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CATE Lunchtime Bytes

Recordings from our monthly lunch time webinars are available below by topic and date:

LUNCHTIME BYTE—Become Education: Closing the gap
A great career education program can be a powerful tailwind for schools that are under increasing pressure to improve educational outcomes. It is a powerful lever in addressing some of the biggest challenges to learning success, such as student well-being, equity and, particularly, engagement. A student who understands the relevance of what they’re learning and has the chance to work out why it matters to them and their future is on the way to developing authentic agency over their learning and life. Introducing careers education from as early as year 6 can deliver these transformative outcomes and starting that journey can be done in small, simple ways. Find out how over 50 NZ schools have integrated BECOME into their program.

This is one to bring the leadership team along to!

PRESENTER:
Liv Pennie is the CEO & Co-Founder of BECOME Education, which she started in 2017 to reimagine career education. She holds an MA in Psychology and a Postgrad in Career Development. She also spent 15 years in advertising, digital product and experience design. She combines these worlds of academia and innovation to close the gap between evidence and practice in contemporary careers education.

BECOME Education is a leader in contemporary career education, inspiring people to explore, design, and navigate their future actively. The evidence-based BECOME program facilitates tailored, effective career-related learning for individuals in schools, tertiary institutions and elite sports teams. The program has been recognised as an example of Global Effective Practice in Career Education for K-12 as well as being featured on the OECD’s Observatory On Digital Technology for Career Guidance for Youth

Lunchtime Byte—Whānau Āwhina Plunket Education for Schools
Sharelle Rowntree will be presenting for Whānau Āwhina Plunket Education for Schools. Hear what they are doing in the education space and the opportunities there are for your students.

Plunket have been working with schools for over 20 years, and have a fresh new look. Find out more about what they can offer you:

NZQA Unit Standards level 2 and 3
Multiple Vocational pathways—Education, Health, Hospitality, Tourism, Customer Service, Nanny, Air Crew, Physcology, Public Health, Child Development
STAR Course Options at both level 2 or 3
Gateway Partnering
Single Student or group student support
Country wide virtual support

Lunchtime Byte—Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad—a prominent organisation in the field of overseas service and internship travel for high school and university students. Projects Abroad runs programs for high school students and school leavers in countries such as Fiji, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Tanzania and Peru. In the webinar, the Director for New Zealand and Australia, Will Pashley, discusses popular programs for year 11-13 students in the areas of community service and gaining early experience in healthcare settings. The healthcare programs allow students to go on to further studies in medicine or nursing, for example, to intern at hospitals and community health initiatives, a valuable early experience. Students in the service-based programs can choose from conservation projects, construction work, and school-based initiatives, as well as help with English, sports, and creative activities. The webinar covers the philosophy and content of the programs, in-country support and safety, costs, and what students gain from the programs.

Lunchtime Byte—Competenz
Competenz gives an overview of its role as a nationwide organisation that represents (among others) mechanical engineering, fire protection, refrigeration and air conditioning, along with print, packaging and signmaking. They explain how they support learners throughout their apprenticeships. Competenz outlines how they can assist you with finding your students’ work experience opportunities to help pipeline them into their industries.

CareerWise platform—overview and new features
Watch the discovery session on CareerWise, with a quick overview for schools new to our platform and discuss our new ‘Connections’ feature, which is gradually rolling out. We’re conducting case studies with a few schools and have collaborated closely with Leigh Grey and the Ministry of Education on this feature.

‘Connections’ addresses the National Education Learning Priorities by helping schools better connect with their communities and organisations nationwide. It includes a built-in reporting tool to track your school’s progress in achieving the NELPs. While it’s designed for whole-school use, we understand it may need to start being utilised by the careers team first.

Canadian Working Holidays and GAP Years
Do you have students interested in studying overseas and pursuing an international career? Choose Canada for globally recognized university degrees with tuition fees generally lower than those in Australia, the U.K. and the U.S. (QS Top Universities, 2022). Experience a unique multicultural environment in an enchanting, bilingual, and safe country.

Are students unsure of which path to take? 77% said a gap year helped them find their purpose in life, and 90% of students who took a gap year returned to university within a year (Gap Year Association). Taking a gap year had a significant positive impact on student’s academic performance and focus upon their return, with the strongest impact on students with grades on the lower end of the distribution (Gap Year Research).

Representatives of the Consulate General of Canada in Sydney will deliver a webinar on studying, working holiday/ overseas experience/ gap year, and job opportunities in Canada. There will be time for a question-and-answer session.

