The office is designed to provide careers assistance for students through a range of programs, resources, networking opportunities and lifelong learning activities.
Skip Horne, a student services professional with over 25 years of experience in career development and recruiting in the USA, worked with the Senior Management Team, staff and students to scope the project and get the new office operational by early 2014. He was recruited to lead the new office, and is joined by Kelly Owen, who brings over six years of experience working directly with Pathways School students as the former Manager of Student Services.
“We hope to get our current students more future- oriented, job-ready and passionate about what they do both personally and professionally,” said Skip.
Programs have been developed around three themes: Foundation (resumes, cover letters, interviewing skills), Exploration (Alumni presentations, industry events, volunteer work) and Connection (mentoring, internship and job search assistance, fellowship support). Face-to-face meetings, group workshops and events – as well as online tools such as LinkedIn – will help facilitate interaction between students and Alumni.
“Whether coming back to speak to students about their degree program or industry, serving as a mentor, hiring an intern or attending a networking event, we want to connect our alumni with current students as well as each other”, said Kelly. According to the Warden, Andrew McGowan, “This exciting new project represents a strategic, long-term investment for Trinity. I believe it will not only help ensure
the transformative experience of all our students, but also lead to increased levels of alumni engagement.”
The idea for the office was first identified during Trinity’s strategic planning process, begun in 2013. Scott Charles, Director of Advancement at the College, was very enthusiastic about the initiative:
“With the links between Asia becoming far more important, we saw the office as a great tool to connect our alumni from the Residential College and Foundation Studies programs. We will be providing opportunities for internships and business connections in both Australian and Asian-based businesses, for all of our alumni.”
The office has the distinction of being the first centralised student resource at Trinity, serving all students in the Residential College, Foundation Studies and Theological School. It is also unique among peer institutions, being the first such careers resource offered by a residential college at the University of Melbourne, as well as the only such resource offered by any Foundation Studies program in Australia.
The Careers & Further Studies Office is located in the Leeper 2 Building. All alumni are encouraged to stop by the next time they visit the main campus.
You can reach the Careers & Further Studies Office staff at 03 9348 7100 or careers@trinity.unimelb.edu.au.
