31 October 2025

From the Principal

Awards Evening Blessing  

Close supporter and Parish Priest Fr Rony shared the following prayer at the beginning of our wonderful Awards Night last week: 

We thank you for the many gifts you have given to each member of our Clairvaux community. Help us to be salt for the earth preserving what is good, bringing out the best in one another, and adding flavour to the world through acts of kindness and service. 

Help us to be light for the world shining with hope, courage, and love, so that others may see your goodness reflected in our lives. 

Bless all our award recipients, their families, and those who support and inspire them. May we never hide our gifts, but use them to build up our community and give glory to You. 

Guide us always to walk together, transformed by Your love, and ready to let our light shine. 

As we honour each name today, 

help us to remember all praise belongs with You. 

May we keep You forever in focus 

As we continue our journey with life’s uncertainty, filled with faith and hope. 

We are grateful for the examples of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop and Blessed Edmund Rice who remind us that all things stem from You. 

We are blessed to be able to share such lovely events together, acknowledging excellence in our community. 

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Year 12 External Exams 

We wish our Year 12 students great clarity of thought and sharp focus as they undertake their final exams over these few weeks. These exams contribute 25% of the Subject Result for most subjects and a huge 50% of the Subject Result for Mathematics and Science subjects.  

We anticipate that student results will match the very large number of Academic Excellence Award recipients in our Year 12 cohort! 

2026 Enrolments 

We are approaching capacity for 2026 enrolments. If you or your connections are interested in places for children for 2026, please act now to avoid disappointment.

We look forward to welcoming our 2026 Year 7 learners to Orientation Days on 12 and 19 November! 

From the Deputy Principal

Awards Evening 2025

Congratulations to all our award recipients last Thursday evening! It is a great team effort to showcase our student achievements, and I thank the Awards organisation team for their dedication and commitment. Thank you to parents and students for ensuring consent forms were completed to help our organisation. If students were unable to attend, they will be able to collect awards from their Pastoral Leader.

We are now preparing our Awards Assemblies for Week 7 (Year 10 and 11) and Week 9 (Year 7-9) where further awards will be presented such as Merit, Endeavour, Commitment and MVP awards – to name a few.  A reminder that Awards criteria and event is available on the public website.

Year 9, 10 and 11 Electives – 2026

Current Year 8, 9 and 10 students will receive their offered electives at the end of Week 6 this term.  Correspondence will then be sent by Assistant Principals Learning and Teaching for information regarding any concerns or questions with these electives. Note that changes are limited and not guaranteed at this stage of the process. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Student Free Days 2025 – Reminders

• No remaining days for 2025

From the Assistant Principal, Student Wellbeing

Happy Week 4!

I wanted to extend my sincere thanks to all families and students for your ongoing support and commitment to our school’s uniform policy. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. 

As we continue to take small steps towards the fulfilment of our full school uniform policy, I would ask your assistance again in ensuring that students are wearing the correct sports uniform.  Please note that representative sport shorts or shirts are not part of our approved sports uniform to be worn at school. An email outlining this expectation has been sent on Monday, 27^th October for reference.  If you have any questions about uniform requirements, please consult the Uniform policy on our College website.

On another note: as you would all be aware there is a significant change coming into effect on 10^th December 2025 around students accessing social media. 

New Australian legislation will require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent anyone under the age of 16 from creating or keeping a social media account. At this time platforms we know will be affected are Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (Twitter), and YouTube.  More may be added to the list over time.

This is government initiative to protect young people from online risks and pressures, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and the negative impacts of excessive screen time. The government’s aim with this legislation is to give young people more time to develop digital literacy, social skills, and resilience before engaging with social media.

This legislation will impact students in the following ways:

• Students under 16 will not be able to create or keep accounts on most major social media platforms.
• Platforms will use a range of age verification methods, and accounts found to belong to under-16s may be deactivated.
• The platforms will be active in this space due to the huge financial penalties that will apply should they fail to act.
• Messaging apps like WhatsApp and iMessage will not be affected, so students will still be able to keep in touch with friends via those services.

As a College, we know that this transition may be challenging for some students and families. Many students do not realise the extent they rely on social media to keep them entertained, informed and connected.  The E-Safety Commissioner advises families to have open conversations about online safety, digital wellbeing, and alternative ways to stay connected are encouraged.

