Brendan Krueger

Foundation Principal

2024 Student Resource Scheme (SRS) - 2nd instalment now overdue

Thank you to those families who have already made payments or set up payment plans. 

For those families who are paying the Student Resource Scheme (SRS) in instalments, the 2nd instalment was due on Friday the 10th of May.

The remaining payment due date is:

• 3rd instalment due Friday 9th August

Statements have been emailed, please note that if you have already made a payment or set up a payment plan through direct debit or Centrepay these statements are for your information only.  Statements will be sent again prior to the final instalment due date.

Any missed payments will be followed up in the coming weeks.

Payment Options

Our school GP clinic offers secondary students the majority of services that young people are able to access from GPs in the community, including management of physical health, mental health, and sexual and reproductive health issues.   However, GP cannot provide vaccinations.

All visits to the GP will be provided at no cost to students or their families. The GP will bulk-bill all appointments through Medicare, so it is important that students bring their Medicare card (or their Medicare number) with them to their appointment.

Dr Singh visits the school every Friday morning.

Parents/Guardians and Students are able to book an appointment with the School GP by:

Email: GPbookings@ripleyvalleySSC.com.au

Phone: (07) 3819 5333

Students may also book an appointment by speaking directly with the Administrative Co-ordinator (Mrs Pratt) directly.  Mrs Pratt can be located in the library.

Our school clinic staff – Rachael Pratt (GP administrator); Janet Ingram (Guidance Officer and program lead); Brendan Krueger (Principal); Dr Dushyant Singh (GP); and Daniel Pym (Deputy Principal and program lead). 

QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre) update for parents of Year 12 students

All students applying for higher learning, including TAFE diplomas, will need to apply through QTAC.  On the 29^th of July, I will be delivering a presentation to Year 12 students on how to apply through QTAC and order course preferences to ensure an offer. Following this presentation, all Year 12 students will attend a “Next Steps” interview with a member of the senior schooling team, to check they have either ordered their QTAC preferences appropriately and/or discuss an alternate post school plan.

Key QTAC dates are as follows:

Thursday 1 August 2024 - Opening of Admissions applications for 2025

Thursday 1 August 2024 - Opening of ATAR Portal registration for 2024 year 12 students

Friday 13 December 2024 - Release of the 2024 ATAR results

Monday 23 December 2024 - December Offer round

Thursday 16 January 2024 - January Offer round

Please encourage your child to check in with the Career Board on Day Map for career updates.  

How many career changes in a lifetime?

CAREERS – article extracted From University of Queensland Website with links inserted for further information. 

Some of our Year 12 students will struggle with indecisiveness towards the end of their schooling and honestly, it is a big ask to expect a seventeen year old to know how they will spend the next forty working years. It is important as a parent to remind your child that the job they initially start with may not be forever, and research suggests it is likely they will change jobs over the course of their life.  I am sharing this very helpful article from the University of Queensland, to equip you as a parent to support your child and alleviate their concerns about "wanting to get my career choice right". If you are considering a career change, you might be benefit from this article. 

3-5 -minute read

The days of graduating from university and settling into a single job for the rest of your days are long gone. It’s now more common than ever for people in Australia – and around the world – to have several career changes on their resumés.

But just how many times do people change careers? And how many jobs will Gen Z have in their lifetime compared to millennials and previous generations?

Let’s dive into some data to discover:

• how many careers the average person has
• why people change careers so much
• what you can do to prepare for a life of various jobs.

Job vs career: A job usually refers to a specific position you hold with an employer. A career means an ongoing profession and can include any number of jobs within a particular field or line of work. For example, being a Copywriter at The University of Queensland is a job, whereas writing digital content is a career.

How many jobs in a lifetime?

Most people remain in the workforce for around 45 years (typically from their early 20s to their mid-60s), and the average person changes jobs ever 2 years and 9 months. So, you could easily accumulate around 16 jobs on your resumé before you retire.

Of course, this may vary quite a bit due to factors like the industry (or industries) you work in, your personal circumstances, and your level of education. For example, having a bachelor’s degree or a higher qualification tends to lead to more job opportunities – and more opportunities to change careers as you please.

Keep in mind that not everyone considers a “job” to be the same thing. A freelancing gig or casual part-time role may count as a job in some people’s view. But others may only deem full-time, permanent positions to be jobs.

How many careers in a lifetime?

Changing jobs can be as simple as getting promoted to a new title or taking a similar role at another company. A career change, on the other hand, usually means jumping into a new type of work altogether and even switching into a different field or industry.

And while this is more intense than a job change, it still happens more often than you might expect.

