Month: November 2015

Career Guidance Coach

Francis O’ Toole is a Career Guidance Counsellor and Family Psychotherapist.   While studying his Masters degree in psychotherapy he specialised in Cognitive Behavioural therapy, Adlerian and Family Systemic therapy giving him various systemic skills to draw on when dealing with the extensive cross range of issues which arise among teenagers today.

He has acted as supervisor to Guidance Counsellors in the North East region for the past five years. His post graduate diploma in Education Management has enhanced his holistic approach to his overall perspective on the guidance counsellor’s role in secondary education.
Francis is a long standing member of IACP and IGC.

Educational Guidance and Career Counselling

Are you struggling to:career coach: Coaching business and management concept with different red, black and gray words forming a man head shape Illustration

  • Select subjects at Junior or Senior cycle level?
  • Realise your academic potential?
  • Complete CAO/UCAS applications?
  • Understand different course requirements?
  • Prepare for your exams?
  • Find the right College, University or PLC course for you?

I can help you:

  • Discover more about yourselfcareer coach: Business concept SUCCESS - 3D Blue Arrow Stock Photo
  • Find out where your strengths lie
  • Choose subjects that best suit you
  • Investigate third level applications
  • Examine where your future lies.

Contact Us Now

Should you have any enquires or questions regarding career counselling sessions or our services: Please don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or Email.

 

Mobile:   086 1074445    /  E-mail: careers1@eircom.net

600 NEW Garda Trainees Wanted

 

 

600 NEW Garda Trainees WantedDetails of the latest Garda Trainee recruitment drive are now available. An Garda Síochána is setting out to be a “magnet employer” with the announcement of its 2016 campaign, in which 600 new members will be enroled.

“We’ve always attracted way more applicants than available positions,” Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan said today. “We want to build on that, attracting people from every strand of Irish life to help us renew our culture while retaining our best traditions.”

Few organisations can offer such a wide variety of career options, experiences, and training and educational opportunities. “When I joined An Garda Síochána in 1981, I was one of a tiny minority of women,” the Commissioner said .

What is the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR)?

The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR)  is a college and university scheme which offers places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds who are resident in the Republic of Ireland.

HEAR has been set up by a number of colleges and universities as evidence shows that socio-economic disadvantage can have a negative effect on how well a student does at school and whether they go on to college.

HEAR Applicants must meet a range of financial, social and cultural indicators to be considered for a reduced points place and extra college support.

Who is it for?

HEAR is for school leavers under the age of 23 as of 1 January 2016 who are resident in the Republic of Ireland. Mature and FET (Further Education and Training) students have their own admissions routes and should contact college admissions offices for more information. Applications to HEAR can only be made online through the CAO    HEAR & DARE VIDEO

You may be eligible for a DARE programme

 

Applying  for the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) programme. Successful DARE applicants can compete for reduced points entry to CAO courses. It is important to understand that DARE is for reduced points entry only and is not related to supports. Applicants who may not qualify for DARE can still access support at third level. DARE eligibility is based on both evidence of a disability and educational impact of this disability.

DARE will consider applications from people who have a significant ongoing illness (including diabetes), mental health issues, learning difficulties, sensory issues, mobility issues, autism, dyspraxia etc.

It is not essential for applicants with a disability to apply through DARE, but if an applicant wishes to be considered there are a number of steps they must take.

Applicants must indicate their interest by February 1. Once an applicant has done this, a form requesting more information will appear. Applicants must complete this online section (Section A) by March 1. It contains two forms, which must be printed out, and filled out by the relevant professional. One is an Educational Impact statement (Section B) which must be completed by a learning support teacher, guidance counsellor, visiting teacher or year head, and the other is evidence of disability, to be completed by the relevant health care professional.

These forms and others requiring evidence of disability (such as psychological assessments, GP or consult letters etc.) should be forwarded to the CAO no later than April 1.

Both school and health care professionals can have a large number of these forms to complete at this time of year, so applicants must ensure they get the forms to the relevant people as early as possible.