The eSafety Commissioner has also created a dedicated hub with resources, FAQs, and conversation starters to help parents and carers support young people through this transition. You can find practical advice and tools at the eSafety Commissioner’s website. [esafety.gov.au]

If you have any concerns or need further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Pastoral team, your child’s home class teacher or visit the eSafety Commissioner’s hub for up-to-date guidance.

Once again, thank you to all our families for their partnership and support in all our students’ wellbeing and success.

Best Wishes  

From the Pastoral Team

Year 12

Farewell to the Class of 2025

The Year 12 Graduation on the night of Thursday, 16^th October was a wonderful celebration of an outstanding group of young people. It was a night filled with pride and joy as students, families, and staff came together to mark the end of a significant journey. Our graduates looked sharp, carried themselves with grace, and were incredibly respectful throughout the evening. They did themselves, their families, and the College proud.

A sincere thank you to all the staff who have supported and guided these students throughout their time at Clairvaux MacKillop College. Thank you also to the parents and caregivers for your ongoing partnership and trust in the College. Most of all, thank you to the students - the Class of 2025 - for the energy, spirit, and sense of community you have brought to CMC.

In my farewell address to the cohort, I reminded them of something I said at the beginning of the year: to think about what they wanted the echoes around the College to say after they left. Standing before them on Thursday, I told them I believe those echoes will say that the Class of 2025 were a blend of respectful, funny, well-mannered, and generous young people who built trust in their community.

As they now turn toward their external exams and the adventures beyond, I encouraged them to enjoy the ride. Life will bring both good days and tough ones, but on the tough days, they should remember to keep moving forward — because good days always return. The future belongs not to the lucky or the talented, but to those who show up, even when it’s hard. Effort will never betray you.

What truly matters is this: continue to be funny, well-mannered, generous, respectful, and kind — but above all, continue to be yourselves.

Congratulations to the Class of 2025. May your futures be as bright and remarkable as your time with us has been. I will miss you all.

Year 11

A Sense of Independence – Year 11 WAM

This term our Year 11 cohort has been actively engaged with a three-week WAM module entitled “Sense of Independence”. The module examines several topics and challenges that our young adults will be faced with as they move out of school into broader society.

• Topic 1: Building Resilience and Well-Being through a Growth mindset.
• Topic 2: Taking ownership of learning – Elevate Education “Study Sensai Skills.
• Topic 3: Dealing with Alcohol and Drugs.

We would encourage parents and carers to continue the conversation with their young adults.

A Time to Commit – Year 11/12 Unit 3

As this newsletter is published, our Year 11 cohort are well into their Year 12 academic program being Unit 3 studies across all their subjects. Teachers have been impressed with the professional rigor of our students in the way they have approached their classroom engagement and have been actively focused in doing everything possible to achieve to their full potential. Our teachers have been enthusiastically supporting our students to attain their best results, and we congratulate both students and teachers on their collective effort, particularly in minimising stress and anxiety. We wish them every success for the remaining four (4) weeks till exam block and completing their IA1 (Internal Assessment No.1).

A Time to Remember – Senior Jersey 2026

The Year 11 cohort and families received their order forms for an opportunity to place an order for a Senior Jersey 2026. Senior jerseys are optional and are available to all current Year 11 students who wish to purchase them for their final senior year.

It is important to note that for the Class of 2026, Senior Jersey is to be seen as a memento of their final year, it is not a mandatory uniform item.

Enrolments

Visa / Citizenship status

If your child’s visa is renewed or if your child has now acquired Australian citizenship, please forward a copy for our records.

Sibling Enrolments

Limited places may be available in some year levels for the current year 2025.

Sibling enrolment for 2027, 2028 and 2029 must be completed as soon as possible.  If you have already submitted the sibling application, you do not need to reapply.

Sibling enrolment involves the same enrolment process as for your current child at CMC. Click here to submit an Online Enrolment Application Form - Brisbane Catholic Education School Application for Enrolment (bne.catholic.edu.au). You will receive a system generated acknowledgment email listing the documents you need to provide.

For enrolment queries, please email enrolments@cvxmck.edu.au or phone 07 3347 9223.

Academic Excellence News

Year 7 Academic Excellence Program Explores the Future of Sustainable Energy

The Year 7 students in the Academic Excellence Program recently took part in a dynamic one-day intensive workshop on Sustainable Energy, held in the Science Innovation Lab. The workshop, led by Dr. Maynard Erece, explored how scientific inquiry and critical thinking intersect through real-world applications of light, energy, and solar technologies.

Using the central theme of “Light Rays and Solar Panel Investigations,” students engaged in a hands-on exploration that not only deepened their understanding of energy systems but also honed a wide range of academic and technological skills.