Topics include:

Study: about Canada, benefits, university system, how to apply, requirements, budgeting, scholarships, work during/ after studying
Working Holiday: benefits, work permit conditions, eligibility criteria, how to apply, recognized organisations/service providers, requirements
Jobs: in demand jobs, where/ how to apply

Supporting Students with Neurodiversity—Eleanor Blakey
Eleanor Blakey, a marketer by trade, turned career advisor and advocate for neurodiversity. After her son’s diagnosis of neurodiversity, Eleanor was forced to pivot her career. Eleanor leveraged her marketing expertise, identifying a crucial gap and embarked on a mission to empower autistic teens, to develop meaningful career paths.
Eleanor pursued a Diploma in Career Development focusing on neurodiversity, particularly autism. Her blend of lived experience and professional knowledge equips her with a unique perspective. During Eleanor’s session, she will share actionable insights and practical guidance for supporting neurodiverse students as they navigate the intricate pathways of career development.

Grandshake Micro courses and virtual work experience
Picture this: A free treasure trove of digital opportunities. Grandshake is unlocking careers for young people with free micro-crash courses and virtual work experiences. Andrew Taylor, Grandshake’s partnership manager, will run an informative Lunchtime Byte to help explain who and what Grandshake is and focus on the opportunities available for all young people across New Zealand. These include digital career tasters, employability skills, virtual work experience and Google certificates, and all are available to start now. Come along and find out how to get started, where these opportunities may lead and how to share with everyone else. Some of the skills and opportunities you can achieve include: No-Sweat Digital Marketing—get ready to revolutionise marketing! Introduction to AI—unlock a world of knowledge shaping our digital future. Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate—Unlock a cool cyber-safe future! Learn to protect the web with Google, made easy for you No-Code Software—you don’t need to be a coding expert to create amazing apps. Designing Eco-Friendly Futures—Environmental Planning: Gain skills to preserve ecosystems and execute sustainable projects and many more…

Virtual Work Experience
Gary Grant will be talking about a free service called Virtual Work Experiences (VWE) covering 112 careers that provide fun exploratory activities for the student and go a long way to providing answers to finding, affirming, and developing a student’s career choice. Delivery takes 5 minutes, and it can be extended into lesson based learning. Suitable for all ability levels. Student certificate and employer reference support provided. Developed by the NSW Careers service JobJump, which currently supports 2 of 3 (or 540 ) NSW High Schools, VWE is being offered for all New Zealand schools and across Australia, UK and the US.

Why study Engineering? What is Engineering anyway?
The Women in Engineering team at the University of Auckland aims to increase the diversity of Engineering applicants coming through high school, by identifying and helping to overcome the barriers they face when considering Engineering as a career. Often the greatest barrier is not even knowing what engineers do! Our speakers will discuss their STEM experiences at school, their career paths, and the skills they have found necessary to succeed at university and in industry. We will also discuss the range of opportunities we offer to schools and teachers to help make Engineering more visible to students as they make decisions about their future after school. Join Ashleigh Fox (WIE Project Manager) and some inspiring wāhine who are studying and working in the engineering sector to find out more!

Lunchtime Byte: School to Skies Programme
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is dedicated to nurturing curiosity and self-assurance in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) among young people. At the core of this commitment is the School to Skies program, designed to introduce age-appropriate aviation science and engineering concepts to young minds. Through a multifaceted approach, School to Skies provides immersive STEM content in schools, community programs, and immersion camps. The program stands out with its commitment to hands-on experiential learning, offering participants unique insights into the world of aerospace and technology. What sets School to Skies apart is the direct mentorship offered by serving military personnel and influential industry leaders, ensuring a holistic grasp of STEM principles and their practical applications. By nurturing a passion for STEM, School to Skies not only contributes to building a skilled workforce but also inspires the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers in the fields of science and technology.

Lunchtime Bytes: Career EQ—Career Planet with Kaye Avery
CareerEQ understands that many people, particularly young people, are now uncertain about their prospects for a successful future. Our accustomed ways of thinking about our place in the world are being challenged by the lifestyles we have grown accustomed to. The advent of artificial intelligence and climate change will bring about a significant change in the world of work, rendering many jobs and career paths obsolete, while at the same time creating many new opportunities that we are yet to discover.

In order to successfully navigate the challenges of the changing world of work, it will be important for us to have resilience, self-awareness, and confidence to make meaningful transitions in our careers. When we have a clear understanding of our ‘Why’, we can more easily identify the ‘What’ we want to pursue and then determine the ‘How’ to get there. This will help us make informed decisions about our careers and find fulfilment in our working lives.difference. This is a tool designed to map individuals’ unique skills and interests, helping them gain clarity on where they can best contribute that is right for them.

