Expo road map to employment

THREE- QUARTERS of young Victorians believe their schools or universities have failed to prepare them for the world of work, new data shows.

With youth unemployment sitting at 12.4 per cent, double the Victorian average, the study suggests more needs to be done to bridge the gap between the learning of theory in the classroom, and the application of it in professional settings.

Students from across the Geelong region will get to explore the possibility of beginning their careers while finishing school at the School Based Apprenticeship/Traineeship Information Expo on Tuesday.

The event features information about the more than 250 school-based apprenticeships and traineeships on offer to students across the region undertaking VCAL and VCE programs in 2018.

Steve Shepherd, CEO at youth career coaching firm TwoPointZero, said the study found 70 per cent of young Victorians found it difficult to secure a job in line with the career they had in mind.

“The current employment landscape is a challenging one for young Victorians,” he said. “How, in this ever-evolving workforce, do you find and pick a career that is right for you?

“Without proper guidance and help early on, young Victorians can become disillusioned with the labour market or let skills they have learnt go to waste in jobs not relevant to them.”

Parents and students at the School Based Apprenticeship/ Traineeship Information Expo will be able to interact with, and have their questions answered by, local employers and businesses from a range of industries.

Event co-ordinator Graeme Matheson said the evening was important for all Year 10 and 11 students in the process of subject selection for next year.

“School-based traineeships and school-based apprenticeships are important as they allow students to obtain a nationally recognised qualification while receiving paid. hands-on experience in their chosen field as they are studying senior school programs,” he said.

The event will be at Matthew Flinders Girls Secondary College on Tuesday at 5pm.