Big Picture Education Australia program helps students enter university without ATAR score
/Pursuing an alternative pathway to university wasn't something Bassam El Jamal was initially drawn to.
"Coming from a traditional family, my mum was very against me taking a non-ATAR pathway [to university]," Mr El Jamal told ABC Radio Sydney.
But after some encouragement from teachers at his south-west Sydney school, Liverpool Boys High, he decided to join the Big Picture Education Australia program.
Using personalised learning, the program allows students to work on a portfolio based on their area of interest, which can be used to apply for university entry.
"I had a lot more say and power in my education than anyone else would," Mr El Jamal said.
The 18-year-old graduated high school in 2020 and is now in his first year of a business degree at Western Sydney University.
Looking at the Big Picture
Mr El Jamal is one of five students at Liverpool Boys High School who got accepted into university through the Big Picture program.
More than 40 schools and 4,000 students across Australia take part in the program, which ditches the traditional Higher School Certificate model.
With the help of a teacher, students pick an area of interest and develop a learning plan.
"It's a very personalised learning experience where the student's passions and interests are at the focus of the learning," said Liverpool Boys High School head teacher Danielle Demetrios.
Students in years 9 to 12 take part in internships in their field of interest, which contribute to the portfolio they receive when they graduate.
"It allows them to explore the skills that are needed in the real world, rather than focusing so heavily on content that often isn't applicable when they enter the workforce," Ms Demetrios said.
After initially wanting to pursue a career in law, an internship he gained through Big Picture made Mr El Jamal realise that marketing was his true calling.
"I created a spring campaign for a real business," he said.
"I worked very closely with my mentor who owns his own marketing agency and that helped me develop the skills needed to work in the industry later on in life."
HSC not as 'engaging'
Billy Karikari is a participant in The Big Picture program at Liverpool Boys High School.
The year 12 student believes the conventional model of entering university is not suited to him.
"Sitting for the HSC is less engaging than being in Big Picture and getting to learn what you want to learn," Billy said.
"I find that being hands on and doing hands-on work is something that I really excel in."
When he first joined the program, he wanted to become a teacher, but after completing an internship at a school, he realised it wasn't the right career path.
Billy now hopes to become a police officer.
"I'm working towards going into a Bachelor of Policing at Western Sydney University," he said.