Future careers in focus

What career and job opportunities are likely to be available on the Sunshine Coast in the year 2025?

Around 500 local school students will discover the wealth of opportunities available to them on the Sunshine Coast at council’s Future Careers+ Expo on Thursday August 11 at the University of Sunshine Coast’s Innovation Centre.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said the Future Careers+ Expo will paint the picture of what students in Years 9-12 can expect to see across the region in from 2020 onwards to enable them best determine their study choices leading into tertiary education and occupational training after high school.

“The key objective of the Future Careers+ Expo is to ensure our young people are aware of the career opportunities that are will be available to them in the year 2020 and beyond within the high value industries as outlined in our Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) and to provide information on education pathways to help youngsters achieve relevant qualifications right here on the Sunshine Coast,” Mayor Jamieson said.

“These seven high value industries have been identified under REDS as the key areas of future employment and economic strength on the Sunshine Coast. They complement the Sunshine Coast lifestyle and our natural advantages and will provide a platform for future quality employment opportunities for young people in our region, to reassure them that their future can be here.”

The high-value industries identified in REDS include health and well-being; education and research; knowledge industries and professional services; tourism, sport and leisure; food and agribusiness; clean technologies; and aviation and aerospace.

Kawana Waters State College Principal Collin Allen-Waters said the Future Careers+ Expo will be great help to students entering their most important school years.

“Choosing the right elective subjects for the final years at school is a very big decision for secondary students, so to give them an insight into the possible future career opportunities here on the Sunshine Coast and the study pathways they’ll need to get there is of tremendous value,” he said.

Council and Study Sunshine Coast will be among the exhibitors at Wednesday’s Future Careers+ Expo to promote the region as an attractive destination for local students to embark on future tertiary studies.

Study Sunshine Coast’s international and local Student Ambassadors will also be on hand to speak to school students about their positive experiences studying in the region.

An initiative of Sunshine Coast Council, the regional Education and Research Industry Taskforce and the newly formed Education Sunshine Coast, Study Sunshine Coast ( www.studysunshinecoast.com.au) aims to increase the number of international students and students from other part of Australia coming to our region for tertiary studies as well as retaining more local students.

The Future Careers+ Expo will be run from 9am to 2.30pm at the Innovation Centre.