Careers

Choosing a career is a big decision, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Your career is more than just your first job — it’s the journey you take through work, learning and life. It often spans your entire working life and is shaped by your interests, experiences, and goals. Exploring your options early can help you make smarter choices about school subjects, further study or training pathways that align with the direction you want to take.

A great way to start is by thinking about what you enjoy. Do you prefer working with people, solving problems, being outdoors, or creating things? Just as important is knowing what doesn’t interest you - this can narrow things down. Also consider how you want to work. Do you like structure, variety, hands-on tasks or independence? Some careers require university, while others offer apprenticeships, traineeships or direct entry into the workforce.

Exploring different options and understanding what’s involved in various careers can help you make informed decisions and give you a clearer idea of the direction you might want to take. Think about the kinds of opportunities you might want in the future and what steps could help you get there. Whether you're aiming for a trade, a profession or something in between, there are many ways to get started. Use the links below to start researching different careers, qualifications and pathways - and remember, the more you explore, the more confident you’ll feel in shaping your future.

Discover what you love

• Build and maintain a positive self-concept
• Interact positively and effectively with others
• Change and grow throughout life

Helpful information:

28 Skills of a Really Ready Student

Learning and Work Exploration Resources

• Participate in lifelong learning supportive of career goals
• Locate and effectively use career information
• Understand the relationship between work, society and the economy

MyFuture

Access the MyFuture website to use the My Career profile career exploration tool to create your career profile. Then follow other pathways to explore occupations and industries, read career information, discover courses and career pathways, resources and much more!

Job Jumpstart

The 'Know Your Work Preferences' page on Job Jumpstart will help you explore what types of work best suit you by reflecting on preferred tasks, work environments and social interactions. It offers three short downloadable workbooks - covering tasks you enjoy, interactions you prefer and ideal work settings - to guide self-reflection. This resource supports individuals to better understand their strengths and preferences, which can then be used to inform job choices and career planning.

Good Universities Guide

The weblinks below will help you explore specific careers and check out the options available in Australia by courses, institutions, careers as well as scholarships.

SkillsSA

Skills SA is a Government initiative to assist individuals and employers to choose the training provider that best suits their needs.

Explore occupations, high demand industries, VET, Apprenticeships and Traineeships and support.

Get Ready For Study And Work

Find Get Ready Top Tips Workbooks for young people with disability. Resources contain information, contacts and activities to help students make a successful transition from school into tertiary study, work or post school programs.

SkillsRoad

SkillsRoad offer Career Quiz, Career explorations, Job Fit test and a Job Search link.

A range of online career training courses will provide you with tips on how to get a job and be successful at work.

Your Career

Search Industries and occupations to find a career that’s right for you and what you can do to get there.

Future Jobs

Demographer Mark McCrindle explores how rapid advances in technology, shifting demographics, and evolving lifestyles will transform the careers of today’s students. With opportunities ranging from emerging technologies like robotics, cyber-security, and virtual reality to innovative service industries, he highlights how these shifts are reshaping the job market. Students will likely have multiple careers over their lifetime and work in roles that don’t yet exist, making adaptability, creativity and continuous learning essential for success in this rapidly evolving world of work.

Fair Work Ombudsman

The Fair Work Ombudsman is the national workplace regulator responsible for ensuring compliance with Australian workplace laws. For young people entering the workforce, Fair Work provides clear information about pay rates, work hours, breaks and employment rights. They offer resources to help young workers understand their entitlements, like minimum wage and penalty rates, and explain how to check a payslip or resolve issues with an employer. Fair Work also supports workers in making complaints or seeking help if they believe they’ve been treated unfairly.

Apprenticeship and Trainee Pathways

Students should consider becoming an Australian school-based apprentice or trainee. This option allows students to start working on an apprenticeship or traineeship from year 10. You will earn a wage, train with an employer, and work towards an accredited qualification while undertaking your South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

The Australian Apprenticeships website provides information about:

• Different types of apprenticeships
• The difference between an apprenticeship and traineeship.
• School-based Apprenticeships
• Pre-apprenticeships
• Preparing for an apprenticeship

Click on the links below to learn more!

Using the Preparation Checklist linked below, ensures you will have key information when considering an apprenticeship pathway.

Aptitude Quizzes

The Australian Apprentices website also offers practice Aptitude Quizzes (not formal assessments) to help you prepare for an apprenticeship and learn what sort of problem-solving you’ll do day-to-day as an apprentice. Quizzes can be completed online or can be downloaded to complete offline. There are industry specific quizzes, a general or non-industry-based quiz as well as Support Indicator and Industry-based Literacy and Numeracy quizzes.

Tax File Number & MyGov

If you are enrolled in or have undertaken a VET course, you will have created a Unique Student Identity (USI) code. To undertake a VET course, you are not required to create a Tax File Number (TFN) or a MyGov account.

However, as you prepare for life beyond school or if you’re planning on getting a job whilst at school, you may want to consider creating a Tax File Number and a MyGov account.

A TFN is a personal reference number (usually 9 digits) in the tax and superannuation systems. It is uniquely yours and you will keep your TFN even if you change jobs or name, move interstate or go overseas.

You can apply for a TFN at any age, however conditions apply (see link below for more information).

Workers don’t have to have a TFN, but without one, your employer or financial institution must withhold more tax from payments they make to you.

Protect Your Identity

Make sure you protect your identity by keeping all your personal details secure, including your TFN.

Someone only needs basic details, such as your name, date of birth, address, myGov details or TFN, to commit identity fraud or scams.

Only disclose your TFN to people and organisations that require it for legitimate reasons, such as:

• the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) – when discussing your tax records
• your employer when you start work
• your bank or financial institution
• other government agencies to claim benefits
• your superannuation fund
• your university.

MyGov gives you access to government services such as the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Centrelink and Medicare and these can be linked to your account. To create a myGov account, you need to be at least 15 years old. 

Money Matters

Learn about

• Managing your money on a student budget
• Moving out of home
• Rental bonds and leases
• Getting a job
• Credit and debt
• Choosing a mobile phone plan
• Buying and running a car

Youth Law Australia

Learn about rights and responsibilities related to:

Apprenticeships	Car accidents at work
Casual conversion	Complain options
COVID-19 vaccines and your workplace rights	Deducting pay
Discrimination in the workplace	Ending employment
Family and domestic violence leave	Final pay
Full-time, part-time & casual work	Getting fired and unfair dismissal
Gig workers	How to lodge an unfair dismissal application
Independent contractors	International students- visas and workplace rights
Leave entitlements	Pay issues
Payslip red flags	Right to disconnect
Sexual harassment at work	Sham contracting
Telling your employer about illness or injury – during employment	Telling your employer about illness or injury – pre-employment
Trade Unions	Trial Work
Unfair Dismissal Applications – FAQs	Wage theft
When can I start working?	Working conditions
Workplace bullying and harassment

SafeWork SA

SafeWork SA is the workplace health and safety regulator for South Australia. They provide information, advice and education to help ensure safe and fair workplaces. For a young person starting out in the workforce, SafeWork SA offers guidance on understanding workplace rights and responsibilities, advice on staying safe at work and resources about common risks in different industries. They also provide information on how to raise concerns or report unsafe work practices, helping young workers feel confident about their safety and wellbeing at work.