I'm in year 12 currently, however I know a lot of IT professionals who have shared with me their eduction and career experiences. Next year I plan to do either a Bachelor of Information Technology or a Bachelor of Computer Science. Whilst in uni, I plan to do a couple of CompTIA courses, maybe MCSE or MCP and CCNA. Having a uni degree gets your foot in the door, normally helps you jump to the front of the pack when applying for a job. It won't always get you the job though, having the other certifications under your belt proves your experience in specialised areas.
I plan on working towards network administration, so naturally Cisco is important, and in addition I plan on doing CompTIA Network+.
Also take note that in the IT sector, most professionals will have these or similar certifications. The more education you can get the better.
I wish you good luck in whatever you choose to pursue. Are you currently working in IT already?