Hundreds of students from across the region flocked to the Wagga Careers Expo today where they explored a range of employment paths they may soon follow.
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From universities and colleges, to summer camps and specialty industries, expo convenor Marie Knight said about 15 high schools from all across Wagga came to see what was on offer.
"It gives you ideas. We don't expect people to walk out with a firm commitment to anything in particular, but we do ask them to go in with an open mind, have a look at what's available, and ask lots of questions," she said.
"It only has to be one phrase or comment that can spark an idea."
With an estimated 1500 students in attendance from years 9-12, Ms Knight said there was a definite interest in various trades.
"A lot of the trade areas are really popular actually, but I think the students are a bit hesitant about what to do and how to start, so we find they're a little bit slower heading up to those stalls initially," she said.
The careers advisor also said the expo benefited local businesses.
"We do have a lot of local employers here as well showing the jobs they have on offer," she said.
"The Roads and Maritime Services locally only had three applications for cadetships three years back, then last year they had over 19 just from showcasing their offers at this expo."
One year 12 student at the expo, Sophie Cooper, said it helped widen the perametres of her 'tunnel vision'.
"We've seen lots of different employment opportunities and it has opened my eyes to what's available," she said.
"I wanted to be in the Army but now I've seen there are a few universities taking in students to do a degree for the army, so now I have more options within that."
Chandler Gale was another year 12 student at the event who said it helped him refine his choices.
"There were so many options to explore here as far as universities to go to so I looked into which ones offered nursing, which is what I want to do, and saw what each course involved," he said.
"I was more into doing nursing and paramedicine so the health stall was really helpful to show me all the different career options within that."
In other news:
Year 12 student Harmony Oti discovered a different option to what she came in seeking information on.
"I'm interested in sports and exercise science, so I looked around at different universities like Canberra, but then I came across Camp America so I might even do a gap year with them now which would be really cool," she said.
Emily Turner of the Camp America stall said the program was a cultural exchange with the US.
"You can go to work at a summer camp over in the States, we work with over 1000 camps there so location is luck of the draw," she said.
"We send around seven to eight thousand people every year to work at these camps and people make so many lifelong friends from all over the world.
"We've had a lot of interest today, so many sign-ups, it really is one of the best ways to experience America and get that travel experience before they go out and tick off all their bucket list items."
Another stall on display at the expo was ATEL, which runs apprenticeships and traineeships to help make people more employable.
"We're showing off all of the apprenticeships and traineeships on offer here and we've had quite a few kids showing interest," Mitch Fennessy from ATEL said.
"There's chef courses, electrician courses, everything that needs a qualification which I think is what attracts people."
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