Job expo returns
Students from local schools spent last Tuesday meeting industry professionals and considering career paths.
The annual JobSkills Expo, held at Lardner Park, is a program by Baw Baw Latrobe Local Learning and Employment Network (BBLLLEN) and is aimed at Year 9 and 10 students, VCAL students and young people from local schools, training and community organisations.
Organisations from far and wide came to chat to students about the opportunities available in different fields of work.
Stall holders ranged from local healthcare and hospitality, to further education facilities and emergency services.
West Gippsland Healthcare Group, Maryvale Private Hospital, TAFE Gippsland, Community College Gippsland, McDonalds, Flavourite, Victoria Police and the Australian Defence Force were only a few of the stall holders available for students to connect with.
Making the day extra fun was DJ Nige, who blasted upbeat tracks out of his Kombi for everyone to enjoy while they browsed the stalls. Additionally, many stalls had hands-on activities for students, such as hairdressing mannequin heads from TAFE Gippsland and a lolly grabbing excavator at the Fulton Hogan stall.
Popular stalls included the Australian Defence Force and Victoria Police stalls, which each had a number of members available to chat with students.
The Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA) also had a stall. The rail loop plans to provide easier access to Melbourne's suburbs. For Gippsland students, there are direct connections to Monash and Deakin University and the Box Hill Institute - with SRLA estimating the trip from Traralgon to the Box Hill Institute will be 26 minutes faster.
Drouin Secondary College careers advisor and BBLLLEN board member Jaydyn King said it was the first time the Expo had been able to operate as it had been before the pandemic. He said the experience is beneficial for students as they get to meet industry professionals.
"We've (DSC) got course selection tomorrow, so having the opportunity for them to ask those questions right now is really relevant," Mr King said.
"It plants a seed for a lot of kids."
Many stall holders had small items for students to take away with them, such as drink bottles, stress toys, and lollies. The Bakers Delight stand even had freshly baked buns available.
Director of education and training at Community College Gippsland Julie Dennis said it was good to be back at the Expo, as it is one of the biggest events through which the college is promoted to students.
"We can have that quick engaged conversation with them to help them make a decision in what they're wanting to do," Ms Dennis said.
"An event like this exposes them to so many opportunities."