A future taking shape

When Kate joined the Future Frontiers programme, she already knew one thing: she wanted a future connected to food. But like many young people approaching Year 11, the path ahead felt unclear.

Once paired with her Future Frontiers coach, their regular conversations and personalised guidance allowed her to explore opportunities she had never considered before.

"I think I'm very lucky that my coach is very nice and she actually put a lot of effort to find me cool people to talk to"

Together, they researched colleges, apprenticeships, and real career pathways in hospitality and food preparation - turning uncertainty into something tangible and achievable.

One of the biggest turning points came during her sector role model calls. Speaking directly with professionals working in the industry gave Kate a new perspective on success. After hearing from chefs who had built rewarding careers through college routes and hands-on experience rather than traditional university pathways, Kate was able to "feel really excited" as her goals became more real.

"When I came, I didn't know a lot about after-school qualifications...and I feel like this really helped me find out what could be useful"

The programme also helped her grow in confidence. Before Future Frontiers, Kate had never spoken with senior professionals in the industry. By the end, she felt her communication skills had improved significantly and she was more comfortable engaging with people in professional settings.

Now, as she prepares for Year 11 and begins thinking seriously about college and apprenticeship applications, Kate feels calmer, more informed, and far more confident about her future.

"And so I had no clue which path I wanted to go but now it’s much more calm in my head...I'm really happy I did this programme"

Instead of uncertainty and worrying about what comes next, Kate can now confidently take the steps towards an exciting future.