A successful hybrid webinar event – How to Support Career Exploration – was held earlier this month at The Hub in Bairnsdale, providing parents and carers with valuable insights and practical tools to support the children and young people in their lives.
The webinar recording is available to parents and carers across the Gippsland region.
This event was a part of a career exploration program called ‘Ready Set Go’ that supported students to explore career and educational pathways and possibilities, through a range of activities including school visits and excursions.
Ready Set Go is a two-year sub-project of the Eastern Australian Regional University Centres Partnership (EARUCP) funded through the Regional Partnership Project Pool Program (RPPPP), an initiative of the Department of Education.
Ready Set Go is brought locally through a partnership between Gippsland East Local Learning and Employment Network (GE LLEN), Federation University Australia, and CQUniversity.
The webinar was held both in-person at The Hub, as well as being offered virtually, attracting a diverse audience of participants eager to learn from experts in the field, as well as from community members with unique lived experience.
The hybrid format allowed attendees from the expansive region to benefit from this informative opportunity; it also allowed two of the professional speakers engaged to present via video link.
The webinar featured dynamic panel discussions, presentations and was followed by a Q&A session.
Participants walked away with a better understanding of the existing resources available, such as Study hubs, work experience opportunities and websites like My Future, that can assist children and young people on their career exploration journey, as well as unique insight into the journeys of local young people and the diverse pathways that can be taken to desired careers.
Key speakers included Dr Amanda Mergler, Federation University, who shared from her current role as a career advisor as well as her experience parenting two teenagers on their career exploration journey, and Dr Nicole McDonald, CQUniversity, who spoke from her experience as a senior research officer assisting students to explore their various career interests in Australian agriculture.
They were joined by two young people who reside locally, Sasha Kruse, audio engineer and mentor, and Alex Holmes, currently studying at TAFE Gippsland, who shared their own individual experiences exploring what assisted them with making informed decisions about the educational and career pathway that was best for them.
The panel discussion focused on the speakers’ unique journey from career aspirations to tertiary experiences.
Amanda shared her struggles through schooling, the moment she fell in love with learning, how windy career journeys can be and how this should be embraced rather than feared.
Nicole shared how self-efficacy can play a key role in exploring various interests. Sasha shared how experimenting to find out his interests and skills played an important role for him.
Finally, Alex shared how without TAFE Gippsland’s flexibility and their mother’s support to explore courses available in the tech and creative fields, they would not have found out about the Bachelor of Game Art and Animation which they have applied for, and aspiring to be accepted in, once they have completed the VCE VM certificate.
The webinar was well-received by presenters and participants alike.
When attendees were asked if participating in the webinar was valuable, a participant shared “it was great professionally and personally” while another shared “the valuable messages shared by the panellists resonated, especially around the positive impact and proactive role parents and caregivers can have in creating a safe environment for their children and young people to explore interests, try new things, and define what they enjoy.”
“Parents are powerful and can open their children’s minds to the range of careers and work opportunities available. Talking with your children about the work you see going on around you every day, and encouraging kids to explore jobs they may not see in action on the My Future website, will allow them to dream of the world of possibility and find their way to work that is deeply satisfying,” Dr Mergler said.
“There are a whole range of fantastic careers that exist in rural and regional Victoria that can provide young people with rewarding work. Some of these opportunities are not very visible to the broader community,” Ms McDonald said.
“For example the local agriculture industry can offer young people the opportunity to
pursue their interests while working towards solving important challenges we face as a society.
“We work out our career interests and how our strengths can be utilised in different jobs through experience and reflection. If we can support young people to try new things, and demystify the skills and abilities that lead to thriving in the world of work, we can help them to work out how to navigate a future that is theirs for the choosing.”
“As the executive officer of Gippsland East LLEN, I am delighted to thank all participants of the webinar and welcome others to watch this event dedicated to supporting our young learners on their career exploration journey,” Neeta D’Souza said.
“In today’s rapidly evolving world, equipping students with skills, knowledge and guidance is more important than ever. Let us inspire our young people to dream without limits and equip them with the tools to turn those dreams into reality.”
To view the recording of this webinar, you can go to – Webinars – under the – Resources – tab of the Gippsland East LLEN’s website and you simply need to register your interest to access the webinar’s recording, with the option to be kept informed about Ready Set Go’s future events, and you will automatically receive the link of the recording and the resources developed.
