Over 3000 students from 30 schools flock to Lismore Careers Expo
Lara Leahy
30 July 2024, 9:30 PM
SCU promoted the tagline Transforming TomorrowOver 100 exhibitors spoke to over 3000 attendees from 30 schools at yesterday's Connect Northern Rivers Careers Expo.
From Grafton to the Tweed, and out as far as Tabulam and Bonalbo, the place was buzzing with people, music and exhibitions, bound together with lashings of information.
Ingrid Johansen, a Project Officer at Connect NR, spoke about the careers advisors, tertiary study options including many universities and TAFE, and the “hundreds if not thousands of vocations to choose from.”
The jam-packed program had something for everyone.
“We've got the SES doing jaws of life activities. Northwest Community College is doing a Junior Barista Championship with live music as part of it.
“Mandy Nolan, is emceeing our Ready Steady Cook competition - 3 competitions between six schools, a teacher and a student, against another teacher and student from another school.
(Ready Steady Cook with Mandy Nolan at the helm)
“We've got SAE who is sponsoring our performance stage with five schools performing continually. There will also be a Footloose extravaganza dance.
"There is a great opportunity for students to have a hands-on experience at the Try A Trade tent. But I've noticed a lot of the universities are doing hands-on things relevant to the vocations that they run at their universities.”
Samantha at Spinifex Recruiting at Byron Bay spoke about what vocations are needed and are popular, “Definitely things in the engineering space. Anything outdoors is popular. There's a skill shortage in trade at the moment.
“For something simple, we're always looking for traffic controllers, and it’s really easy to obtain those tickets.
(Entertainment stage)
“A lot of the Councils we work with are really trying to push for getting females, youth and indigenous people.”
Ellie is a zookeeper at the Byron Bay Wildlife Sanctuary., “We are meeting some kids from a few different schools, educating them and telling them about the opportunities of working with wildlife and animals.
“There's lots of opportunities. There's lots of pathways you can go down to work with animals. It all depends on where you want to go and how far you want to take it.”
(Ellie has a Blue Tongue Lizard as well as a spotted python to interact with.)
Georgia Holloway from the University Admission Centre, said it was a really busy event.
“Allied Health courses are always very popular. People interested in nursing, physio OT, medicine every single year are very popular because of their competitiveness. So lots of people are interested to find out what they've got to do to get there.”
A teacher from St. Joseph's College Banora Point was enjoying the day with some of his students.
“It's a great opportunity out here. There's plenty to see and plenty to do, and a wide variety of career options. It's well worth the trip coming down here, definitely. We've brought 30 students, including some Year 9s to have a look at how they plan for the future.”
One of the sponsors, Greg Clark Building, supported the Try A Trade tent. Amy Clark told us about work they have done with apprenticeships, “We've been working with the schools, getting kids to experience the construction industry, the building industry in general, and a lot of our apprentices do come from them.”
Down at the Try a Trade tent, I spoke with Amelia and Julia, who were interested in spray painting. “I’m interested in a trade like this because I think it'd be cool. Creative and so, really fun.”
(Amelia and Julia have a go at the virtual spray painting booth)
One man, Andrew, was looking for the people he helps - those with special needs.
“I work specifically with students with a disability and transitioning from high school to post-school pathways. That could be employment, it could be further education. So I'm particularly looking to see whether there are any Disability Employment providers.”
“The landscape is ever-changing, especially with the NDIS. And how all the different agencies and NGOs dovetail together and support each other. For the average family and young person, it can be quite challenging.”
Ingrid said, "We would like to thank the major sponsors, without which this couldn't happen." They include TAFE NSW, SCU, Greg Clark Building, SAE, Real Futures and Your Local Club.
“We're not for profit. So all of the money we make goes into running this Expo."
This is the third year Connect Northern Rivers coordinated the Career Expo.
“The expo is run every year. We invite years 10, 11 and 12 students, but it's open to the public as well. It's always on the second Tuesday of term three, so put it on your calendar for next year!
If you missed out on the day, Ingrid recommends you jump on these sites for more information:
