Year 12 students to explore what life could look like after school

Fast Forward's Year 12 Conference 2017

In an effort to encourage young people to learn about the opportunities of a higher education, Western Sydney University’s Fast Forward program will bring together more than 600 students in their annual Year 12 Conference.

This year, the conference will be based around the theme of ‘Beyond year 12’— addressing the challenges school leavers face, with the aim of enhancing the students' preparedness for life after high school.

Approximately 600 students who have been participating in the Fast Forward Program for 4 years since they commenced in the program in Year 9 will be exposed to a series of wide-ranging interactive and informative sessions delivered by Western Sydney University academics and external partners.

Students will be able to select two sessions from 36 workshops across various disciplines, which include degrees in medical science, law, nursing and midwifery, communications, business, psychology, social work, education, music, engineering and many more.

Ellen Fanning who is an ABC Journalist and host of The Drum, will be the guest speaker at the conference, sharing her own experience of higher education and those of her mother, a single parent, who was the first woman in their family to complete high school and go on to further study.

The Fast Forward Program is developed by Western Sydney University’s Office of Widening Participation and aims to raise educational aspirations for high school students from non-traditional backgrounds.

Ms Gayl Purchase, Manager of the University’s Fast Forward Program, says the day will provide the opportunity to enhance students’ preparedness for life after year 12.

"We have a strong commitment to assist students to consider further study after their HSC and in particular those who are typically underrepresented in the current higher education participation rates," Ms Purchase said.

Since 2013, more than 60 percent of all western Sydney students involved in the Fast Forward program have gone on to higher education and are the first in their family to do so.

"We hope the conference will allow the students to see tertiary study as a realistic and viable post-school option," she says.

List of schools participating in the Fast Foot Forward Year 12 Conference:

  • All Saints Catholic Senior College
  • Australian International Academy
  • Bankstown Girls High School
  • Bass High School
  • Belmore Boys High School
  • Canterbury Girls High School
  • East Hills Boys High School
  • Granville South Performing Arts High School
  • Hoxton Park High School
  • Liverpool Boys High School
  • Patrician Brothers Fairfield
  • Punchbowl Boys High School
  • Sir Joseph Banks High School
  • Strathfield South High School
  • Wiley Park Girls High School
  • Blaxland High School
  • Chifley College Bidwill
  • Chifley College Senior Campus
  • Cranebrook High School
  • Emmaus Catholic College
  • Erskine Park High School
  • Jamison High School
  • McCarthy Catholic College
  • Nepean Creative and Performing Arts High School
  • Plumpton High School
  • Windsor High School
  • Airds High School
  • Ambarvale High School
  • Campbelltown Performing Arts High School
  • Eagle Vale High School
  • Elizabeth Macarthur High School
  • James Busby High School
  • Leumeah High School
  • Lurnea High School
  • Macquarie Fields High School
  • Mitchell High School
  • Mount Carmel Catholic College
  • Picton High School
  • Sarah Redfern High School
  • Thomas Reddall High School
  • Arthur Phillip High School
  • Auburn Girls High School
  • Chester Hill High School
  • Fairfield High School
  • Granville Boys High School
  • Holroyd High School
  • Merrylands High School
  • Nagle College
  • Parramatta High School
  • St Andrews College
  • St Clair High School
  • Westfield Sports High School
  • Wyndham College

Ends

26 February 2018

Kathryn Bannon, Media Officer