Skill Development Through Inquiry

Throughout the day, students were guided through an integrated learning sequence designed to simulate authentic scientific investigation. They demonstrated:

• Research skills, using electronic resources and AI-assisted tools responsibly.
• Note-taking and questioning techniques, fostering curiosity and critical thinking.
• Presentation skills, communicating their findings clearly and persuasively.
• Data gathering and analysis, constructing and interpreting tables to identify trends.
• Experimental and methodological skills, developing a clear procedure based on an initial claim.
• AI literacy, using Large Language Models (LLMs)to refine hypotheses and summarise complex data sets.

Conceptual Understanding

Conceptually, the experience linked core principles from both science and philosophy. Students examined:

• The Law of Conservation of Energyand the nature of energy
• The role of sustainable energy solutions in addressing global challenges.
• The ethical dimensionsof technological innovation and energy use.
• The philosophical basis of truth-finding, connecting scientific reasoning with moral and logical thinking.
• The cognitive verbsused in assessments, helping students unpack the language of higher-order thinking tasks.

By the end of the day, the classroom buzzed with insight and excitement — a reflection of how science education can be both rigorous and relevant. The Sustainable Energy Program not only strengthened scientific literacy but also nurtured the intellectual curiosity and moral awareness that define the next generation of innovators.

Guest Speaker Visit – Professor Alberto Posso

On Wednesday, 22nd October, Year 11 Economics students and Year 10 Academic Excellence Strand B students had the opportunity to hear from Professor Alberto Posso, Head of the Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics at Griffith University.

Professor Posso shared his journey as an economist, which has taken him across the globe, working on impactful research including child labour. He spoke passionately about how economics is not just about numbers and markets, but about shaping society and addressing real-world issues. His insights helped students see the relevance of economics in tackling global challenges and making informed decisions that benefit communities.

The session was engaging and thought-provoking, leaving students inspired to explore the possibilities within the field of economics and consider how they too can contribute to positive change. 

We extend our sincere thanks to Professor Posso for his time and generosity in sharing his expertise, and to Griffith University for supporting this valuable learning experience.

Years 9 and 10 AEP students are digging up the past

Students from the Years 9 and 10 Academic Excellence Program were privileged to participated in a full day archaeology workshop at the University of Queensland. Students visited laboratories used to date and classify all sorts of archaeological remains and evidence, performed field excavations in UQ’s teaching pit, mapped and surveyed their dig and interpreted the remains, looking to tell the ‘story’ behind the remains.

Shawnee Gorringe from UQ’s Archaeology Education Program facilitated the day demonstrating the archaeology was not a ‘history thing’ but rather is about using the hard sciences to understand the human story. This was best evidenced as the students watched an archaeologist who specialises in organic remains, use 3D reflected light microscopy to examine tiny pieces of charred wood to determines the age and type of wood, both of which will help to reveal its use by humans.

The students then moved from the laboratories to the dig site. After a safety briefing, and armed with pans, brushes and trowels, students began excavating an archaeological site revealing evidence of both indigenous people and European settlers occupying the same area around the late 19^th century. They quickly learnt that seemingly unimportant items, the stone chip, the small shell, all tell their own part of the human story of the dig site.  Once excavated, students had to map the site on graph paper and draw conclusions based on the evidence. Interpretation plays a significant role in archaeology – what do you think happened and what is your reasoning? Shawnee continually challenged the students to justify their conclusions. Some hard thinking was going on.

The day wrapped up with a visit to the Anthropology Museum on campus, to learn about object handling, preservation and interpretation.

Further updates from the Year 7 Academic Excellence Program

Let’s hear from two of our Year 7 AEP students who share their thoughts on recent excursions.

Brisbane Writers’ Festival by Charly (Year 7)

On Friday, the first week of term, the hardworking staff gave us an opportunity to go to the Brisbane Writers’ Festival! The first session was hosted by the author of Runt and Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping, Craig Silvey. He talked to us about how he loved the word ‘diabolical’ and said it should be used more in everyday life. Craig then encouraged us to ask questions, and there were so many it almost took up the whole session! However, the hour we had with him was not wasted and was memorable.

The next author we got to see next was Amie Kaufman, who wrote the book Lady’s Knight. The topic that stood out to me was when she was talking about how she saw a Medieval ship just cruising through the rivers of Brisbane City. I know, it’s random. She then talked about how when she was younger, she got into the world of YA fiction, and that’s how she started out wanting to become a writer. Amie also said that she is a huge protagonist, which is something that isn’t so convenient for a writer. She gave us many tips for writing that were very helpful.

