University isn’t for everybody. Meet the people who fast tracked their pay instead

Henry Standley says school was never for him, and he knew he didn’t want to follow it up with more years of study.

“I didn’t want to go to university, but now I’ve found a job that I love I’m going to work really hard for it.”

Standley joined the Australian Defence Force’s paid gap year program after school. The program began with 12 weeks of recruitment training - including weapon handling and first aid - before choosing from one of 21 streams, running the gamut from chef to mechanical engineer. One of his favourite experiences was a five-day expedition to sea on HMAS Adelaide, as part of the program’s “establishment tour” where students visit every single base in their chosen field.

Henry Standley completed the Australian Defence Force’s gap year program in 2021 and now works as an air crewman in the Navy.

Like Standley, many school-leavers aren’t attracted to the idea of sitting in a classroom after having done just that for the past 13 years of their lives – in the hope of maybe securing a job. Nor is it always necessary. Amidst a global skill shortage, many sectors, including STEM, are stepping up to offer alternative ways into the workforce.

In 2022, research by the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education showed career advice for high school students was “significantly skewed towards university study, and students are uninformed about alternative pathways into post-secondary education”.

Anna Sidoti, a career development practitioner with more than 15 years of experience, says we need to change how we think about non-university pathways. “There can be a feeling that university is a better option, that it’s more prestigious, which I don’t think is necessarily true.”

By thinking this way, she says, “we lose esteem for very skilled technicians and trained workers.”

She adds that alternative pathways can be a good way to explore a potential career and gain real-world experience before committing to an expensive degree.

Standley is now 24 and working as an air crewman. He says the ADF gap year program is a great way to get a taste of life in the defence force and try out a range of different jobs.

While the navy doesn’t exactly have a reputation for a breezy work culture, Standley says the gap year afforded him plenty of down time. Stationed near the coast at HMAS Albatross, he enjoyed a swim before work and a surf to finish the day.

Who would the experience be suited for? “Someone who’s outgoing, wants to meet new people and wants new challenges and new experiences,” he says.

Here are five other options to get you skilled - and working - sooner.

Build a career in tech

Courtney Foster is in the second year of a Microsoft Traineeship, where she will receive a Certificate IV in Information Technology.Credit: Joe Armao

Courtney Foster’s love for computers started in high school. An avid gamer, the 21-year-old became frustrated with an old gaming laptop that wasn’t able to do everything she wanted it to. Naturally, the solution was to build her own.

When it came to deciding what to do after school, the Melburnian says the advice she was given was highly skewed towards university. But when researching the various degrees on offer, she was dissatisfied with their content.

“Everything I found in the uni courses was pretty much the basics. It was everything I already knew and I wanted to progress my knowledge rather than sitting in a classroom and learning the exact same stuff.”

Foster continued to work in retail before stumbling upon The Microsoft Traineeship program. Launched in 2019, trainees are officially hired by not-for-profit organisation MEGT, and placed in businesses in the Microsoft Network where they learn (and earn) on the job.

Students in the two-year program, which is available in six cities across Australia, receive a Certificate IV in Information Technology and industry-recognised Microsoft certifications upon graduation.

Foster is in her second year of working at MEGT. Trainees in the program work full-time, with a half-day each week set aside for online modules with the support of a call centre and dedicated student advisor.

“When I finish up my training course I’m pretty much good to go just as anyone else [with a degree] would be. It gives me a whole bunch of experience and knowledge that I never would have had access to.”

Get paid to travel the world

Travel the world and earn money doing it as a tour guide.Credit: iStock

If you want to see the world and enjoy meeting new people, then a career in tourism might be right for you.

Susan Rees, a tour director and vice-president of Tour Guides Australia, has worked in the travel industry for 40 years, and still gets excited before each trip. She’s passionate about educating the next generation of tour guides.

In response to a chronic shortage of tour guides – partly a result of the pandemic – Tour Guides Australia launched a three-day micro credential course that teaches foundational skills to those interested in the industry. While not a mandatory prerequisite for working as a tour guide, the course can be a good foot in the door as it connects students with industry professionals.

