The Y NSW, Central Coast Council and Vicinity’s Lake Haven Centre have joined forces to bring a careers fair to the North of Wyong like never seen before.
The Y NSW Youth Careers Expo is a free opportunity for young people to check out their career choices, get inspired for the future and access support.
On Thursday, May 20, from 10am-4pm, the three locations will be taken over by 50 information stalls and displays featuring local training and job service providers, support agencies, volunteering information and employers from the region offering industry insight and advice.
The event tackles the high rates of youth unemployment evident North of Wyong, with suburbs around San Remo, Doyalson and Colongra reporting rates as high as 32 percent in the last census compared to the Central Coast average of 13.7 percent.
Y NSW Central Coast Program Coordinator, Virginia Walshaw, said the Youth Careers Expo aims to open the door to the range of career paths available in the region.
“At the Y NSW, we are committed to working with local industry, services and Government as a collective to support our inspiring, resilient, and capable young locals.
“The Employment NOW Expo will be a one-stop shop for any young people looking to take their first step toward identifying future careers.
“It’s a unique opportunity to explore local career pathways and discover what support is available to help land a job or train for one.
“This will be an inclusive and accessible event with a strong focus on supporting our local Indigenous young people and those of disabilities.
“With almost 300 students already booked in, the Youth Careers Expo is not to be missed,” said Walshaw.
The Y NSW first zeroed in on youth unemployment on the Coast in 2020, upskilling 62 young people with essential skills, their White Card, Barista and First Aid certifications, thanks to funding from Central Coast Council.
The event is an extension of the organisation’s focus on keeping young people in jobs throughout the pandemic and beyond.
“At the Y NSW, more than 40 percent of our workforce across our Out of School Hours Care, Recreation Centres and Youth and Community Services is under the age of 25.
“As a major employer and advocate for young people in NSW, we are committed to pushing back against these staggering youth employment and disengaged rates to support the long term economic, social and mental wellbeing of the Central Coast,” said CEO of the Y NSW, Susannah Le Bron.
Source:
Media Release, May 11
The Y NSW