BY KERRI-ANNEMESNER
PARENTS and students have an opportunity to find out directly from employers about job prospects for young people at a special information evening on Wednesday, 8 August, 2007, at Lakeside Banquet and Convention Centre, called Where Are The jobs?
The event, sponsored by Brimbank City Council and VicRoads, will be conducted by the Keilor Regional Careers Group in partnership with Western Local Community Partnership (Western LCP), Brimbank-Melton Local Learning Employment Network (LLEN), Australian Industry Group and major industry representatives.
It is aimed at eliminating some of the concerns students may have about future job prospects as well as giving students and parents an understanding of the types of employment opportunities that are available.
Brimbank mayor Margaret Giudice said Brimbank City Council had thrown its support behind the project by sponsoring the event and contributing $5000 to the initiative.
“Brimbank City Council fully supports this wonderful initiative to bring students, parents and employers together to share knowledge and information about employment opportunities in the future,” she said.
The inaugural Where Are The Jobs? forum was held in 2006, was attended by about 400 students and 22 employers were represented.
This year more than 40 employers have already confirmed their attendance, including ANZ, Australian Defence Force, Citipower/Powercor, John Deere, Qantas, Rio Tinto, V/Line, VicRoads and Western Health.
The MC for the evening will be Campbell Rose, chief executive of the Western Bulldogs.
David Collett, career and transitions project officer for Western LCP, said the careers information evening would offer valuable food for thought as students investigated education, training and employment options in the approaching months.
“It will also link students and parents with employers in order to facilitate employment opportunities and improve industry knowledge and career pathways,” he said.
“It is not often that an opportunity to meet such a large cross-section of employers is available, and this evening enables students to hear from them all under one roof. We have had a tremendous response from employers who are genuinely looking for innovative ways of targeting the recruitment of future employees.”
The evening will tackle concerns associated with this transition and offer suggestions to help deal with the process.
A survey of more than 800 students in year levels 10, 11 and 12 from Brimbank schools will help organisers identify their aspirations and concerns and adapt the evening to ensure those needs are addressed.
The three main factors in their decision making are:
WILL there be jobs available at the end of my course?
SELECTING the right subjects at school.
GETTING a better understanding of what career might be of interest.
Students can get tickets from their careers advisers. For details call 8311 5814.
