Students dream big at first ever careers expo

By Zac Piesse

Over 2,000 students from ten Catholic colleges attended the first ever Southern Catholic College Careers Showcase on 19 May at the MAC 02 event centre in Hobart.

The event gave the Year 9-12 students the opportunity to meet with industry experts from 50 organisations around Tasmania and discuss possible future career pathways.

Exhibitors such as Microsoft, Defence, Tasmanian Health Services, Sustainable Timber Tasmania, VOS, UTAS, and Hazell Bros were at Hobart’s waterfront from 9am to 6pm answering any questions from CET senior students.

Marisa Newman, CET’s Vocational Learning and Careers expert, played a key role, alongside the college career advisors in ensuring the showcase came together. Marisa expressed her happiness at seeing students engage with exhibitors and witnessing the collaboration achieved through the Showcase.

“People will leave school and they’ll go out into the world, so I feel like today was a great opportunity for the students to connect the dots,” Ms Newman said.

Students had the opportunity to experiment with emerging and interactive virtual reality technologies exhibited by Microsoft and Be Part of Something Big (Keystone Tasmania). They could experience what it was like to drive a Fire Truck from the Tasmanian Fire Service or be put on a stretcher by Ambulance Tasmania. They could also experience building a box, as part of Build Up Tassie’s exhibit, giving students first-hand experience (on a much smaller scale) of using tools to help build houses in Tasmania.

Jackson Smith of Dominic College said he enjoyed being able to speak to the Tasmanian Hospitality Association and the Pharmacy Guild of Australia exhibitors but thought he would enter the construction industry once he finished school.

“I do see myself going into a career in construction, maybe with Fairbrothers… I haven’t spoken with Fairbrothers yet, but I definitely will later today,” Jackson said.

Year 10 student from Sacred Heart College, Ellie Nandan, said she enjoyed the opportunity to talk to three exhibitors from Tasmania Police.

“I really liked the Tasmania Police stall, I found it very interesting, and it is a career path I’m wishing to take. It’s always been a dream of mine,” Ellie said.

Tasmania Police staff said they appreciated the ability to speak with students from a number of colleges at the one event, and that the environment allowed them to engage more authentically with students.

“We have loved the experience of being able to engage with a number of students from different grades,” Constable Ruth Purcell explained. “It was good to have the one place where they can go and shop for so many career paths out there, and to know what they have to do to pursue that career.”

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