For Victorian Parents Watching Their Teenagers Struggle with the ‘What Next?’ Question
- Jul 24
- 6 min read
As parents we want nothing more than to see our teenagers walk into their futures with optimism and confidence. We see their incredible potentials, their unique gifts, open minds and deep desire to make the most of their lives by living and working true to their values and natures.
But right now, watching them face the pressure of Year 10 subject selection, VCE choices (including the VCE Vocational Major), or trying to sort through their VTAC university preferences can be very stressful, for young people and their families.
You might see them completely shut down when you ask about the future. Maybe they are drowning in the endless options, or perhaps they genuinely have no idea what they want to do. You worry about them choosing the wrong path, wasting thousands on a university or TAFE course they’ll drop out of, or ending up in a dead-end job that kills their spirit.
You’ve tried talking to them, but sometimes a parent’s well-meaning advice just sounds like pressure to a stressed out teenager.
You don't have to carry this worry alone.
Revolution Career Counselling is designed to be the bridge. I provide a completely neutral, friendly, stress free space where your child can discover their strengths, explore real-world career paths and build a practical roadmap for life after school.
Think of Revolution Career Counselling as a mentor who can listen to young people, clearly understand their concerns, and help map out a practical tertiary education and career plan. My vocation is to help them find their direction the first time around - saving your family years of stress, kitchen table arguments (!) and very costly course corrections.
Let’s help your teenager find a path they are actually excited about.
Frequently Asked Questions (SACE & Student Career Counselling)
How can Revolution Career Counselling help my teenager with VCE subject selections?
Year 10 subject selection is a major fork in the road. Choosing the wrong subjects can accidentally lock your child out of university courses they might want to take later. We help your teen look at their natural strengths and interests first, then map out a strategic mix of VCE units - including navigating the VCE Vocational Major (VM) if they prefer hands-on learning - to ensure they keep their future options wide open.
My teen is overwhelmed by VTAC. Do you assist with VCE subject selections?
Year 10 subject selection is a major fork in the road. Choosing the wrong subjects can accidentally lock your child out of university courses they might want to take later. I help your teen look at their natural strengths and interests first, then map out a strategic mix of VCE units - including navigating the VCE Vocational Major (VM) if they prefer hands-on learning - to ensure they keep their future options wide open.
Why use Revolution Career Counselling instead of the school's guidance officer?
While school careers teachers do the best they can with very limited time and resources they are often overwhelmed, often attempting to manage the career guidance expectations of hundreds of VCE students at once. This usually means your teen only gets a brief (typically around 10-15 mintes) career guidance chat. In sharp contrast Revolution Career Counselling provides your child with a dedicated one on one focus. I conduct a comprehensive analysis into their unique personality traits and strengths, providing a level of tailored attention that schools simply don't have the suitably qualified and experienced staff or the time to offer.
It is interesting to note that most Victorian government secondary schools and many independent secondary schools administer the Morrisby Profile - "an online psychometric and aptitude assessment tool". No tertiary qualification is strictly required to administer Morrisby Profile sessions to students. Teachers, school administrators and support staff can administer this tool after basic training taking around seventy five minutes.
Revolution Career Counselling uses the Strong Interest Inventory®. The Strong is the world's leading professional level career interest assessment. It is based on consistent psychological research results that demonstrate that people are happier and most productive when their career choice matches their values and their personality. The Strong Interest Inventory® is specifically designed to identify your career interests and match these interests with potential occupations.
Is this service suitable for Victorian tertiary students, including those who have or are considering dropping out or changing courses?
Yes. A large number of my clients are young adults who have started a program at a Melbourne university (like Monash, VU, Swinburne, ACU, RMIT, Deakin, Uni Melb, TAFE Victoria, etc.) and realized it wasn’t the right fit. I help them to safely pivot their interests, course credits, knowledge and skills into a new course or career path of their choice, so they don't feel like they are starting from scratch or wasting their education.
What exactly is included in the Student Career Counselling 2 Session Program?
The Student Career Counselling 2 Session Program is a complete end-to-end career guidance program for students and young people. This one on one career counselling service is delivered over 14 days and includes two career counselling sessions via Zoom with full recordings and transcripts. Here is how it works:
Step 1 Two one hour career counselling sessions with John Hogan. On our first session we use the Strong Interests Profile ®, the world's leading career interests assessment. We find your top career interest areas, based on your career personality type, motivators and values.
Step 2 Over the next week you shortlist those careers in which you are most interested.
Step 3 I then provide carefully chosen independent recommendations from the vast array of higher education, training and other career entry pathways on offer. Revolution Career Counselling is the only career counselling service in Australia that provides this independent service to young people.
Step 4 On our second session I provide practical advice and support to help with your decision-making, regarding the respective career and career pathway options you have selected from your Career Interests 'Shortlist'. This includes guidance on setting clear and actionable short and longer term career and personal goals.
The Program also provides:
* Recommendations on university and TAFE majors, minors and electives
* Guidance on Year 11 and 12 subject selections for high school students
* Advice for tertiary education students and graduates on how to successfully navigate their vocations
What exactly is included in the Student Career Counselling 5 Session Program?
The Student Career Counselling 5 Session Program is a complete end-to-end career guidance program for students and young people. This one on one career counselling service includes five career counselling sessions via Zoom with full recordings and transcripts. Here is how it works:
* Five tailored career and personal counselling sessions delivered face to face online via Zoom with session recordings
* A Strong Career Interest Report® identifying your Personality, Values, Strengths and Motivators
* Carefully chosen independent recommendations from the vast array of tertiary education and training pathways available
* Recommendations on Year 11 and Year 12 subject selections for high school students
* Recommendations on TAFE and University major and minor course selections
* Up to date advice for tertiary education students on exactly how to get the jobs they want upon graduation
* This Program also provides specialised support for people who identify as neurodivergent (1 in 8 Australians )
* Your focus as a secondary student should be on choosing and actively engaging in the types of subjects that personally mean something to you and that clearly fit your specific plans for post school tertiary education or training
* Your focus as a tertiary student should be on graduating as a highly employable person with a clear set of sellable skills, knowledge and experience, ready to enter the kind of workplace best suited to your values, interests and potentials
* You will learn how to vastly increase the value of your tertiary program and always be in direct control of your learning, your career and your life. These opportunities are not known about or taken advantage of by most tertiary students
* The option of weekly or fortnightly stress-free sessions so you can progress at your own pace, as you set and achieve your education, training, career and personal goals
* Remove any doubts, challenges and self-limiting behaviours that may affect your progress along the way
* Use your key personal values, skills and attributes to get the most satisfaction from your learning and your life
* Develop your unique 'personal brand' to create and control the way you wish to present yourself, describing what is unique and distinctive about you and what you have to offer
* Note that parents/carers/others do not attend the career counselling sessions
Note: Additional single Student Career Counselling Sessions can also be arranged at any time.