First Foundation Webinar for Careers Advisors/Parents and Students
The First Foundation programme is much more than a scholarship. Not only will students get financial help, but they will also have a dedicated mentor who’ll be there for them along the way—so even if they’re the first in the family to go to university, they will have support from someone who’s been there before. Plus, they will get paid work experience to grow their skills, giving them access to the professional networks most people rely on for work opportunities.

Future Leaders Academy — Student Leaders Programme (Pacific)
Future Leaders Academy delivers high school leadership courses across the Pacific Islands, during school holidays. Courses are attended by year 12 and 13 student leaders, and those aspiring to be. Each course has participants from across NZ, and equivalent years from Australia, and the local Pacific Island schools. The aim of the programme is to; build strong connections with our next generation of young leaders across the Pacific region, increase cultural understanding and inclusiveness, and to develop leadership skills through experiential learning.
https://youtu.be/eItxIa78OY8

OECD research informing the New Brunswick Career Education Framework—Dr Anthony Mann
Anthony Mann is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). His team leads the OECD’s work on how schools can best prepare young people for their working lives through programmes of career development.
Slideshow – Dr Anthony Mann

Dr Lynette Reid—Empowering Our Youth: career processes, strategies, and practices that enable successful career transitions
ww.w.epit.org.nz/reports/empowering-our-youth
This report investigates approaches being taken in a selection of secondary schools in South Auckland that serve multicultural and diverse income communities. It offers valuable insights into the strategies employed by career advisors to empower and equip students with the tools necessary for making informed decisions about their post-school pathways.

Degrees Apprenticeships w/Eve Price
This talk introduces a discussion on Degree Level Apprenticeships (DLAs) in New Zealand’s vocational education system. DLAs offer higher-level qualifications, but face unique challenges in New Zealand due to perceptions, funding, and regulatory factors. We will cover the scarcity of DLAs in the country, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts to change perceptions, expand access, and serve priority groups like Māori and Pasifika learners.

Sorted in Schools Financial Resources w/Clare Bailey
Sorted is a financial capability teaching and learning programme that is government funded and free for all secondary schools. It is designed by teachers for teachers and available for both English Medium and Māori Medium Education.

BECOME—Junior and Year 11 Career Programme w/Liv Pennie
2024 will be our 3^rd year of partnership with BECOME to support NZ schools in taking a whole school approach to careers ed. This pre-conference warm-up session is for those schools who are interested in looking further into the programme and is an opportunity for senior leaders, careers teams and teaching staff to learn more about what a project based junior -Year 11 careers programme could look like. Liv wiil be at the CATE Conference to work further with schools interested in implementing this in 2024.

Mocksey—Interview App w/Pauline Latta
Mocksey provides resources for young people to practice their interview skills. One of the key features of the App is where students share recorded interviews with a coach and receive individual feedback.

“Wayfinding” Pre-conference Lunchtime Byte Session w/Dr Val O’Reilly

“Wayfinding” approach to career development with particular reference to refugee and migrant students. Each year for the past 11 years Dr Val O’Reilly (Kāi Tahu) has worked with colleagues at Lynfield College in Auckland to deliver career development services for former refugee and migrant students. Val will share details from the Career Wayfinding programme delivered in 2023 for 31 awesome students from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Students are in Years 10 to 13. The programme was delivered as a pilot project and will be reviewed for its viability and scalability in a range of school contexts.
Slides

“Banqer” Pre-conference Lunchtime Byte Session w/Alex Sorenson
Financial Literacy Programme—Success in one’s life requires strong financial capability and confidence. But how does one build (or even teach) this? Research from the University of Canterbury highlights that financial capability is built upon theoretical and contextual knowledge and skills and synthesised through experiential learning. As Australasia’s leading financial education experts, we built our platform to be highly experiential, leveraging gamification principles, to make learning fun and rewarding. Banqer High for senior students is a self-led learning journey, taking a ‘skills-first approach’ and employing the latest pedagogy and gamification strategies. Students will develop their theoretical and contextual knowledge across topics like career progression and higher education. They’ll explore experiential learning via simulations across living costs, transport and part-time work.

Heather Carpenter—Choices Match
Choices Match
The Career Maze—Welcome to The Career Maze
Choice Match Slideshow

Jo Shaw from Timaru Girls High School, South Canterbury, talking about the speed networking event to expose the students to a wide range of local industries, exciting them about their future pathways, and helping empower them to make informed and meaningful decisions.

Air New Zealand—

Lunchtime Byte with Dr. Lynette Reid

Lunchtime Byte—with Mel Veituna, CATE NZ Māori Executive, talking about “Vocational Pathways in a Wharekura environment – an insight to how careers kaupapa are organised at Ngā Taiātea Wharekura.”