Information Technology

Course Description

The St Patrick’s Technical College Information Technology program prepares you for a career across a wide range of ICT areas including animation, basic cloud computing, basic cyber awareness, digital media skills, generalist IT support services, networking, programming, systems and web development.

Individuals who work in these fields apply broad sets of skills, including foundational knowledge in critical thinking and customer service skills, to support a range of technologies, processes, procedures, policies, people and clients in a variety of work contexts.

This program features a Certificate III level Information Technology qualification as part of a pathway to Diploma and Degree level qualifications post-school.

Course Structure

All students at St Patrick’s Technical College study a nationally-accredited technical / vocational qualification while completing the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

Industry Focused SACE
> Essential English
> Essential Mathematics
> Scientific Studies
> Research Project

Work Ready Skills
> First Aid Training
> Industry Connections
> Integrated Learning
> Work Experience
> Workplace Practices

Vocational Training
> Certificate III in Information Technology (ICT30120)

Our fully integrated courses mean you don’t sacrifice your high school education while undertaking vocational training, either through one of our certificate courses or through our School-based Apprenticeship program.

All subjects at St Patrick’s Technical College are specifically written with reference to your technical training while the vocational qualification is industry relevant and provides pathways into apprenticeships and traineeships.

Curriculum Information

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Certificate III in Information Technology (ICT30120)

This qualification provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in a wide range of general Information and Communications Technology (ICT) technical functions and to achieve a degree of self-sufficiency as an advanced ICT user.

TAFE SA (RTO Code 41026) is responsible for the quality of accredited training and assessment provided and for the issuing of all qualifications and statements of attainment for this course.

See below for full list of competencies associated with this AQF qualification.

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Integrated Learning

Students apply their knowledge and skills to a real-world task, event, learning opportunity, or context, which leads to a specific purpose, product, or outcome. The subject draws links between aspects of students’ lives and their learning. Students develop and demonstrate their collaboration, teamwork, and self-awareness, and evaluate their learning.

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Essential English

Our literacy program prepares students to communicate effectively within the workplace. This subject provides students with skills required to enhance their oral and written skills. Students learn techniques to improve their employment opportunities, their ability to work in a team and their effectiveness to communicate with customers and clients. Areas such as the planning and writing of job applications, procedures when writing curriculum vitae and the appropriate use of email and other electronic communications are also studied in this course.

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Essential Mathematics

Our numeracy program enables students to develop the mathematical skills necessary to ensure their success and is both practical and theoretical in nature. Students study units of measurement, measuring devices, length, perimeter, area and volume. These units also include components in costing, quoting and scale drawing. These units are fundamental to the success of all students completing a trade and give students a clear understanding of the relevance between mathematics and their chosen career pathway.

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Research Project

In the Research Project, students have the opportunity to study an area of interest in depth. They use their creativity and initiative, while developing the research and presentation skills they will need in further study or work.

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Scientific Studies

Students develop their knowledge of scientific principles and concepts, the ability to use that knowledge to identify questions, issues, opportunities and challenges, and the capacity to acquire new knowledge through their own investigations. They develop the skills and abilities to explain scientific phenomena, and to draw evidence-based conclusions from the investigation of science-related issues. In this way, students develop scientific knowledge and skills to support them in their future career pathways, including those that are science-related, and everyday life in a world shaped by science and technology.

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Industry Connections

Industry Connections develops students’ skills, knowledge and understandings of interested trade areas while developing their capabilities and employability skills through an industry-related project.

Industry Connections is flexibly designed to enable opportunities for students to collate a work skills portfolio that may support future career and transitions opportunities.

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Work Experience

Work Experience (WEX) is a compulsory part of the St Patrick’s Technical College Work Ready Skills program. It provides the opportunity for students to explore and experience an area of interest or their trade choice. Students learn, grow and develop skills for the workplace, gain valuable feedback from an employer about their general employability skills such as attitude, work ethic, initiative, WHS, punctuality, problem solving abilities, communication and teamwork skills.

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Workplace Practices

Students develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the nature, type and structure of the workplace. They learn about the value of unpaid work to society, future trends in the world of work, workers’ rights and responsibilities and career planning.

Pre-Vocational Competencies

ICT30120 Certificate III in Information Technology
Code Unit Title
BSBCRT301 Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills
BSBXCS303 Securely manage personally identifiable information and workplace information
BSBXTW301 Work in a team
ICTICT313 Identify IP, ethics and privacy policies in ICT environments
ICTPRG302 Apply introductory programming techniques
ICTSAS305 Provide ICT advice to clients
  Electives (subject to change)
BSBXCS302 Identify and report online security threats
ICTICT214 Operate application software packages
ICTICT312 Use advanced features of applications
ICTNWK311* Install and test network protocols
ICTSAS308 Run standard diagnostic tests
ICTWEB304* Build simple web pages
  *This unit may be replaced with the following Cyber Security unit below:
BSBXCS301 Protect own personal online profile from cyber security threats

Work Experience

St Patrick’s Technical College is focused on helping you move into the workforce. Our Work Ready Skills program gives you the edge when it comes to applying for a job.

Embedded in all the subjects that make up the Work Ready Skills program you’ll discover the key skills that employers are looking for and how you can develop them:

  • People skills
  • Reliability
  • Literacy and numeracy
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Positive attitude and work ethic
  • Critical thinking
  • Creativity
  • Digital literacy
  • Problem solving

To help you develop these skills and introduce you to potential employers, the College conducts an extensive Work Experience program. Year 10 & Year 11 students have seven compulsory WEX blocks scheduled during term time, and Year 12 students have six compulsory WEX blocks scheduled during term time.

 

Apprenticeship

The St Patrick’s Technical College Software Engineering program includes opportunities for students to commence a School-based Traineeship.

St Patrick’s Technical College is the School-based Apprenticeship & Traineeship (SBAT) specialist.

SBAT is a mix of academic, vocational education, training and employment.

Through your SBAT at St Patrick’s Technical College, employment skills and real-world experience are an integral part of your school program.

The flexible approach to SBATs at St Patrick’s Technical College means that your time at work is maximised giving you the opportunity to complete your traineeship at the same time as finishing your SACE with support from the College.

Career Pathways

People working at this level will support information technology activities in the workplace across a wide range of ICT areas, including technical support, network administration, web technologies, software applications and digital media technologies.

Career opportunities in the industry include:

  • Help Desk Officer
  • Help Desk Assistant
  • ICT User Support
  • ICT Operations Support
  • PC Support
  • Technical Support