Recent studies have shown of the 91% of parents who are consulted for career information 77% feel they have inadequate knowledge to give informed advice.

A Careers Expo will be held at Gloucester High School on August 10, 2009 between 10am and 4pm.

This expo is in response to several requests from young people at the Youth Forum in 2008 and is a joint initiative of The Bucketts Way Neighbourhood Group, Gloucester High School and Career Connect. Students will attend in year groups throughout the day.

Parents are encouraged to attend at a time convenient to themselves.

The expo will showcase skills, training and employment options in a number of industry sectors. Local employers, education providers, local & state government, professional associations and community organisations will be represented.

Information available will include

* the skills, knowledge, attitudes & requirements for working within industries

* the processes of obtaining employment e.g. application forms, web sites

* different levels of entry into industry

* what industries facilitate their own training and what industries require tertiary qualifications

* the diversity of career pathways

The choices and pathways available to young people today as they make their way from school to work or further education are many and varied. What was once seen to be a straight pathway is now often described as a mosaic, or ‘crazy paving and stepping stones’.

Young people move in and out of education and different areas or types of employment (sometimes combining the two) and are more likely than previous generations to experience periods of part-time employment, casual work, unemployment and, for some young people, time outside the labour force and education altogether.

Supporting young people to make a successful school to work transition is important not just in economic terms but also for the personal and social consequences associated with unsuccessful transitions.