My personal favourite session, the last but not least, Isobelle Camody. She wrote the book Comes the Night. Isobelle had some very interesting and intriguing topics to talk about, and the first she told us about was how she used to play the “Monster Game” with her seven little siblings. Basically, when their mother wasn’t home, they would ask her if they could play the game. All seven pairs of legs ran to go and hide, while she turned off the power box outside, so it was pitch black (Do not try this at home!). Obviously, Isobelle clearly didn’t know how dangerous it was. It’s technically hide and seek but in pitch black. She told us how fear is the easiest way to get people to obey them, and how she always starts her books off with simple questions, like ‘Why is the road black?’.  I’m being so serious right now she literally said that. Let’s just say it got me thinking for sure.

We are very grateful for this opportunity to expand our knowledge on good writing and to know things that we wouldn’t have known at the start of this year. Thank you to anyone and everyone who helped put this together! This excursion was one of my favourite ones this year!

Strand A Incursion by Leonardo (Year 7)

On Tuesday, Year 7 Strand A had an Academic Excellence incursion in S9. Our teacher was Mr Erece and we learned about sustainable energy and why it’s so important for the future of our planet. We asked Mr G (Google) about different types of sustainable energy, definition, and how they can be used in smarter, cleaner ways.

One of the best parts was using ray boxes to explore how light travels and how energy can be transformed. We had four inquiry questions to choose from, which made us think carefully, testing our ideas, and sometimes changing our answers when we discovered something new or troubling.

It was a really fun and interesting session because we didn’t just listen, we got to experiment, share ideas, and see science in action. Everyone enjoyed working together, and we left with higher knowledge of how energy works and why sustainability matters.

From the STEM Corner

Year 9 STEM Students Hear from Vinnies Volunteers

As part of their current STEM project, our Year 9 students had the privilege of hearing from Jim McDougall and Gay Williams, dedicated volunteers with St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) and active members of St Bernard’s Church.

Jim and Gay visited the College on Monday, 20 October, speaking with two STEM classes to share their insights into the needs of people experiencing homelessness and residents in aged care. Their firsthand knowledge gave students a deeper understanding of the real-world challenges faced by these communities, providing meaningful context and inspiration for their upcoming design projects.

In this unit, students are using the Engineering Design Process to develop practical solutions that can improve comfort, safety, accessibility, or quality of life for these groups. Hearing from Jim and Gay helped students to think critically about how their STEM skills can be applied to create positive change. 

We are incredibly grateful to Jim and Gay for giving their time to support our students and enrich their learning through authentic community connections.

Opti-MINDS Science and Engineering Challenge

We are proud to announce that Clairvaux MacKillop College has once again demonstrated excellence in innovation, teamwork, and scientific thinking!

Recently, our STEM Teams represented CMC at the Opti-MINDS Science and Engineering Challenge held at the University of Queensland, competing against the best and brightest from over 2,500 schools across the state.

For the third consecutive year, Clairvaux MacKillop College are the STATE CHAMPIONS! Winning Division 2 in 2023, Division 3 in 2024 and Open Division in 2025.

A huge congratulations to our winning team members:
Lilly, Tenisha, Haylee, Rodas, Leo, Zaylee, and Maxine - for their creativity, collaboration, and exceptional problem-solving skills.

We also commend our Year 10 STEM Team — Arianna, Cody, Nicholas, and Harry— for their outstanding effort, innovative ideas, and commitment throughout the challenge. Your enthusiasm and teamwork embody the true spirit of STEM excellence at CMC.

Your collective achievements continue to inspire our school community and showcase the innovative spirit that defines Clairvaux MacKillop College!

Co-Curricular Arts News

Soloist Concert – Thursday 6 November

Get ready for an inspiring evening of music at the CMC Soloist Concert!

• Date: Thursday, 6 November
• Time: 6:00 PM
• Venue: Auditorium
• Cost: Free

Come and witness the brilliance of our solo performers as they showcase their talent and passion on stage. From stirring vocals to captivating instrumentals, this concert promises an unforgettable musical experience.

Bring your friends and family—everyone’s welcome! See you there!

2025 Battle of the Rock Bands

Thanks to everyone who made Clairvaux MacKillop College's 2025 Battle of the ROCK Bands a great festival.  Particular thanks to the many generous sponsors, the judges, the fantastic tech crew, the outstanding musicians who performed, the audiences who supported the event, and the CMC community who assisted in a multitude of roles. On behalf of the production, we thank you all.

