Learning
Our Theme – Be the Exceptional
Heathdale Christian College’s Careers Week is a fantastic opportunity for our Year 10 students to gain an insight into a broad range of training and career opportunities.
Our theme is ‘Be the Exceptional’, which mirrors Heathdale’s educational focus of developing each student’s unique God-given potential.
‘Be the Exceptional’ encapsulates our desire for each student to develop their God-given potential to the fullest and be exceptional in their own way. That is the heart and hope behind our Careers Week.
Learning
What happens during Careers Week?
Our annual Careers Week a dynamic program designed to help them explore future pathways, discover new opportunities and make informed decisions about life beyond school. Careers with is led by our Student Pathways Coordinator, Vicky Bawden, and supported by our Principals and staff.
Throughout the week, students participate in a range of experiences designed to broaden their understanding of the many pathways available after school, including:
- Career and industry presentations from professionals across a variety of fields.
- Pathway workshops exploring university, TAFE, apprenticeships, traineeships and employment opportunities.
- Subject selection sessions to help students understand how their choices can support future aspirations.
- Industry panels and Q&A discussions, providing firsthand insight into different careers and workplaces.
- Motivational and personal development sessions encouraging students to reflect on their strengths, interests and goals.
- Australian Defence Force presentations, offering insight into careers and pathways within Defence.
- Heathdale's Career Expo, open to all our Years 7-12 students, where students connect with employers, tertiary providers and industry representatives.
By engaging with these experiences, students gain practical knowledge, valuable advice and greater confidence as they begin to consider the next steps in their educational and career journeys.
We look forward to seeing our students grow in confidence, expand their horizons, and take meaningful steps toward their future through Careers Week in 2026.
Learning
Industry Speakers
Each year, our Year 10 students nominate the industries they would most like to learn about, helping shape our Industry Speakers program. These guest speakers provide valuable opportunities for students to hear firsthand from professionals across a wide range of fields and experiences.
Through sharing their career journeys, educational pathways and day-to-day work, speakers help bring the world beyond school into sharper focus. They may discuss industry trends, topical issues, or areas connected to subjects students are studying or considering for the future.
Guest speakers play an important role in broadening students' horizons as they make subject, pathway and career decisions. From relatable alumni to professionals with vastly different experiences, each speaker offers unique insights and perspectives. Their stories help make the realities of work more tangible and accessible for young people.
We are privileged to welcome the following guest speakers, who have generously donated their time to invest in the future of Heathdale students.
Click on the images below to read each Industry Speaker's bio.
Luke Kennedy
Motivational Speaker & Author
Penny Telfer
Lawyer
Victoria Gatt
Lawyer
Claire Allinson
Clinical Psychologist
Gillian Foo
Doctor
Richard Boothby
Business Co-Owner
Meagan Pfelier
Performer, Choreographer & Dance Teacher
David Tibben
Telecommunications Engineer
Motivational Speaker & Author
Luke S. Kennedy is one of Australia’s most sought-after motivational speakers, known for his raw honesty, humour and powerful life story.
After overcoming a troubled past, Luke now inspires audiences across schools, businesses and communities with messages on resilience, mental health and self-leadership.
He’s an international best-selling author, founder of Empowering Youth, and passionate advocate for creating real, lasting change in young people.
Lawyer
Penny Telfer is a Special Counsel in the Real Estate and Projects group. She has 25 years’ experience specialising in retail, commercial and industrial leasing.
Penny has extensive experience in advising a variety of clients including local and foreign listed corporations, national tenants, major institutional landlords and property developers. She advises on shopping centre redevelopments, mixed-use developments, outgoings recovery, due diligence investigations and provides general leasing negotiation services and advice.
Penny is focused on ensuring her clients receive a legally sound and commercial outcome.
Lawyer
Since 2011, Victoria Gatt has worked as a family lawyer with Victoria Legal Aid (VLA). Prior to commencing at VLA, she worked in private practice in family law, and wills and estates. She provides free or subsidised legal representation for vulnerable members of our community who are experiencing relationship breakdowns, guiding clients through the complex family law and child support system, providing them with specialised legal advice, assistance with mediation and legal proceedings at Family Court.
