Senior Course Guide

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Gilroy Santa Maria College offers its students a wide range of subjects to cover a diverse range of student abilities, skills and interests. This high degree of flexibility and choice, combined with excellent facilities and resources, provides ample opportunity for every student to experience success and to pursue multiple career pathways to the future. 

The study options available in Senior Secondary include:

• General subjects (preparation for tertiary entrance)
• Applied subjects (practical/skill based subjects)
• Vocational Education & Training (VET) certificate courses (direct entry into the workforce or for further education and training)
• Support with school-based apprenticeship or traineeship
• Recognised subjects/courses from other universities and training organisations
• A combination of both

This Senior Schooling Handbook (Years 11 & 12) is designed to guide students and their families in the academic decisions required to be made before and leading into the senior phase of their schooling.

All students will work towards a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE), earning points for the completion of all subjects and courses. Students are able to select 2 pathways - Vocational or ATAR.  The Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) is the  primary mechanism used nationally for tertiary admissions and indicates a student’s position relative to other students.  It is the standard measure of a student’s overall academic achievement in relation to other students.Tertiary bound students will need to study a minimum of five general subjects or four general subjects plus a combination of Applied and Certificate III courses to be eligible to receive an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank). Students are also encouraged to view university entrance requirements.  Students not looking for university entry are encouraged to choose subjects they enjoy and will be successful in, that will provide them with a post-school pathway. Students may combine their studies with work experience and/or placement, school based apprenticeships or traineeships. Vocational students will participate in a work placement program every Friday that will provide them with authentic work experience in the industry/s of their interest.

Parents/Carers and students are advised to use these questions as the foundation for discerning and making decisions about subject/course selections. Attempting to predict the so-called ATAR value of certain subjects is not a strength-based approach to subject selection, which can lead to significant challenges in the future.

Success in Years 11 and 12 is more likely if students elect subjects/courses of study in which they have an interest and aptitude for.âžš

I trust this handbook will provide the information needed to make your academic decisions, whilst remembering we have key staff available to discuss your queries at any time.

I wish you all the best during this time of decision-making as your child embarks on their final years of school at Gilroy Santa Maria College.

Yours Sincerely,

Acting Principal
Melissa Carr

This booklet has been compiled to assist parents and students to make appropriate decisions about subject choices for Year 11 and 12. Students are strongly advised to read each subject synopsis carefully before making subject choices. Included in the booklet is some background information on the system of Senior Schooling in Queensland and brief information on each subject the College offers. Information about individual subjects has been supplied by Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority (QCAA) and prepared by our Academic Leaders.

At Gilroy Santa Maria College we have a Career Adviser to assistassists help students and parents/carers through the important process of career planning. Assistance is commonly provided for subject selections, post-school pathway decisions and tertiary applications.

There is a dedicated Vocational Education Officer to help students arrange Work Experience, Work Placement, School-Based Traineeships or Apprenticeships.

An extensive range of career and tertiary pathway information is available from the Careers Room.

It is important to choose senior subjects carefully as your decisions may affect your success at school, your feelings and motivation and how you feel about completing Senior.

An overall plan is to choose subjects which:

• Consider your interest and ability.
• Will develop skills, knowledge and attitudes useful throughout your life.

In most cases, the best subjects to take are the ones you like the most. From these subjects, you are more likely to do well and therefore get higher marks. If you really don’t like a subject, you probably won’t do as well.

Do not choose a subject because:

• Your friends are taking it. Your friends may have different abilities, interests and motivations to you.
• Your favourite teacher is teaching it. Teachers often change classes or even schools.
• You want to go on a particular excursion. You could endure years of misery for the sake of that excursion.
• You’ve heard it’s a “soft” subject. If someone tells you a subject is soft, chances are that they have a poor work ethic.
• You need to do it even though you hate it. If you need to do a subject to get into a particular course, there will be a lot of that subject within the course!
• You will get a higher ATAR score. The only way to get your best ATAR is to get good grades in subjects you enjoy.

Vocational Education and Training (VET) includes those courses which consist of a national qualification at certificate levels I, II or III. When a student studies VET the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) is responsible for all training, assessment and certification related to the course. The RTO is responsible for issuing a Statement of Attainment or a Certificate and Statement of Results. Students can undertake VET Qualifications either through Gilroy Santa Maria College as the Registered Training Organisation or with an external provider.

VET courses focuses on delivering skills and knowledge required for specific industries.

Every VET course is competency-based. The electives often have a more practical focus, targeting vocational skills relevant to the workplace. VET Qualifications at Certificate III level or above may also contribute towards an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR).

School-based traineeships allow students in Years 10, 11 or 12, to work for an employer and train towards a recognised qualification, while completing their secondary schooling and studying for their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). A traineeship typically takes 1-2 years to complete and may count as one senior subject. Traineeships are usually offered in the Hospitality and Business industry. 

