On Thursday, 15th May, La Salle Academy in Lithgow held its Annual Careers Fair, welcoming professionals, training organisations, and industry experts from across the region to support students in planning their futures.
The Careers Fair has become a key event on the school calendar, offering students a valuable opportunity to explore post-schooling options, speak with industry representatives, and gain insight into a wide range of professions. The event was attended by students from various year levels, all eager to learn more about potential career pathways.
The Central West Village Voice’s own Kellie Evans attended the Fair, to talk with interested students about Media & Journalism as a career-pathway. Kellie said “I had the best morning chatting with the students and answering some really interesting questions. My hope is that we encourage our kids to look at what interests and motivates them as they work out what their future employment trajectory could look like!”.
Mr Glenn Carpenter, Principal of La Salle Academy, spoke about the importance of preparing students not only academically but socially and professionally. “With modern technology, and increasingly new ways of communicating, young people are losing the ability to start and hold conversations with those that they don’t know,” he said. “We are looking forward to hosting you at La Salle Academy for our Annual Careers Fair. Increasingly, students are looking at their post-schooling options earlier and it is important that we provide appropriate education and experiences to allow them to make a successful transition.”
Traditionally, Careers Fairs have required students to initiate conversations, ask questions, and engage directly with professionals. However, organisers acknowledged that many young people now find this increasingly difficult. This trend has been linked to higher dropout rates at university and frequent job or apprenticeship changes early in young people’s careers.
To address this, La Salle Academy tailored its Careers Fair to better suit today’s students. The event was structured to support those who might not feel comfortable in social situations, while still offering rich, meaningful interactions with professionals. This approach allowed for the sharing of valuable information about job roles, expectations, and training pathways, and helped to build student confidence.
“This event is about more than just information,” Mr Carpenter added. “It’s about creating opportunities for our students to connect, grow, and make informed choices about their future.”
La Salle Academy expressed its gratitude to all attendees and contributors. “Your attendance assists us in providing our students with these opportunities so that they can make informed choices,” Mr Carpenter said. “Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to invest in our youth—our future leaders.”
The event was a great success, with many students leaving inspired and better equipped to navigate their next steps beyond school.