The next step is typically for aspiring guides to go on “ride alongs” with industry professionals, before easing in with short day tours.

So what makes a good tour guide? Good communication skills are essential, says Rees, as well as being a confident public speaker. You also need to be empathetic and have the ability to tailor your approach according to a group’s demographic. There’s also a degree of research involved – not just regarding the logistics of travel – but about the commentary you provide.

Contribute to a greener future

Candiece Felschow on the job.

Are you passionate about sustainability and want to work on the front line of renewable energy? Candiece Felschow, 27, has been working as an electrical apprentice in solar energy for just under a year. The young mum from Hervey Bay, Queensland, grew up on a farm and has always loved hands-on work.

After high school, she didn’t immediately go into a trade, gaining qualifications in business and bookkeeping. Her interest was piqued when electricians would come into her workplace, and she would try and get involved. “I kept trying to do jobs with them instead of my job,” she laughs. Eventually, they offered her an apprenticeship.

Felschow is working towards a Certificate III in Electrotechnology, which is partly funded by the state government. She is also supported by the New Energy Apprenticeship, which gives Australian apprentices in the clean energy sector up to $10,000 to support their study.

She admits that being a woman in trade isn’t always easy. “You’re amongst men and they do the typical male thing. Some of them think they’re better than you.”

She hopes more women are encouraged to take up a trade. “There are a lot of women who are more than capable of doing these kinds of jobs and they should be given that opportunity to do so like I have.”

Build on a passion for property

If you have the gift of the gab, consider a career in real estate. Credit: iStock

Whether you’re renting or buying a home, a real estate agent can make or break that experience.

Belinda Fletcher is Head Teacher of Property Services at TAFE NSW, where a Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice is a common entry point to the industry (although she says many students come to the course having completed a Certificate III in high school). The certificate covers everything from legislation to communication. And while she says there is some theory involved, a big part of the course involves role play.

“The students love [the practical] aspect of it. That’s where they come to the realisation that they actually like real estate, and it’s something that they want to do going forward.”

Upon graduation, students can choose to join the workforce at an assistant level, climbing the ladder internally, or pursue further study.

“I use the word gift of the gab – they’ve gotta love talking,” says Fletcher.

And while some may be put off by what is essentially a six-day work week, the hours within those days are flexible.

Fletcher says one of the best aspects of the job is that it’s ever-changing. “You’re not sitting in an office all the time, you’re out meeting different people, seeing different properties.”

Be part of the beating heart of a city

Christopher Heath completed a train driver traineeship in 2012 and now works as a driver trainer.Credit: Wolter Peeters

Christopher Heath has worked with NSW trains for over a decade – first as a survey systems operator, then a train driver and now a driver trainer and shift manager.

“This might sound a little corny,” says the 45-year-old, “but honestly the thing I love most is that the transport of any major city is vitally important, and you are a vital, albeit small cog in that system.”

Heath was fairly sure from high school that “any kind of academic future wasn’t on the cards”. But he didn’t immediately spring for a career in rail, starting with an apprenticeship at Sydney Airport.

He describes the year-long driver traineeship as intense but supportive. Students commence with classroom-based learning, before moving into the field for more hands-on training that includes working with a simulator and shadowing a qualified driver.

He says he’s been surprised by the potential for career development within the industry. Employees can even apply for secondments that allow them to work in a different government sector for a period of time.

So what kind of person would a career in rail suit? Someone comfortable with shift work, “who can work autonomously, who enjoys a dynamic environment and who can remain clearheaded when stressful situations arise.”

Five other pathways to consider

• Australian Public Service traineeship programs.
• Harness Projects “Career Launcher” courses in UX or cyber security.
• Ai Group women in STEM apprenticeships and traineeships.
• Generation Australia programs (Cyber security, aged care, data analytics, cloud computing and web development).
• The Defence Industry Pathways Program.

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Face time: Being allowed to attend lectures and tutorials online may be convenient, but is it time to bring back punitive measures so students attend university IRL?

Result driven: From a hands-on paid gap year in the defence forces to scaling the tech world, get a pay packet sooner with these fast-track career qualifications - no university required.

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