The release of all official photos and videos will occur shortly.

Please continue to post your memories on our social media channels.

Congratulations to all the talented musicians who performed on our stag. Please find below the complete list of the Most Outstanding Musicians and Bands from the 2025 Battle of the ROCK Bands Festival.  

2025 Prizes – Thursday

• MOST OUTSTANDING VOCALIST - Louis Martin, Spice Boyz, Siena Catholic College
• MOST OUTSTANDING GUITARIST - Taylor Clifford, Aatlas, Music Industry College
• MOST OUTSTANDING BASS GUITARIST - Ade Oletubo, RhythM-City, Marsden State High School
• MOST OUTSTANDING KEYBOARD PLAYER - Addyson Stanley, The Magnolias, St John Fisher College
• MOST OUTSTANDING DRUMMER - Mikael Sandanayake, True Bearing, Canterbury College
• MOST OUTSTANDING HORNS PLAYER - Kaiden Burton-Demmers, Sign of Fate, St Jospeh’s Nudgee College
• MOST OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN OVERALL - Ambrose Gonzalez, The Waiting List, Marist College Ashgrove
• MOST OUTSTANDING BAND - THIRD PLACE - The Waiting List, Marist College Ashgrove
• MOST OUTSTANDING BAND - RUNNER UP - True Bearing, Canterbury College  
• MOST OUTSTANDING BAND – WINNER - Spice Boyz, Siena Catholic College
• PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD AND ENCORE PERFORMANCE - “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls. Performed by Pier Pressure, St Patrick’s College

2025 Prizes – Friday

• MOST OUTSTANDING VOCALIST - Harlan Goode, Taylor Made, Sheldon College
• MOST OUTSTANDING GUITARIST - Anvesh Anup, Shatter Point, Rochedale State High School
• MOST OUTSTANDING BASS GUITARIST - Alfie Newton, The TRB, St Jospeh’s College Gregory Terrace  
• MOST OUTSTANDING KEYBOARD PLAYER - Xavier King, TEXTT, Craigslea State High School
• MOST OUTSTANDING DRUMMER - Ephraim Paul, TEXTT, Craigslea State High School
• MOST OUTSTANDING HORNS PLAYER - Eli Wenman, Taylor Made, Sheldon College
• MOST OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN OVERALL - Harlan Goode, Taylor Made, Sheldon College
• MOST OUTSTANDING BAND - THIRD PLACE - TEXTT, Craigslea State High School
• MOST OUTSTANDING BAND - RUNNER UP - Back Row, Wynnum State High School  
• MOST OUTSTANDING BAND - WINNER - Taylor Made, Sheldon College
• PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD AND ENCORE PERFORMANCE - “My Songs Know What You Did In the Dark” by Fall Out Boy. Performed by Taylor Made, Sheldon College

2025 Prizes – Saturday

• MOST OUTSTANDING VOCALIST - Sienna Kennedy, Cascade, Clairvaux MacKillop College
• MOST OUTSTANDING GUITARIST - Guy Di Mattina, Escape, Moreton Bay Boys’ College
• MOST OUTSTANDING BASS GUITARIST - Lucas Massie, Cascade, Clairvaux MacKillop College
• MOST OUTSTANDING KEYBOARD PLAYER - Sireli Neher, Harmony Lane, Lighthouse Christian College
• MOST OUTSTANDING HORNS PLAYER - Archie Parker, Lowe Voltage, The Franciscan Colleges’ Instrumental Program
• MOST OUTSTANDING DRUMMER - Rachel Toovey, Cascade, Clairvaux MacKillop College  
• MOST OUTSTANDING MUSICIAN OVERALL - Guy Di Mattina, Escape, Moreton Bay Boys College
• MOST OUTSTANDING BAND - THIRD PLACE - Harmony Lane, Lighthouse Christian College
• MOST OUTSTANDING BAND - RUNNER UP - No Clue, Mansfield State High School  
• MOST OUTSTANDING BAND – WINNER - Lowe Voltage, The Franciscan Colleges’ Instrumental Program
• PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD AND ENCORE PERFORMANCE - “Working for the Weekend” by Loverboy. Performed by The Oranges, San Sisto College  
• Judges Wildcard Entrant Playing at The Triffid - Dystopian, Kedron State High School

St Vincent de Paul

St Vincent de Paul 2025 Perpetual House Charity Spirit Award

Congratulations to MacKillop House who were awarded 6 Points for their generous contribution to our Spring Can Appeal.

