The Canberra CareersXpo is back for another year, with a huge variety of inspiring possibilities. The CareersXpo will be held on August 7 and 8 at Exhibition Park.

The Canberra CareersXpo is back for another year, with a huge variety of inspiring possibilities. The CareersXpo will be held on August 7 and 8 at Exhibition Park In Canberra (EPIC).

The CareersXpo showcases the abundance of careers and jobs available in 2024 and is open to school students, adults already in the workforce or anyone with an interest in seeking a new career path.

Every career question answered

The Canberra CareersXpo is the largest careers and jobs event in the region, with more than 110 local and interstate exhibitors ready to answer questions about jobs, courses and traineeships, says manager Winston Bucknall. 

“We have many impressive interactive displays and gadgetry this year, giving our attendees the opportunity to experience some of the technology they might be working on in the future,” he says.

“We are very happy to have two speakers this year; Prof Genevieve Bell and Dr Brad Tucker. 

“Genevieve is the vice-chancellor of the Australian National University and is well known here and overseas for her work in the cultural effects of technology.

“We also welcome Dr Brad Tucker, an astrophysicist and cosmologist, who will be relating astronomical stories about the intriguing aspects of the politicisation of the space race and about his research into planet 9.”

Winston says the Indigenous Employment Exhibition is returning, as are numerous businesses, government agencies and community organisations. 

The CareersXpo is open 9.30am to 2.30pm August 7 to 8. The speakers and seminars will be held on Wednesday evening, 4pm-7pm and attendance is free to both the day and the night sessions.

CareersXpo, Exhibition Park In Canberra. Visit careersxpo.com.au

Leisure manager offering flexible employment

Belgravia Leisure is a leisure management provider for numerous aquatic, fitness, sport, holiday parks, spas and wellness venues across Australia, and ACT marketing co-ordinator Tanay Kandlur says they are looking for more Canberra-based team members.

He says there is a wide range of roles available, including sales or duty managers, but in particular, they are looking for lifeguards, swimming teachers and fitness trainers. 

Tanay says hours are flexible, which makes it a perfect option for school students, recent graduates or university students, and any training required is provided by Belgravia Leisure.

Tanay says Belgravia Leisure prides itself on providing employees with access to an extensive range of career options, and opportunities for career progression, with the opportunity to make a difference in the community.

“At Belgravia Leisure, we believe in the power of our people in connecting our communities to leisure,” he says.

“We care about our people and greatly value diversity.

“We encourage people from all backgrounds to find a career with us.”

Tanay says employees can also enjoy free membership and free facility access.

Belgravia Leisure at Canberra Olympic Pool, call 6248 6799; Dickson Pool, call 6247 2972; Stromlo Leisure Centre, call 5114 2900; Gungahlin Leisure Centre, call 6241 1132 and Lakeside Leisure Centre, call 6293 3122. Visit belgravialeisure.com.au

Learn about portable long service leave

Young people and their parents will have the opportunity to learn about portable long service leave when ACT Leave exhibits at the CareersXpo for the first time, says ACT Leave CEO and registrar Tracy Savage.

Operating under ACT government legislation, Tracy says ACT Leave supports workers in covered industries to receive the valuable benefits of portable long service leave entitlements as they move from employer to employer within the same industry.

Currently, workers in the security, community sector, building and construction, and contract-cleaning industries are entitled to portable long service leave in the ACT, she says. 

From April next year, workers in the accommodation and food services and hairdressing and beauty services will become eligible for portable long service leave when the Services Industry Scheme commences.

She says the expansion of portable long service is especially good news for young people considering a career in the services industry. 

It offers them the opportunity to establish themselves within the industry and to gain experience across various employers while working towards earning a portable long service leave break. 

Tracy says she expects that ACT Leave’s attendance at the CareersXpo will be a great way for those at the beginning of their careers, and their parents, to find out more about their working rights.

“Parents play a really important role in managing, organising and supporting their child’s employment arrangements,” she says.

“The Xpo is an excellent opportunity for us to reach existing and future workers and provide them and their parents with information about accessing portable long service leave.”

