Curtin University – A Day of Discovery for Year 10
Our Year 10 students took a big step towards their future this week, spending a full day exploring Curtin University as part of our Future10 Program. The visit is designed to broaden their horizons, spark curiosity, and help them make informed choices as they move into senior schooling.
The main purpose of the excursion is to build career awareness and help students understand the many study pathways available to them beyond school. By stepping onto a real campus, they gain a clearer sense of what university life looks like, its pace, its opportunities, and the diverse learning environments they may one day be part of.
A Day of Hands-On Learning
The Curtin visit offers far more than a quick tour. Students participate in a range of interactive, faculty-led activities that bring learning to life. Their day begins with a warm Curtin welcome and a student ambassador panel, where they hear firsthand about university life, prerequisites, ATARs, and the many pathways that lead students to their chosen careers.
From there, the girls rotate through four engaging sessions:
- Business & Commerce – Tourism Focus
Students dive into the world of tourism, exploring how businesses attract travellers and create memorable experiences. - STEM – Building & Engineering
A hands-on engineering challenge gives students the chance to design, build, and problem-solve like real engineers. - Health Sciences – Understanding Disease
In the labs, students learn how diseases spread and what it’s like to work in a health science environment. - Race Around the University
A fun, fast-paced challenge that helps students get their bearings on campus while building teamwork and communication skills.
A Genuine Taste of University Life
The true value of the day lies in the immersion. Instead of hearing about university, students get to live it, walking through bustling faculties, chatting with Curtin staff and students, and sitting in spaces where future ideas are sparked. It’s a chance to imagine themselves in these environments and decide whether they see a future there.
Skills That Last Beyond the Day
By the end of the excursion, we hope our students walk away with:
- A stronger sense of self and what interests them
- Improved career exploration skills
- Greater clarity around future pathways
- Renewed motivation and purpose
- Confidence in making informed decisions about their senior subject choices
These are skills that will help shape confident, capable young women ready to take charge of their own pathways.
What Were the Standout Moments?
For many students, the day was a real motivator for thinking about life after school. Eva said she “found the whole day inspiring”, explaining that the experience strengthened her desire to go to university one day. She particularly loved exploring the Curtin campus, describing the atmosphere as welcoming and the library as a place she could easily imagine herself studying in. After walking around the grounds, taking part in activities and listening to presentations, she left feeling more motivated than ever to work towards her goal of attending university.
Matilda enjoyed the hands-on aspect of the visit, saying they completed “a race around the uni, STEM activities, and science experiments.” She shared that lunchtime was another highlight, with students able to wander the campus, explore different spaces and even visit the cafés for a bite to eat. For her, the day struck a great balance between learning and discovery.
- career pathways for students, Curtin University, Featured, Future10 Program, Girls in education, Health science learning, School-university partnerships, STEM Education, Student Empowerment, Year 10 excursion
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
Weekly Wrap Up – Term 1, Week 10
Holy Week and Easter – A Time of Renewal and Hope
