Supporting Students with QTAC Preferences

Our Year 12 students have been working closely with the Guidance Officers and senior schooling team to prepare for their next steps beyond school. Over the past few weeks, students have received support in understanding the QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) application process, exploring university and TAFE pathways, and refining their preferences.

In this process, students have been encouraged to not only consider their dream course, but also to check subject adjustment factors, course prerequisites, and offer rounds. Many students have already lodged their applications, and some have even received early offers from UniSQ through their participation in the Head Start program. We will continue to meet with those who require further guidance.

Our goal is for every student applying through QTAC to receive an offer. To support this, students have also been advised to include pathway courses in case they do not receive their expected ATAR. Information about upgrading course options has been communicated to all Year 12s, and I will be in contact with students and families where additional pathway preferences may need to be added as a precaution.

Parents and caregivers play an important role in this process by discussing options at home and ensuring applications are submitted on time. QTAC applications are now open, and it is essential that preferences are lodged by 30 September 2025 to be considered in the first round of offers.

We encourage families to:

• Sit down with students and review their preferences together.
• Contact the university directly if there are questions about prerequisites or entry requirements.
• Reach out to me if additional support is needed.

We are proud of the effort our Year 12s are putting into shaping their future pathways and look forward to celebrating their achievements in the months ahead.

Supports for Students at University

I have recently received several enquiries about how students are supported at university. At school, students are accustomed to both academic and social-emotional support, and families may wonder whether the university experience is different. Many parents recall a “sink or swim” approach from their own studies.

Modern universities, however, provide a wide range of structured services to meet the needs of their students. Each university has a wellbeing department with staff dedicated to academic, personal, and career support.

At the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), students can access:

Wellbeing Supports

• Multi-faith chaplaincy
• Student counsellors
• Mental health nurse
• Student wellbeing advisors
• Accessibility and disability support, including Learning Support Plans (with medical documentation)
• Clinical psychologist (fees may apply)

Career Supports

• Career counselling for prospective students
• Employability and skills development for current students and recent graduates (up to 12 months post-graduation)
• Résumé support and work experience programs

Learning Advisors

• Academic support across a wide range of disciplines (First Nations College, Maths, Arts, Business and Law, Education, Engineering, Sciences and IT, Health, UniSQ College)
• Assistance with assignment writing, unpacking assessment tasks, and developing study strategies

Modern universities ensure students do not need to “swim alone.” If your child experiences difficulties, please contact the wellbeing department at their institution. Contact details for the UniSQ Wellbeing Team are included below.