FOR more than three decades, the Western Victorian Careers Expo has informed students and those seeking a change in career the opportunity to explore all the options available to them.
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The 32nd Western Victorian Careers Expo was held at Wimmera Events Centre at Longerenong on Tuesday and was attended by students from schools across the region.
Project officer Annie Mintern said there was no other event quite like it in regional Victoria.
“It’s definitely the biggest event of its kind in the state outside of Melbourne,” she said.
“We usually get somewhere between 2000 and 3000 people through the doors over the course of the day.
“Students are bused in from all around the region – from Swan Hill to Portland.
“There are over 100 exhibitors, so it’s somewhere where students can find out about everything in the one space.”
She said the expo not only provided students with pathway information, but it was also a chance for them to find employment.
“One of the best things about the expo is that we have active employers here who are looking to recruit employees,” she said.
“I’ll often go around asking the stallholders how many resumes they’ve received and it’s always a lot.
“It’s great to see the students using their initiative and seeking out those opportunities.
“We’ve also got some local businesses who have stalls here for the first time – Smallaire, William Adams CAT and Wimmera Catchment Management Authority to name a few.
“It’s really exciting to have some locals here and we’re always happy to support them.”
The expo featured a broad range of exhibitions, demonstrations and displays from employers and higher education organisations.
Ms Mintern said she was excited to have a whole building dedicated to an emergency services hub for the first time in the expo’s history.
“We’re really trying to promote that within schools as a possible career pathway for students,” she said.
“We were really lucky to have ex-Commando Damien Thomlinson hold a seminar to promote the emergency services theme of the expo.
“For students who know they’re not going into higher education, it’s always good for them to know that there are always options available for them in lots of different fields.”
She said the event was also popular with those seeking a change in career.
“It’s hard because it is during the weekday which is something that we can possibly change in the future, but they certainly do attend,” she said.
