Parents and carers are invited to a free upcoming hybrid webinar — How to Support Career Exploration — taking place on Tuesday, September 2, both in person at the Study Hub in Bairnsdale and online via Zoom.
This interactive event will provide families with practical tools and valuable insights to help the children and young people in their lives explore career options and navigate future educational pathways. For those unable to attend live, a recording will be made available following the event.
The webinar is part of Ready Set Go, a two-year career exploration initiative delivered through the Eastern Australian Regional University Centres Partnership (EARUCP) and funded by the Department of Education’s Regional Partnership Project Pool Program (RPPPP).
Locally, Ready Set Go is brought to life through a partnership between the Gippsland East Local Learning and Employment Network (Gippsland East LLEN), Federation University, and CQUniversity. The program aims to support students as they explore potential career and education pathways through a range of activities, including school visits, excursions, and events like this webinar.
After last year’s successful delivery, this year’s event again embraces a hybrid format, giving families the flexibility to attend either in person at The Study Hub or virtually via Zoom. The format also enables participation from a broader range of speakers, including professionals and community members with lived experience who will join both onsite and remotely.
The session will feature dynamic panel discussions, shared insight from experts, and a Q&A segment, creating opportunities for interactive learning and meaningful dialogue.
The session will shine a light on useful resources — such as Study Hubs, the My Future website, and other regionally available tools — to assist families in guiding young people through their career exploration journey.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
This year’s panel brings together a diverse mix of voices from education, research, advocacy, and lived experience, including:
– Melissa Oakley, Careers and Employability Advisor at Federation University, will share her personal journey of resilience and how the power of transferable skills has shaped her career path.
– Dr Nicole McDonald, Senior Research Fellow at CQUniversity, will reflect on her work helping students explore their interests in Australian agriculture, and how rural industries offer surprising and meaningful career opportunities.
– James Bush, Facilitator of the H.E.Y. (Healthy Equal Youth) Project, will speak about his passion for youth advocacy and supporting LGBTQIA+ young people in regional communities.
– Kimberly Erwin, a year 12 VCE Vocational Major student at TAFE Gippsland, will offer her perspective as a student, highlighting the key role her parents played in guiding her toward her passions.
“As executive officer of Gippsland East LLEN, I’d like to extend our sincere thanks to all our speakers and partners for supporting this event,” Neeta D’Souza said.
“Parents and carers are often the most influential source of career advice a young person will receive. That’s why supporting families is just as vital as supporting students on this journey. In today’s fast-changing world, preparing young people with the right skills, knowledge, and guidance is more important than ever.
“Through Ready Set Go, we are creating opportunities for families, educators, and industry leaders to come together — to inspire young minds, to foster curiosity, and to build the confidence needed to turn dreams into reality.”
