Findon Technical College students will soon have the option of completing their first year of university while in Year 12.
The initiative, a partnership between Flinders University and the State Government, is part of a push to build a specialised workforce to support South Australia’s economic future and would see students fast-tracking the start of their career as an early childhood educator, nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist or engineer.
The university courses included in the agreement are the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Early Childhood Education – either Birth to Eight or Birth to Five.
Pathways into nursing and allied health degrees including social work, psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy and physiotherapy will also be offered.
To qualify, students will need to successfully complete their South Australian Certificate of Education in Year 11 at Findon Technical College, along with a university preparatory program for entry into their degree.
They will then have guaranteed university entry as a Year 12 student without the need for an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).
The Findon Technical College students who qualify will be able to complete studies in their chosen degree program as part of their Year 12 studies, with teaching support from both the Technical College and Flinders University educators.
The bachelor courses will be offered online or via hybrid delivery at Flinders University's city campus or in the Technical College by Flinders University lecturers, and students will study up to eight topics in 2025.
Findon Technical College is the first of five technical colleges to be built across metropolitan and regional South Australia following a State Government investment of $208.8 million.
Work is currently underway on the other colleges with Port Augusta Technical College opening in 2025 and Tonsley, Modbury Heights and Mount Gambier to follow in 2026.
Flinders University Senior Deputy-Vice Chancellor Professor Romy Lawson said that the university believed a student’s potential “can be unlocked early by supporting their drive and skill development in their chosen career”.
“Our game-changing initiative with the State Government will provide an opportunity for students to earn degree qualifications sooner and support their tertiary study while they’re in Year 12,” Prof Lawson said.
“This nation-leading pathway with the Findon Technical College means Flinders students will emerge with degree-level qualifications in industries suffering skills shortages to support the economy and fast-track their career opportunities in nursing, teaching and engineering.
“It will be transformative for students to have the first year of their degree under their belt while working with industry experts on the job to gain valuable future skills.”
