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Empowering Educators & Inspiring Futures

A FREE accredited professional development event for Career Advisors and Year 10–12 Coordinators.

Wednesday 11 February, 2026
Lake Macquarie Campus

Register Now →

3 Hours NESA Eligible
Professional Development

In Person Event
Connect with industry experts

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
8:45 AM - 12:00 PM

Attendance Certificate
Received after completion

Inspire wellbeing. Inform decisions. Impact Futures.

Join education and industry experts for an engaging half-day professional development session - completely FREE - designed to equip schools with up-to-date insights to better guide and support students into their career and post-school pathways.

Join us for this free NESA eligible Professional Development event is a valuable opportunity to:

• Gain current insights into student wellbeing and transitions
• Hear directly from key education and industry leaders
• Network with colleagues and community partners
• Discover how Avondale University supports both student and staff development

Limited places available. Registrations close February 5, 2026.
Register today to secure your spot.

Register Now →

Why attend?

Enhance your professional practice with the latest industry news and insights

Understand student challenges in wellbeing and decision-making

Engage with key industry experts through interactive Q&A Sessions

Explore pathways into university, VET and employment

Connect with Avondale University and professional peers

Event Program

8:45am - 9:10am
Welcome and networking
9:10am - 9:40am
Enhancing student wellbeing - Dr Darren Morton
9:40 am - 10:15 am
Labour market insights and future workforce trends + Q&A – Jobs & Skills Australia
10:15am - 10:45am
Morning tea
10:45am - 11:20am
Higher Education trends & roadmaps + Q&A – UAC
11:20am - 12:00pm
Avondale University; how we can support students and schools + mini campus tour

Registrations extended February 5, 2026

Free registration—supporting educators in delivering the best for their students.

Register Now →

Learning Outcomes →

Explore the key learning outcomes that will strengthen your ability to support students through this valuable professional development opportunity.

Featured Industry Speakers

Dr Darren Morton, PhD, FASLM - Avondale University

Enhancing Student Wellbeing
Learn strategies to support student mental health and wellbeing, addressing challenges faced by senior students. Plus opportunities for teacher professional growth and school wellbeing programs like The Lift Project for Schools.

Dr Darren Morton is an internationally recognised wellbeing scientist, author, and Director of the Lifestyle Medicine and Health Research Centre at Avondale University. His research and programs have positively impacted wellbeing education in schools and workplaces worldwide.

Peter Lake - Jobs and Skills Australia

Labour market insights and future workforce trends
Gain practical insights into emerging student transition trends, key career-decision challenges, opportunities for schools to strengthen pathway support, and the latest JSA data on skills needs, growth industries, and the future workforce.

Trudy Noller - Universities Admissions Centre (UAC)

Navigating Admissions, ATAR Insights, and Access Schemes
Understand the latest updates in university admissions and practical guidance for supporting your students’ applications.

Register Now →

Learning Outcomes

Upon attendance of the Empowering Educators & Inspiring Students PD, participants will be able to:

Understand Emerging Year 12 Trends & Post-School Pathways

• Identify current patterns in how students transition from school to further study, training, or employment.
• Recognise key challenges influencing students’ career decision-making.
• Apply insights from NSW Department of Education data to better guide students through post-school options.

Navigate Higher Education Trends & Application Processes

• Develop a clear understanding of the latest higher education trends affecting student choices and opportunities.
• Confidently guide students through the UAC application process, key deadlines, preferences, and common pitfalls.
• Explain changing university admissions requirements and how they impact diverse student cohorts.

Strengthen Career Guidance & Advising Skills

• Provide informed advice across a wide range of student pathways including VET, apprenticeships, university, and alternative options.
• Use labour-market, skills-needs, and industry-growth insights to offer evidence-based career recommendations.
• Build cultural competency and awareness of the diverse needs of students navigating transitions.

Enhance Student Wellbeing Knowledge

• Understand foundational principles of wellbeing outlined by Dr Darren Morton.
• Apply wellbeing strategies that support students through high-pressure periods such as Year 12, exams, and transition planning.
• Integrate wellbeing conversations into career and academic guidance.

Strengthen Professional Networks & Industry Connections

• Connect with pathway specialists, university representatives, and education sector leaders.
• Expand professional networks to stay current with evolving trends and opportunities for students.
• Collaborate with peers to share best practice approaches to student pathway support.

Apply Learnings to Improve School Career Programs

• Evaluate and enhance current school-based career programs using new information from expert speakers.
• Implement practical strategies to better support student transitions into work, VET, university, or other post-school options.
• Use updated tools, frameworks, and insights to future-proof career education programs.

Register for Empowering Educators & Inspiring Futures

This is a free professional development event with limited places available — register early to secure your spot.

Location: Avondale University, Lake Macquarie Campus, Cooranbong NSW
Date: Wednesday 11 February, 2026, 8:45am-12noon

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