Research shows most people will change careers at least once in their lives. In fact, the average person tends to go through 3-7 careers before they retire, and this number may be more like 5-7 for the current and upcoming generations of workers.

Why do people change careers so much?

Some of the most common reasons people will move from one job or career to the next include:

• to pursue a better opportunity (this could mean better pay and/or more fulfilling work)
• to get away from a toxic work environment or industry
• to find a job with more room for growth or progression
• to get away from a specific boss or manager
• due to being dismissed or made redundant.

The job-hopping generation gap

Both anecdotally and statistically, Millennials and Gen Zers have a reputation for skipping from one job to the next more frequently than prior generations. Experts suggest a couple of potential reasons for this trend, including:

• Modern workplace culture is less focused on employee loyalty than before.
• Younger workers want to explore a wider range of industries and career opportunities, and they’re less interested in workplace longevity.
• Not attaching themselves to one organisation allows young workers more flexibility to work multiple roles including side hustles.
• Some industries underpay younger workers, leading them to seek out higher-paid opportunities as quickly as they can.

So, how do you prepare for a life of varied careers?

Once you’re working, there are several things you can do to stay ready for any career changes you might make:

• Maintain a growth mindset. Try to view any challenges you come across as opportunities to learn rather than obstacles to your progress. This approach to problems will help you become resilient and adaptable – two traits that are valuable in any career and helpful when changing careers.
• Reflect on your life and career often. Taking regular time out to check in on your feelings about your current role (e.g. whether you’re fulfilled and engaged by the job and whether the work you’re doing aligns with your passions) can help you identify when it’s time to make a move.
• Cherish and nurture professional relationships. A solid network of professional contacts can prove very useful when making career changes. Consider that any colleague you work with may be on a career path just as diverse as yours, so you never know when your paths may cross again. Maintaining genuine relationships with peers and mentors may open future doors that otherwise would’ve been locked.
• Go back to study if you need to. Postgraduate study doesn’t just exist to keep university professors busy. Sometimes your universal skills and growth mindset won’t quite be enough to switch into a better career, so you may need to return to uni to get the specific skills and qualifications you need to progress.
• Take advantage of professional development. When your employer(s) make learning opportunities available to you, don’t miss out on them. Broadening your capabilities and keeping your knowledge current is key to making career changes. Professional development in out-of-the-box areas could even provide the spark to inspire your next leap.

The idea of having up to 7 careers in your life can feel intimidating, especially when you’re just trying to choose a degree and find your first job right now. But over the years, you might be surprised by just how naturally you’ll step from one career to the next – especially if you have a versatile education and a positive attitude to back you up.

Important UniSQ updates Admissions Medicine pathway - application close date Have you already sat your UCAT exam and are planning to apply for UniSQ's pathway to medicine at the University of Queensland? Applications for UniSQ's Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Medicine Pathway) are due to open on Thursday 1 August and will close on Monday 30 September. There is no opportunity for late submissions, so ensure you get your application submitted with plenty of time to spare. Early entry UniSQ will be continuing its Early Entry application process this year and will begin taking applications from Thursday 1 August and can send you a conditional offer as early as Friday 6 September if you apply early and meet all of the listed requirements. UniSQ Open Days Ipswich | 11 August | 10am - 2pm Springfield | 11 August | 10am - 2pm

Please also be aware that Universities are holding their open days around this time and I have listed a few below.  Please consult the university website for exact times and locations.  

Commemorations

Over the next two months, the military calendar will see the commemoration of three important conflicts that Australia was involved in.

Battle of Fromelles

On July the 19^th, we commemorate the 108^th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles. This conflict was the first the Australian Imperial Force saw action on the Western Front in WW1. Widely regarded as a massive disaster the battle was described as the ‘worst 24 hours in Australia’s entire history’, with 5,500 Australians either killed or injured.

 

Minutes Before the attack at Fromelles

Korean Veterans Day

The 27^th July is Korean Veterans Day, and commemorates the 71^st anniversary of the armistice that ended the Korean War.

17,000 Australians served in Korea, along with 21 other allied nations. 340 Australians lives were lost, 29 were made prisoners of war and more than 40 went missing in action.

Often referred to as the ‘Forgotten War, much of the efforts of the Australians sadly went unnoticed.

Members of 3 RAR move forward in 1951

Vietnam Veterans Day 

Vietnam Veterans Day is commemorated on the 18^th August.  2024 marks 51 years since the end of Australia’s involvement in the conflict.

The most famous battle involving Australians is the Battle of Long Tan.

Lasting less than four hours, 105 Australian soldiers along with three New Zealand soldiers held off a force of more than 2,000 Viet Cong Soldiers. 17 Australian soldiers perished, with 25 more wounded.

