THIS week, Southern Grampians hosted the first Jobs and Skills Pathways Expo over two days, which presented local job seekers, career changers and students the opportunity to explore pathways available in the region.
The event, held on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre, had been organised by a committee of local industry representatives who hosted over 30 registered dynamic exhibitors to give attendants the opportunity to find career advice and connect with potential local employers.
Students from Baimbridge College, Good Shepherd College, Monivae College and The Hamilton and Alexandra College attended Wednesday’s session and received insightful advice concerning their future career pathways from HeadStart and Deakin University, and work experience options for students from Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning Employment Network (GSGLLEN).
Workforce Australia local jobs support officer, Natalie McArlein said the expo not only helped attendees gain valuable insights into the skills required for various jobs, but also supported local businesses and economy.
“The inaugural Southern Grampians Jobs and Skills Pathways Expo achieved its first-year objective of creating a buzz within the community around the opportunities and pathways for careers and jobs in our region,” she said.
“The two-day expo saw a great commitment from local business … the connections and value within the room was evident.
“The expo fostered stronger relationships between businesses, educational institutions, and job seekers, ultimately contributing to the region’s economic development.”
There were representatives from various industries, such as Meridian Agriculture, Vickery Bros, Elders, RIST and WestVic Dairy representing careers in Agriculture, Sinclair Wilson and CoggerGurry Chartered Accountants for careers in finance and Western District Health Service and Gen Health Hamilton for careers in nursing and allied health.
Many exhibitors also took the opportunity to exercise their creativity and put on interactive displays to further engage attendants such as VR headsets, simulators and stalls showcasing the equipment used in different industries.
Southern Grampians Jobs and Skills Pathways committee chair, Ursula Murphy said the event was a huge success and the committee hopes to continue similar initiatives in the future.
“The uptake and interest from the event has made it all the worthwhile,” she said.
“To have the information and materials we have presented here is great - it has shown there is a real need to get access to information specific to the region.
“We have seen lots of job seekers and job changers attending over the two days.
“(On Tuesday), it was valuable if parents came with their children, it really added to have the parents involved.
“Now (on Wednesday), we have seen the students exploring these pathways themselves, which is great to see.”
Ms Murphy also said that locals who are still considering pathways are encouraged to reach out to local industries of interest regarding upcoming information sessions and open days in the region.
The expo was supported by sponsors: Workforce Australia, South West TAFE, Southern Grampians Shire Council, South West Skills and Jobs Centres, Gwen and Edna Jones Foundation, GSGLLEN, AXIS employment and AceRadio.