The current positions after our second Charity Spirit Event are: 

Which House will win points for our final charity event and be awarded our St Vincent de Paul 2025 Perpetual House Charity Spirit Trophy? The two Houses to beat are MacKillop and Campbell!

St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal Launch:

This term, Vinnies will be running our final House Charity Spirit event. This will involve our Annual Vinnies Christmas Appeal.

Each year at Christmas, CMC supports the disadvantaged in our community by donating to our local St Vinnies branch. This year our CMC Vinnies Conference has set out to fundraise $3000 to help contribute to the St Vincent de Paul Society Christmas Appeal QLD.
 
To accomplish this goal, we have created a page called Clairvaux MacKillop College Christmas Appeal 2025. You can choose which House Team (Aspinall, Campbell, Chisholm, MacKillop, Rice or Surawski) you would like to support by clicking on the respective Leaders’ link. The House with the most money raised will accrue 6 Points. This will help determine which College House will win the 2025 Vinnies Perpetual Charity House Spirit Award.

To Give Financially
Please donate via our St Vincent de Paul Grassrootz campaign link below or scan the QR Code.

Clairvaux MacKillop College Vinnies Christmas Appeal 2025 in Vinnies QLD School Christmas Appeal 2025 
It only takes a minute and any money you can give (no matter how small) will go a long way to helping us reach our target and make Christmas a little more special for those in need. If you would prefer to donate in person with cash, please go to the College Fees Window.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Remember to nominate the College House that you would like to donate under.

Thank you, we really appreciate your support.

Senior Schooling News

ATAR & QTAC

ATAR Portal registration

Have you registered on the ATAR portal to have your ATAR calculated by QTAC? Remember, when registering for the ATAR portal, you must use your personal email address. If you have registered using your school email address, now is the time to change it to your personal email address. This will ensure you won't get locked out of your account once you graduate. To update your email address, log into the ATAR portal and update via the portal. If you have forgotten your password, you need to call QTAC on 1300 467 822. Visit the QTAC ATAR page for more information!

How to Respond to an offer

Visit the QTAC Offers webpage for specific information about responding to your offer. It’s important to understand how you’ll be notified and how to respond quickly to secure your place. It’s important to know what options are available to you and how you will respond if you receive an offer. Click here to find out more including:

• How QTAC will notify you of your offer
• Responding to an offer 
• Accept - Check with the institution for enrolment details and dates
• Conditional response - By selecting a conditional response, you indicate that you would like to be considered for a higher preference
• Defer - Rules for course deferral vary by institution. Visit their deferment page on their website for individual institution policies
• Decline - By declining your offer outright, you notify QTAC that you no longer wish to study or be considered for any other preferences.
• What to do if you didn't get an offer

It is essential that you respond by the due date (usually within four (4) days of receiving your offer). If you don’t, your offer will lapse and you will not be considered for any other offer rounds.  If you miss a due date, contact QTAC as soon as possible. Also, it may not be wise to reject an offer. If you are considering doing this, first contact QTAC on 1300 467 822 to discuss this move. 

Some QTAC Q&As

Where can I get help with my QTAC application after I leave school?

Once school’s done, the best place to get help is QTAC itself.

You can:

• Call QTAC on 1300 467 822 (be patient — it’s a busy time, and you might have to wait)
• Use the Contact Uspage on the QTAC website
• Or email them if you prefer

Final subject results for 2025 Year 12 students

Final subject results and Senior Education Profiles (SEPs) for 2025 Year 12 graduates will be available from 9.00 am on Wednesday, 17 December 2025. You can find them via your learning account in the Student Portal on the myQCE website. You will need your 10-digit Learner Unique Identifier (LUI) if you haven't as yet registered for the Student Portal. The Results FAQs contain information to help you understand your results and access your Senior Education Profile (SEP) when it is available. For further assistance, contact ClientServices@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 3864 0299.

Career in Medicine

Year 9-12 students & parents whose children are considering a career in medicine.

We would like to remind students who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine that spots for The Future Doctors Australia 2025 and 2026 program are filling up quickly. If you would like to share this exciting opportunity with your students, please feel free to include the announcement below (or a similar version) in your school newsletter, or share it through your school’s social media channels. Share on Facebook

The Future Doctors Australia program provides a unique, hands-on opportunity for students aged 14-18 who are passionate about a future in medicine. On the 18-21 December 2025 in Brisbane (Taringa) over the course of 4 days, participants will engage in dynamic sessions led by experienced medical specialists, take part in practical learning activities, and gain valuable insights into the medical admissions process. This program is designed to inspire and equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed on their path to a medical career.

