Check in each term
What is working
What has changed
What needs adjusting

Strong decisions are informed, realistic, and personally suitable. Talk with your young person about what they are good at, what they enjoy, and what feels challenging.

If they say “I don’t know”, it means they need more exposure, not more pressure.

SET planning is not about getting everything right. It is about helping your young person make informed and meaningful decisions.

These videos will help you to
understand your role as a parent
avoid common myths
focus on what actually matters

Your role is to support, not decide.

In summary, both ATAR and IB can lead to university entrance, and QTAC manages the application process for both pathways.

In Years 11 and 12, Queensland students choose different types of Maths. The level they choose can affect both their ATAR and university options.

🟩 Essential Mathematics

• A practical subject focused on everyday Maths.

• It does not count towards an ATAR for university entrance.

• Most universities do not accept Essential Maths for degrees that require a maths subject (e.g. engineering, science, psychology, business, or teaching).

• Students doing only Essential Maths may need to take a bridging course later if they want to study those degrees.

🟦 General Mathematics (and higher, e.g. Mathematical Methods, Specialist Maths)

• Contributes to ATAR calculation.

• Suitable for a broad range of university courses.

• Some competitive degrees or programs with assumed knowledge require General Maths or higher.

🎓 QTAC and University Requirements

• QTAC checks whether students meet subject prerequisites (e.g. “General Maths or Mathematical Methods”).

• It also calculates the ATAR (if eligible) using a student’s best 5 eligible General subjects, or a mix of General and Applied subjects—but only 1 Applied subject (like Essential Maths) can be used, and not all Applied subjects are accepted for ATAR.

• Doing General Maths or higher keeps more university pathways open.

✅ Summary for Parents:

• Essential Maths = practical but limits uni options and doesn’t help ATAR.

• General Maths = counts towards ATAR and opens more doors.

• QTAC = checks both ATAR and subject prerequisites for uni offers.

For Queensland students, a Humanities degree can lead to careers in law, education, public service, journalism, international relations, policy, community work, and more. As technology reshapes jobs, the ability to think deeply, understand people, and adapt across industries is more important than ever.

Students in generalist programs build a strong foundation in critical thinking, communication, analysis, research, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. These are the transferable skills that employers across every sector are looking for—especially in an unpredictable job market where many future roles haven’t even been created yet.

Graduates with generalist degrees can enter a wide range of industries, including:

• Government and public policy

• Media, communications, and marketing

• Education and training

• Business, consulting, and HR

• Not-for-profit and community sectors

• International relations and diplomacy

Career pathways may include policy advisor, journalist, educator, project officer, researcher, communications specialist, community engagement officer, public servant, and more.

In a world where people often change careers multiple times, generalist degrees prepare students not just for a job, but for a lifetime of adaptable, meaningful work.

Would you like this formatted into a career pathways chart or visual handout for students and parents?

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They can use tools like MyFuture to discover different roles
understand job tasks and explore pathways.

Talk to people working in areas of interest where possible.

The goal is not certainty. It is direction.

Before choosing subjects check for any prerequisites, understand pathways, use reliable sources.

Start with
your school careers team
myfuture.edu.au
university or TAFE course pages

Good decisions come from good information.

Support student to choose subjects based on
their strengths, interests, required prerequisites and
wellbeing. Your role is to support, not decide.

The best subject choices happen when students feel ownership, not pressure.

• Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre
  https://www.qtac.edu.au/
  Covers Queensland (and some northern New South Wales institutions)

New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory

• Universities Admissions Centre
  https://www.uac.edu.au/
  Covers New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory
  Processes applications and calculates ATAR for NSW students

Victoria

• Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre
  https://www.vtac.edu.au/
  Covers Victoria
  Centralised admissions service for universities and TAFEs

South Australia and Northern Territory

• South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre
  https://www.satac.edu.au/
  Covers South Australia and the Northern Territory
  Also involved in ATAR calculation and subject scaling

Western Australia

• Tertiary Institutions Service Centre
  https://www.tisc.edu.au/
  Covers Western Australia
  Processes applications and coordinates offers across WA universities

Tasmania (Special Case)

• University of Tasmania
  https://www.utas.edu.au/
  Covers Tasmania
  Tasmania does not have a separate TAC. The university manages its own admissions.

Each state has one main application portal for most universities.

Students apply once per state, not per university.

If they want interstate options, they apply through multiple TACs.

These centres do not decide who gets in. They process applications and rank applicants for universities.

So the best resources are those that:

• reduce cognitive load

• are strengths based

• provide structure and visual scaffolding

• allow for different communication styles

• support regulation and agency

Core Australian Resources for Neurodivergent Career and SET Planning

Strengths, Interests, and Career Exploration Tools

myWAY Employability (highly recommended)
👉 https://mywayemployability.au

Designed specifically for autistic and neurodivergent young people.

It guides students through:

• strengths identification

• sensory preferences

• communication style

• career matching

• goal setting

Why this matters for SET planning

It scaffolds decision making through structured prompts rather than expecting abstract thinking.

Neurodiversity Hub

👉https://www.neurodiversityhub.org

Focus:

• transition to employment

• strengths based development

• inclusive career readiness

ow I use this with students
This is particularly useful for older students in Years 10 to 12. It helps them to:
understand workplace expectations
build confidence in their identity

Practical School and Study Support (Bridging to Careers)

Study Australia Neurodivergent Support Hub

👉 https://www.studyaustralia.gov.au

Highlights:

• access to disability advisors

• study skills support

• counselling

• structured academic support

Translation for SET planning

This helps students see that support continues beyond school and reduces anxiety around future pathways.