School-based apprenticeships allow students in Years 11 or 12 to work for an employer and train towards a recognised qualification, while completing their secondary schooling and studying for their Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). A school-based apprenticeship begins during senior schooling, however, is not completed before the end of Year 12. After Year 12 a school-based apprenticeship transfers to full time employment with the workplace employer. A school-based apprenticeship may count as one senior subject. Apprenticeships are usually offered in the trade-based industries such as Hairdressing, Carpentry and Plumbing.

The process in gaining a school based apprenticeship or traineeship (SAT) begins with the student taking on voluntary Work Experience through either the school’s Holiday Work Experience Program or, if in Year 11 or Year 12, through the school’s Friday Work Placement Program. After experience is gained an employer may offer the student the opportunity to begin a SAT. If so, then a meeting is held between student, parent/carer, employer and the school’s VET manager to discuss. If a SBAT is secured, and the student is in Year 10 then the release time for the workplace hours is after-school, however, if the student is in Year 11 or Year 12 then is the release day for workplace hours is Friday.

For further information visit School-based - Apprenticeships Info: http://www.apprenticeshipsinfo.qld.gov.au/school-based/index.html

Gilroy Santa Maria College supports students’ participation in alternative learning programs such as School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) and External Courses. One way of supporting students is allowing them an Alternative Program line with the expectation that this time will be used to work on assignments and modules associated with their Certificate II or higher course.,

All students in Year 10 are expected to participate in a three-day Block Work Experience organised by the school. In addition, all Year 10 students are encouraged to partake in Holiday Work Experience during any of the school holiday breaks. 

Students in Year 11 and 12 that have chosen a vocational pathway (non-ATAR) must participate in the school’s Friday Work Placement Program. This involves students’ organising a workplace to attend each Friday of the school term. The focus of this program is for students to have the opportunity to gain practical, employability skills that align with their course and future employment field. Friday Work Placement is mandatory for all Vocational Pathway students.

Work Eexperience is offered to all students regardless of their chosen pathway of study in Senior and is invaluable in deciding on a particular occupation and/or study options

Studying University courses while at high school gives students a taste of University life. Students can focus on particular areas that may not be offered through their school or take an area of interest further. Courses successfully completed can be credited towards further study at university, giving them a head start on their tertiary study while also providing entry into university after you graduate high school. Fees are reduced whilst studying University courses at school. 

Applications for any of the programs outlined below are made through the Careers Adviser.

Central Queensland University (CQU) - Start Uni Now (SUN) program

Over 40 subjects are available from CQ University's online course program for students in Year 10 (Term 3 only), Year 11 and Year 12.

The first subject through the SUN Program is free (additional resource fees and textbook costs may apply).

https://www.cqu.edu.au/courses/study-information/work-and-study-preparation/sun

JCU Start Program

JCU NOW is for high achieving Year 11 and Year 12 students who want to be ready today for tomorrow by completing first year university subjects alongside their high school studies.

• Students can only enrol in one JCU NOW subject per teaching period (semester or trimester).
• Maximum number of subject’s students can complete under the JCU NOW program is 4 subjects over 4 teaching periods (semester or trimester).
• For subsequent JCU NOW subjects, another application form must be completed by the application closing date for each teaching period.
• A limited number of places are available in each subject to ensure the cohort size is limited.

https://www.jcu.edu.au/jcu-now/subjects

 2026 Subject Guide is now available  FisherONE Senior Subject Guide 2026-27.pdf and we’re excited to share several new offerings, including:

• Italian
• Economics
• Philosophy and Reason
• Geography
• Religion, Meaning and Life

 At FisherONE, we are committed to delivering high-quality online teaching and learning grounded in Catholic values. Our learning environment is shaped by our Teaching and Learning Framework, where students experience:

• Flexible, purpose-driven pathways
• Interactive digital spaces rich in collaboration, creativity, and challenge
• Teachers as facilitators, coaches, and co-learners
• Opportunities for agency, growth, and reflective practice
• A deep sense of connection, belonging, and shared mission

VET Subjects

• Certificate I in Automotive Preparation AUR10120
• Certificate II in Engineering Pathways MEM20413
• Certificate I in Construction CPC10120 through a third party agreement with Townsville Catholic Education (RTO Code 31195)
• Certificate II in Retail Cosmetics SHB20116
• Certificate II in Salon Assistant SHB20216
• Certificate II in Electrotechnology (Career Start) UEE22011 through a third party agreement with Electrogroup (RTO Code 30185)
• Certificate II Music Industry CUA20615
• Certificate II in Hospitality SIT20316 through a third party agreement with Townsville Catholic Education (RTO Code 31195)
• Certificate II in Health Support Services HLT23215 through a third party agreement with Connect n Grow (RTO Code 40518)
• Certificate III in Health Services Assistant HLT33115 through a third party agreement with Connect n Grow (RTO Code 40518)
• Certificate II in Sport and Recreation SIS20115 and Certificate III in Sport and Recreation SIS30115 through a third party agreement with Binnacle Training (RTO Code 31319)
• Certificate III in Business BSB30120 through a third party agreement with Binnacle Training (RTO Code 31319)