Don’t miss this chance to help your students gain firsthand knowledge and mentorship from medical professionals who are shaping the future of healthcare.

Program Details | Fees | Enrolment Form

Photo gallery of previous programs

List of Medical Specialists & Clinical Staff Guest Speakers and Presenters

If you have any questions or need assistance with the enrolment process, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team. We are here to help!

admin@niecareers.com.au

NIECAREERS.COM.AU  (Medical Experience Programs)

NIE.EDU.AU  (UCAT, Interviews, Psychometric & Casper Test Training)

UQ Women in Engineering

This program is working closely with its industry program partners to provide women in Year 10-12 an invaluable opportunity to gain work experience in engineering organisations. You can choose to do a week-long experience in Week 9 of Term 4.

The next work experience is 24-28 of November.  If any of you might like to apply (and it suits the school's schedule) please see the below information 🙂.

The program partners cover the six specialisations on offer at UQ and are incredibly supportive of building the pipeline of diverse talent as future leaders in engineering. Discover your career aspirations through this unique opportunity to shadow engineers and experience the dynamic and impactful work they do every day! Experiences include Rio Tinto, Thermo Fisher Scientific, VINCI Energies and potentially others such as Queensland Rail and Fulton Hogan Construction.

Women in Engineering – University of Queensland

24 November – 28 November 9:00am - 4:00pm

Week 9 – Term 4

Registration: 

• Until 14 November 2025
• Visit one of our industry partners and experience being an engineer for a day.
• This session is available for Year 10 and 11 students only. 
• About WE Work Experience
• Experience a day in the life of a real engineer

Click here to Register now

For more information click here:

Upcoming Events – Open Days and Career Markets

Sponsors

Thanks to our amazing Sponsors!

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Vocational Pathway News

At CMC, we have many learning opportunities and pathways available to students. Students can start school-based apprenticeships/traineeships, undertake work experience, attend a TAFE at school course one day a week, commence one of the many certificate courses delivered on campus, get a taste of University with an early start program, or study for an ATAR.

Career education is an important element in preparing our students to start thinking about Year 13 and how to successfully prepare for employment, training, or further education.

To support students in thinking and preparing for future careers, CMC have a Careers website with a link below to access it.

The VET and Career Pathways newsletter will be emailed to our Year 9-12 cohorts each fortnight and available on the Parent Portal. As always, it will have relevant information regarding careers, apprenticeships/traineeships, TAFE, students with a disability, and many other areas.

Please, do not hesitate to contact me if I can support you and your son/daughter around career education, Senior education, SET Planning, Apprenticeships, Traineeships, work experience, TAFE in schools, or any external RTO courses.

Contact details:

P - 3347 9242 or E – smid@cvxmck.edu.au

Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Preparation Checklist

The Australian Apprenticeships has an apprenticeship preparation checklist. Use this list to make sure you're prepared to start an Australian Apprenticeship.

Click here to find out how to access the list and how best to use it.

QBuild apprenticeships

QBuild are currently recruiting apprentices to help deliver a massive pipeline of works for Queensland. QBuilders play a critical role in planning, building and maintaining essential public infrastructure, such as:

• schools
• social housing
• emergency services and correctional facilities
• health care centres
• significant capital projects shaping the future or our great state.

They are also among the first on the ground in response to disaster events, working alongside their customers and local communities to repair and rebuild so life returns to normal as quickly as possible. They currently have a variety of career opportunities across our 20 QBuild offices, 35 depots, and 3 Rapid Accommodation and Apprenticeship Centres. Click here for more information.

Skills Gateway

On the Skills Gateway you can search course information to find qualifications, government funding and training providers. You can also find a Skilling Queenslanders for Work project near you.

Click here for more information.

Career Exploration

Workforce Australia

Workforce Australia is a place where you can search and apply for jobs or find more information on your pathway to employment. Click here to find out more.

Microsoft Traineeship Program - IT Traineeship

Kickstart your career in IT through the Microsoft Traineeship Program! MEGT is now taking expressions of interest for various Host Employers in Brisbane. Click here for more information and applications close on 15 November 2025.