Further information on evidence of disabilities, age limits of reports and application procedures in general can be found at accesscollege.ie.

Some colleges do not participate in DARE, but may operate their own version of this programme. If a student intends to apply apply to a college that does not participate in DARE it is important to contact the admissions office or disability support office to get more information on any access scheme.

Aoife Walsh is a guidance counsellor at Malahide Community School, Co Dublin. * This column will return on Wednesday December 9.

Question: My son probably won’t qualify for a grant. What about scholarships? He wants to do medicine in UCC.

Aoife replies: All colleges offer scholarships and awards. Universities offer scholarships for applicants who achieve exceptionally high results at Leaving Cert, however criteria vary from institution to institution. Some automatically award these to anyone who has met certain requirements in the Leaving Cert; others require students to apply. Other forms of awards include sports scholarships. Many institutions offer scholarships for new entrants from an educationally disadvantaged background. In addition, institutions have their own scholarship programme for a variety of other areas.

HEAR & DARE VIDEO

Website to help teenagers beat school bullie

The www.tacklebullying.ie resource, aimed at students, parents and teachers, is part of the final phase of the implementation of the Government's Action Plan on Bullying1
The http://www.tacklebullying.ie resource, aimed at students, parents and teachers, is part of the final phase of the implementation of the Government’s Action Plan on Bullying

A new website offering a single point of contact for anyone concerned about bullying in schools has been launched.

It includes an option for those who are feeling very unhappy, or have a serious issue they would like to discuss, to contact an expert.

The http://www.tacklebullying.ie resource, aimed at students, parents and teachers, is part of the final phase of the implementation of the Government’s Action Plan on Bullying.

It provides information on how to recognise and deal with bullying behaviour. Visitors will be able to share their experiences or to seek support, and they will have an option to contact one of the professionals monitoring this forum.

The website, developed at the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre (ABC) in Dublin City University, was launched by Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan.

ABC director James O’Higgins Norman said the practical resource was the result of many years of research.

Irish Independent

Action Plan for the West

Successful implementation of the latest Government Action Plan for Jobs will see the creation of 25,000 jobs in Galway,Roscommon and Mayo.

The regional jobs plan for the west of the country highlights ICT, Medtech and Pharmaamong the key drivers to create up to 25,000 jobs in Mayo, Roscommon and Galway. €250m is to be invested in the project.

One of eight nationwide strategies, the latest Action Plan for Jobs is the fifth in a series of regional strategies to be published by Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton.

The new plan covers three Connacht counties which currently host several businesses across these industries and are expanding employee numbers nationally.

Agri-food and Tourism are also targeted with the creation of a food innovation hub and a dedicated food innovation centre in the region, and help for food companies with high potential to scale. A new programme to build on the success of the Wild Atlantic Way, building on new tourism offerings and delivering new opportunities for the region. Department reports show that 5,000 extra positions have been created in the region already this year, a 20% increase.

The strategy includes some 194 actions, one of which is to increase the number of start-ups in the region by a quarter and improve their survival chances.

IDA Ireland will also increase its investment, with a minimum of 92 additional projects in the region by 2019. Facilities are being built in Castlebar (2016) and Galway (2017) to help achieve this. Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) will disburse over €3m in grant funding and provide mentoring support to more than 1,000 businesses per year.

Plans to deliver a series of actions to develop the marine research and ocean energy industries in the region have alse been unveiled. These areas are enjoying significant growth at the moment. Ireland, in the west and southwest particulary, is well positioned to become one of the world’s leading countries with regards marine research and ocean energy. Last month, €3.5m funding was secured by three companies in this area. 10,000 jobs in the marine economy are projected nationally, by 2020.

Increased participation of women in entrepreneurship is also a theme of the action plan. This will be achieved through Local Enterprise Offices alongside a Galway Chamber Female Entrepreneurship Programme focusing on growing and scaling enterprise.

Full Press Release available here