Visit the friendly ACT Leave staff in Booth 55, Tracy says.

ACT Leave, Unit 1, 28 Thynne Street, Bruce. Call 6247 3900 or visit actleave.act.gov.au

Healthcare has a role for everyone

ACT Health oversees the ACT’s public health system, and makes sure it meets the community’s needs, says ACT chief allied health officer Dr Sue Fitzpatrick. 

This year, she says ACT Health will once again be at the CareersXpo to answer any healthcare career questions.

“We offer many career opportunities for people looking for challenging work in a professional and quality healthcare environment,” she says.

“Our community has experienced some massive changes over the past few years, but we’re so happy to be out and about chatting to people about careers in health and the difference these careers can make in their lives.”

Sue says the CareersXpo is an opportunity for students and people looking for a career change to chat to people working in a variety of roles across the health system.

“Whether you like working behind the scenes or love face-to-face interactions with our community, there’s a job in health to suit you,” she says.

“You can work in a variety of environments ranging from government policy and programs, to hospitals, owning your own private practice, pharmacies, pathology centres, labs, community organisations and not-for-profit organisations.”

Many people aren’t aware a university degree is not necessary to get into a career in health, says Sue, and there’s a range of jobs you can do from aged and disability care to oral health and allied health assisting offered by TAFE and CIT.

“Come and chat to the team from ACT Health,” says Sue. “We’ll point you in the right direction on the next steps to take.”

ACT Health, visit act.gov.au/health

Supporting autism-spectrum students into work

Employ For Ability opened in 2019 to support people who are on the autism spectrum and transitioning into work, says managing director David Smith.

“We are promoting our School Leavers Employment Support Program for students on the autism spectrum with an NDIS plan that is self managed or plan managed,” he says.

“Eighty per cent of our school-leaver clients gain award-wage work within 12 months of commencing our programs.

“Ninety-five per cent are still employed 12 months after gaining employment. We are a specialist in neurodiversity, so we have tailored courses that are holistic, looking at the whole person.

“We offer training as well as social group programs, including time management training, finance skills, employment pursuit, and work-ready programs. 

“We also run social groups, as well as Dungeons and Dragons, chess and a garden group.”

David says he did not realise it at the time, but his journey began when his third child, Ollie, was born.

“Annie and I knew he was different, he was diagnosed with autism at four, and we went through a roller coaster of emotions,” he says.

“As a family we have grown to understand autism and to see the strengths Ollie has, his delightful attitude, his sense of equality and justice. He is a blessing and intrinsic part of my life, and the reason I purposely started my neurodiversity employment journey in 2016.”

Employ For Ability. Call 1300 619768, or visit employforability.com.au

A welcoming place for young women

At The Women’s College, located within The University of Sydney, young women are supported every step of the way throughout their university days, both academically and socially as well as into their careers, says The Women’s College registrar, Anne-Maree McCarthy.

“Join a fully supported network of women in your transition to university and enjoy fully catered accommodation, social and extracurricular activities with opportunities for academic assistance, tutorial assistance, mentoring and leadership opportunities,” she says.

About 280 residents and 50 affiliate (non-resident) students enjoy a dynamic and vibrant experience of university life, says Anne-Maree, while academic assistants and tutors provide advice on time management, exam study and assistance with course content. 

“It’s a welcoming place, a home away from home,” she says.

Anne-Maree says the college offers scholarships for residential students awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need to support students coming from regional and rural areas as well as to students from government schools, Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, postgraduate students undertaking medicine or scientific research and students studying performance at the Conservatorium of Music.

Anne-Maree says applications for 2025 are now open, and scholarship applications close on October 1.

She says the college accepts students studying at The University of Sydney, UTS, The University of Notre Dame (Sydney campus), ACU, UNSW and Macquarie University.

“There is no need to wait for your university offer to start your application. Apply now,” she says.

The Women’s College, 15 Carillon Avenue, Newtown. Open Day, August 31, 10am-3pm. Call 9517 5018 or visit thewomenscollege.edu.au