekly emails from the Careers Team.  This enables students seeking work to access the latest job vacancies, apprenticeships and traineeships on offer in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region. Each year students actively seeking employment gained valuable information on job vacancies via this weekly email. Students seeking employment should make a habit of checking this weekly email as it has been the catalyst for numerous cases of employment over the past few years.

Parents and carers who would also like to receive this weekly email should contact the Careers Adviser to request this weekly email.

Successful School Leavers

The Careers team are incredibly proud of our students, and we wish them every success as they begin the next chapter of their journey—whether entering the workforce, pursuing further studies at university, or gaining valuable life experience and skills in preparation for their future pathways.