Victoria specialises in property settlement, spousal and adult child maintenance cases, and paternity and child support disputes. She also advises on parenting matters and family violence. She advocates for some of the most vulnerable people in society, focused on a trauma-informed approach that prioritises client and child safety.
Victoria finds it rewarding to help those in need, ensuring that clients receive holistic care whilst resolving their legal disputes. She believes that helping clients achieve a favourable financial outcome can make a world of difference to both the lives of our clients and the children in their care.
Clinical Psychologist
After completing a Master of Clinical Psychology at the University of Technology Sydney in 2020, Claire has worked as a Psychologist across multiple settings.
Currently, she works in a private practice with adolescent, adult and geriatric clients, specialising in working with trauma, neurodivergence, anxiety and chronic health presentations.
Claire has also worked in Elite Sport with the AFLW, Hospital and Community Health settings. She is passionate about supporting her clients through their challenges and helping them find their path towards their best version of themselves.
Doctor
Gillian is currently a consultant neonatologist at Joan Kirner Women & Children's, Sunshine Hospital. A graduate of the University of Adelaide, she moved to Melbourne in 2020 for what she thought would be one year of training, but now calls Melbourne home.
She has had diverse international experiences through her career, including spending five years in Brunei Darussalam, a tiny country on the island of Borneo before returning to complete training in Adelaide and Melbourne. She is passionate about ensuring the next generation of leaders are equipped in a well-rounded way to achieve all that they set their minds to - so "ask her anything!"
When not at work, she loves spending time with her family and two furkids (pictures available on request!), giving to her church community and thinks anytime is a good time for bubble tea.
Business Co-Owner
Richard Boothby is a Co-Founder and the Chief Commercial Officer at Switch Telecom, a telecommunications specialist.
He heads up the front end of the business, ensuring teams are collaborating with partners and providing relevant solutions and competitive options for Switch's clients.
He launched Switch Telecom in 2009 with his brother to provide a service that treats clients with care and respect and helps them solve problems, delivers specialised solutions and overall does things differently.
Performer, Choreographer & Dance Teacher
Meagan Pfelier began her journey in performance and dance education at a young age. After graduating from Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance in 2016 as a Musical Theatre Scholarship student, she went on to build a well-rounded career as a performer, choreographer and dance teacher.
Her performance credits include; 'THIS IS OUR TIME' 2023 Vocal Cabaret Tour, Dubai World EXPO 2020, 'A Musical Halloween', 'UAE National Day Journey of the 50', ‘The Humanimals’, 'The Humanimals Return', Jason Coleman’s Cabaret Cathedral ‘The Rhythm of Life’, 'Pitch Perfect 2 Australian Bellas Tour', NFL College Cup, Nickelodeon Kid’s Tennis Day, VRC Young Members Gala Ball, AMWAY Japan, and White Night Melbourne.
Meagan’s credits as a professional choreographer include; Dubai World EXPO 2020 as Company Dance Captain, 'A Musical Halloween' at the Dubai World EXPO 2020, DOHaD Society World Congress 2019, and White Night Melbourne.
Currently, Meagan is Head of Department for Ballet and Musical Theatre at DNA Performing Arts in Hoppers Crossing. She is producing and directing the studio’s 2026 musical production ‘Beyond The Yellow Brick Road’, whilst also training students in the Cecchetti Ballet syllabus as a nationally and internationally recognised Cecchetti Ballet teacher.
Telecommunications Engineer
David Tibben is a telecommunications engineer and the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Switch Telecom. After graduating from Heathdale in 2003, David earned a Bachelor of Engineering in Telecommunications from RMIT University. In his early career, David held engineering roles at specialist technology firms and large tier-1 carriers like Telstra, where he managed enterprise networks and complex communications for corporate clients.
Since joining Switch Telecom in 2014, David has advanced through key technical roles to lead the company’s technology strategy. Today, he focuses on modernising business infrastructure, designing highly resilient 5G networks, and deploying secure cloud voice solutions for platforms like Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex.
David is passionate about solving complex networking challenges and looks forward to sharing his career journey with Heathdale students, offering a real-world look at where a passion for STEM and technology can lead.