Your Career useful links

Your Career, an Australian Government website has a list of useful websites. Click here to access links including:

• National Training Register - provides information on training packages, qualifications, courses, units of competency and Registered Training Organisations.
• Jobs and Skills Atlas - provides an overview of the labour market at national, state and regional level by occupations, skills and industries.
• Australian Apprenticeships - provides information on apprenticeships and traineeships, including factsheets and links. An Australian Apprenticeship offers job seekers the opportunity to explore a new job, gain new skills, work flexible hours and receive a qualification.
• Workforce Australia - helps Australians find and keep a job, change jobs or create their own job.
• Course Seeker - provides clear, meaningful and transparent information about ATARs, pre-requisites and enrolment practices and policies of higher education providers across Australia.
• CompareED - explore and compare the quality of higher education institutions and study areas you are interested in, based on the experiences of current students and graduates.
• Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) - provides robust, nationally consistent performance data for Australian higher education.
• Transition to Work - helps young people aged 15-24 into work (including apprenticeships and training) or education.
• What's Next - helps you decide what to do if you have been retrenched or are looking for a new career.
• Disability Employment Services - help people with disability find work and keep a job.
• Community Development Program - supports job seekers in remote Australia to build skills, address barriers to employment and contribute to their communities through a range of flexible activities.

Apprenticeships & Traineeships

Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) for Diplomas of Nursing

The CPP (VET) will help eligible students to manage the costs associated with undertaking a mandatory placement as part of a Diploma of Nursing. This page provides information for students undertaking a Diploma of Nursing.

For information on the CPP for higher education, visit the Department of Education website.

Free TAFE for Year 12 graduates

To support Queensland's Year 12 graduates to successfully transition to employment, the Government is offering fee-free TAFE in high priority qualifications. The training is available through a range of Certificate III level vocational education and training (VET) courses as well as apprenticeships and traineeships. View the courses offered by TAFE Queensland and the full list of high priority qualifications is available on the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training website.

 Scholarships

QUT sport and Esport scholarships

If you are an elite athlete in sport or Esport, QUT offer several scholarships that may assist you to balance your sporting and academic commitments. Click on the links below for more details about what you'll receive, eligibility, how to apply, what happens next and conditions. Find out about:

• QUT Elite Sport Scholarship- QUT offer a $10,000 scholarships for athletes competing at varying levels of sport. Scholarships are open to sportspeople representing in sports verified by Sport Australia.
• QUT-AIS Scholarship- $10,000 scholarship, membership to QUT's Elite Athlete Program and the College of Excellence
• QUT Rising Sports Scholarship (including esport) - $5,000 scholarship, member to the Tigers Esport Academy Development Program, nutrition and sports psychology services, membership to the QUT College of Excellence and Elite Athlete program

Yaga Homework Club

Parents, carers, and students are reminded that the College offers a free Homework Club on Monday and Wednesday afternoons in the Resource Centre (3.05pm to 4.30pm.)

This is an opportunity to finish homework, work on assignments or study while teachers are available to offer assistance.

Students are also encouraged to come and read for pleasure as well. There is a designated Quiet Room as well as general areas for individual or group work.

Students need to bring their ID or diary to sign in and all relevant work materials.

Uniform Shop News

Online Ordering

Remember you can order items from the Uniform Shop online via My monitor online orders.

As a guide, your student can collect the items as follows:

This will allow us time to fill your order and have it waiting for collection.

Please remember orders must be paid for online PRIOR to collection.  If an item turns out to be incorrect, it can be returned if tags are still on.

Tuckshop News

Community Notices

RACQ Survey

RACQ are developing a new education program specifically for adults to equip them with practical and tangible strategies to help support young novice drivers – whether they’re learners, provisional licence holders or even passengers.  

To make sure this program is genuinely useful, RACQ’s Education Team would love to hear from you.

If you’ve ever mentored, or are currently supervising a young driver, or spent time in the passenger seat offering guidance (or silently pressing your foot on your imaginary brake), we would encourage you to take a few minutes to complete the short survey and share what you wish you’d known.  

Your insights will help build a resource that truly supports supervisors and mentors, and ultimately, safer roads for everyone. At the end of the survey there is also an option to enter the prize draw for the chance to win one of five $100 egift-cards.

Click here to take the survey:

Disclaimer:

Copyright in some materials appearing in this newsletter are owned by third parties and should not be used or reproduced without the authority of the third party.  The links to websites or webpages are for information purposes only.  To the extent that such third party materials are not owned by BCE, we accept no responsibility for such content.