STUDENTS from the region wanting access to information about their future are about to get just that at this year’s Western Riverina Careers Expo.

To be held at Leeton High School from 9am to 1.30pm on June 14, the event has attracted 80 exhibitors with about 1400 students expected across the day.

It has been put together by Leeton High School careers advisor and girls welfare teacher Brittany Becker, and careers advisor assistant and expo co-ordinator Tania Speer.

Mrs Speer said the careers expo was an important source of information for senior students.

“It’s necessary because of our remoteness and access to tertiary college and providers in particular,” Mrs Speer said. “Logistically it’s better for the students to get that cross-section.”

The Western Riverina Careers Expo has been held in Leeton for more than decade, but the interest from service providers and institutions isn’t waning.

“There are 14 new exhibitors who have never been before,” Mrs Speer said.

“Some have heard about it through previous work placements, some through our contacts and the senior pathways co-ordinator, and some have come from student contacts.

“There are a lot more vocation providers this year which means a lot more access to the availability of apprenticeships, traineeships and on-the-job training.”

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Exhibitors this year include gap year volunteer programs, tertiary institutions (from universities to industry specific colleges) and businesses (including Southern Cotton, Hutcheon & Pearce).

“The Defence Force always comes along (and) they’ll be bringing four Army heavy vehicles,” Mrs Speer said. “I asked if they could bring one and they came back with ‘can we bring four?’.”

The expo receives financial support through a specific Department of Education fund and fits into a regional schedule of similar events.

There will be 23 schools from as far as Coleambally, Hay, Lake Cargelligo, West Wyalong, Griffith and Narrandera attending.

“Class numbers seems to be up,” Mrs Speer said. “This year we’ve got Ungarie, Tullibigeal and Condobolin coming, and we’ve got one primary school attending.”

The day is also open to the public, with the period from 12.30pm to 1.30pm the best time for people to drop by if they are interested.

Schools have specific time slots allocated, which restricts numbers to 350 people at a time and means the exhibitors won’t be overwhelmed.

The majority of displays will be in the MPC, with the more interactive sites setting up in the canteen area.

“To be able to meet all the student needs is important with this type of event,” Mrs Speer said. “The more students we can expose the better.”

Prior to the Western Riverina Careers Expo on June 14 at Leeton High School there will be a Q&A forum and mini expo the night before.

To be held at the high school library from 6.30pm to 8pm and targeted at parents who cannot attend during the day, there will be a presentation about the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), which processes applications for admission to most undergraduate courses.

UAC also provides the ATAR to NSW HSC students, and processes applications to post-graduate courses, applications for Education Access Schemes, applications for some Equity Scholarships and applications for some Schools Recommendation Schemes.

Following this there will be a breakaway mini expo with stalls including Defence Force Recruiting, TAFE NSW, Western Riverina Community College and a number of tertiary education providers.

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