Berrigan Shire Local Employment Expo

The Berrigan Shire Local Employment Expo is held annually at Finley High School each June. Objectives involve fostering relationships between local businesses and students resulting in employment, showcasing local job opportunities and offering career pathways. It also promotes the value of local jobs to the community, the diversity of the Shire's businesses and helps students along the school- to- work transition.

The expo is part of a larger strategy initiated by Berrigan Shire Council through its Strategic Economic Development Plan. This aims to help local businesses attract and retain suitable employees to assist in expanding the Shire's identified skill and labour shortages. The expo aims to ‘link local kids to local jobs’, and to ‘grow our own’ local workforce.

The Local Employment Expo and has been recognised as being an innovative and interactive event among the public. The success can largely be attributed to the strong partnerships created between businesses, educational providers, government agencies, Youth Career Services and the Council. Commencing in 2004, a total of five expos have now been held. Several businesses within the Shire participate each year. The expo opens the students eyes the wide degree of skills and career path potential of not only degree level occupations, but also the opportunities available in trades and traineeships.

2009 Employment Expo

The annual Berrigan Shire Local Employment Expo held on 11th June was a huge success with a diverse range of businesses involved and exciting activities for students to participate in.

Students were able to select their industry field of interest, and visited businesses within the Shire in that field. From the visit students received hands on experience, developed a greater knowledge of the business and the career opportunities it presents. The visits were a great success for the community as they encouraged relationships with local businesses and students, showcased local job opportunities and promoted the value of local jobs.

The display centre in the hall provided students the opportunity to speak one on one with a range of renowned educational institutions, local businesses, and other organisations. The displays aimed to help students making the school to work transition easier. The information provided included how to find a job, what they need to do once they find a job, what training is required, and other helpful information. Finley High School welcomed the Police and Defence Force, Deakin University, La Trobe University, Lattitude Global Volunteering, Charles Sturt University, Primary Industries and many more. During this time students were also given the opportunity to speak in smaller groups to the motivational guest speaker Rob Sheahan.

Over the lunch hour, vehicles, machinery and equipment from local businesses and organisations were set up for students to enjoy. The students particularly enjoyed the oversized machinery and the ambulance and police vehicles.

The afternoon was enjoyed by the whole school, teachers and visitors as they listened to the engaging motivational guest speaker Rob Sheahan. Rob encouraged students to achieve their dreams, by setting goals, aiming high and believing that nothing is impossible.

Berrigan Shire Council's Brittany Dunn was very happy with the results of the entire day and would like thank the Finley High School Career Advisors; Jacqui O’Bryan and Deborah White for their magnificent work. Thanks also to the Finley High School staff and all of the community who helped organise the day.

Berrigan Shire Council would like to thank all who participated and encourage your ongoing support for the Employment Expo in 2010. The Employment Expo is a great opportunity for local students and businesses, and without the support of the community this worthwhile event would not be possible.

Please see below an article that Finley High School student Jemima Lewis completed as a task. At the Employment Expo Jemima visited the Southern Riverina News to learn more about the media industry. As a reward for completing this task it appeared in the Southern Riverina News on June 17th 2009. Congratulations to Jemima for her efforts. - Brittany Dunn

     Career helping hand for students

When preparing to branch off from high school into the real world, choosing exactly which career path to undertake can be a daunting experience.

Thanks to the Berrigan Shire Council and careers advisors from Finley High School, Finley High School students undertook a day long expo to assist in guiding them along the right career path.

On Thursday June 11 all Years 10, 11 and 12 students participated in the Berrigan Shire Council Careers Expo Day, which took students out the classroom and into businesses across the local area.

There were several different activities running throughout the day.

Students were able to select their industry area of interest and were taken directly into that job area for some practical, hands on experience.

Students either walked downtown to Finley businesses, or were bussed all around the Shire to Tocumwal, Berrigan and Barooga, gaining the career experience of a lifetime which has helped them in choosing the right industry for them.

The rotational system also saw groups of students visit the displays set up by various universities and training houses in the School Hall, and also listened to motivational speaker Rob Sheahan in the Multi Purpose Room.

The display centre in the hall included a plethora of renowned educational and training faculties, including Deakin University, the Defence and Police Force and the Australian Hair and Beauty College.

Past FHS student Dan Ryan joined fellow colleague Rebecca Gale-Collins as representatives for Charles Sturt University.

“It’s good to see some familiar faces. Just as awesome bunch of people” he said.

Rebecca was excited to be travelling around and sharing her knowledge about one of the most well-know universities in Australia.

“We are able to reach a broader spectrum of high school students by coming down to visit metropolitan areas such as Adelaide and Melbourne and also areas in regional Victoria and NSW,” Rebecca said.

Representatives for the Australian Police Force travelled as far as Sydney to attend the Careers Expo for Finley High School students.

Constable Bryson Marshall and Sergeant Catherine Borton, alongside Deniliquin’s Senior Constable Dianne Chilton, were at the expo, educating students on the Police force and laying to rest all those negative images.

During lunchtime a shearing demonstration occurred on the school oval, alongside with some other displays.

After lunch public speaker Rob Sheahan returned to speak to the entire student body on how to ‘Be All You Can Be.’

Students were encourages to dismiss those ‘dream thieves’ and aim high by constantly changing goals every time you achieve something.

Rob is a prodigy to the business world. After starting off in the workplace as a kid from the ‘wrong sides of the track’, living in a housing commission home in Broadmeadows, Melbourne, he managed to work his way up the business food chain, and now can claim successful entrepreneur to his name.

Rob now calls some of the most famous business men in Australia his friends, including ‘Crazy John’ and Eddie McGuire, and was the youngest person ever to run for council, and be successful in his campaign.

Rob, as only a young man himself, touched the crowd with his inspirational messages of hope for the future and certainly spoke on matters close to heart to many of the students.

His message was clear – never stop at failure, and always keep persisting.

This year’s BSC Careers Expo was the best ever, and will continue to get bigger and better every year with the unwavering support and dedication of career teachers Mrs Jacqui O’Bryan and Mrs Deborah White, all other teaching staff from Finley High School, the Berrigan Shire, the student body and all the local businesses who sacrifice an entire day for the betterment of the youth in the shire,

To all individuals, a thank you is extended for another great Careers Expo.

Many students can now safely say they know exactly which path they are going to take, and it is all thanks to you.

• Contributed by Jemima Lewis, Finley High School student. 

For more information on the Employment Expo, please contact Council on 03 5888 5100.