SWARMS of western Sydney high-schoolers converged on Blacktown International Sportspark last week to check out their study options.
"There's been a lot of interest in psychology, nursing and my course — paramedicine," said Jordan McPherson, 20, of St Clair, who was manning the UWS stand for Contact Service Centre at the 30th Nepean Careers Market on Friday.
A first-year student in UWS's Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedicine) program, Mr McPherson said he fell in love with joining the NSW Ambulance Service after watching the incredible work paramedics do helping his grandfather, Don McPherson, on an ongoing basis.
"My grandad is paralysed on one side of the body and has lived with me for the last 10 years. Paramedics are regular visitors," he said.
"They've just impressed me the way they can settle things down."
The three-year paramedicine program, which has been granted preliminary approval for accreditation from the Council of Ambulance Authorities at UWS, currently has an entrance ATAR rank of 93.80.
Trudy Noller, the senior community liaison officer for the Universities Admissions Centre, reminded students they needn't stress about applying to every university they're interested in attending.
"Last year was the first year it's been a centralised system," she said with reference to the Schools Recommendation Schemes which lets 10 institutions, including UWS, make early offers to current Australian year 12 students who have applied for undergraduate admission through UAC.
Ms Noller said the new system was very popular with students and schools.
"It's better because the students only have to put in one application," she said.
UWS and UAC were among 170 exhibitors and 5000 students — from as far afield as Kellyville and Katoomba — at the two-day Nepean Careers Market held for the first time alongside the Try-a-Skill event.
The careers market brings together tertiary institutions and government organisations. Try-a-Skill gives students hands-on experience at as many different trades as possible.
Both annual events are organised by TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute and Nepean Careers Forum.
‘‘It’s about bringing them together to give [students] a hollistic experience,’’ TAFE Western Sydney’s schools program coordinator, Brett Carter, said.
■ SRS applications open at 9am on Wednesday, August 5, and close at midnight on Wednesday, September 30. Details: http://uac.edu.au/srs.