The Battle of Long Tan is a reminder of what can be achieved against overwhelming odds.

Part of the dedication ceremony for

the Long Tan Cross in August 1969

Defence Week

Defence Week will run from the 22^nd – 26^th July.  The purpose of Defence week is to highlight aspects and roles of the Australian Defence Force to our school community.

This years’ focus is Animals of the ADF, and looks at some of the role’s animals have played both historically and currently in our Defence Forces.

We are very lucky to have ADF personnel who will be assisting with presentations and displays at the college, and I am sure our students will learn a lot about some of Australia’s unsung heroes and the countless lives they saved throughout our military history.  We also have a couple of very special Army Mascots popping in to say hello too.  Stay tuned!

Postings/Deployments/Transition Out of the ADF

The posting cycle has begun.  For families or Defence Members who may be moving on, the Defence Member and Family Support Branch (DMFS) have supports that may be of assistance to you.

• Support for Families: Updating resumes, Partner Employment Assistance Program, Special Needs, Financial Advice
• Support for Children: Childcare, Changing Schools, Education Assistance Program, Defence School Mentor Program,
• Support for Community: Community Support Coordination Program, Family Support Funding Program

Further information about DMFS support programs can be found at:

https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/family-programs-services

 

Parental Absence due to Military Service

If your family is expecting an extended absence of your Defence member due to a posting or deployment, please advise the Defence School Mentor to engage additional support for your student.

DMFS SUPPORT INFORMATION

Defence Member and Family Hotline - 1800 624 608

DMFS https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/family-programs-services

To contact the Defence School Mentor: Tracey Cooper

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 0800 - 1430hrs

Email: tcoop203@eq.edu.au

Phone : 3819 5333

G’Day Sports fans!

With the start of term 3 we are seeing the end of all of the busy period of sport for the year. And what a year it has been! We’ve had many successes and triumphs with new records and PBS set for the college. Even though it's starting to calm down, there are still a few things that need to be done.

Yagera

The winter season of Yagera sport is now under way with many of our teams participating in their tournaments this week. A reminder that in order to attend these events students must have both returned their permission notes & paid the Yagera Bus & Competition fee by the due date. The form is sent from the school email account so make sure you check your junk inboxes. If you haven’t received it and you’re on of the below teams, please reach out to admin or Justin Clifford.

Below you can see the upcoming tournament dates. The bus departs from the college at 7:15am for each of these events. Remember we have a strict uniform policy. Crocs or sandals will not be allowed to be worn off school grounds.

16^th July – Basketball – Ripley Valley SSC Raptordome

17^th July – Volleyball – Nissan Arena (590 Mains Rd, Nathan QLD 4111)

18^th July – Football/Soccer – Springfield United FC (Sportstar Dr, Springfield Central QLD 4300)

19^th July – Junior Netball – Western Districts Netball Association (Faulkner Park, Waratah Avenue, Leybourne St, Graceville QLD 4075

Athletics

Last term in week 9 we held our annual athletics carnival. It was a great day with participation at an all-time high. It was great to see all of our students engage with the activities and give everything their best shot.

At the end of the day there can only be one house that emerges victorious! The points considered the top four positions in each event, the participation in each event and the spirit each house showed throughout the day. The end tally concluded at:

1^st Place – 3261 Points: Goolman

2^nd Place – 2765 Points: Flinders

3^rd Place – 2186 Points: Perry

4^th Place – 2048 Points: Blaine

As well as participating for their houses, students also competed for the age champions spots. Each year level has three age champions based off their total amount of points accumulated throughout the day from each event. Age Champions will receive a medallion at the end of year awards ceremony in term 4. Our 2024 Athletics Age Champions are:   

District Athletics Carnival

Students who placed in the top two spots for 13 to opens and first place for 12 Years for each event at the athletics carnival have been invited to compete at the district Athletics Carnival. This is held over two days on 25^th and 26^th of July at the UQ Athletics Track in St. Lucia. A bus will transport students to and from this event, leaving the college at 6:30am. Students have been emailed all the information they need for the events and which day they are participating in. Any Questions, please reach out to Justin Clifford.

All Schools Touch Football

After many years of trying to get into the All-Schools Touch Football Competition, we have finally been accepted with a 15 Boys & a 15 Girls team. The boys & Girls teams train Wednesday & Thursday afternoon from 3pm – 4pm. From week 2 onwards training is required and failure to attend will result in removal from the team.

Ripley Athlete Development

Justin Clifford

Sports Co-ordinator

jcliff117@eq.edu.au