Case study: The future on tour—Redlands senior students visit local career options
[Kim Richards MP, Member for Redlands]
Thank you. I think the number one word has been about connecting and understanding the opportunities that exist across the Redlands.
[Evelyn Cordell, 2022 School-based Trainee of the Year]
It's definitely the best way to decide if this is the career path you want to do.
[Speaker – student]
Today, being here we got to speak to so many different people and listen to other people speak, which gave us so much more knowledge that we don't just get through school. You need to make connections and you need to talk to new people to know what you want to do. And that's why today's been so good.
[Michael Mrowka, REA Global]
When you're in school or coming out of school is to write down a job description, you know what is your dream job, what do you want to do. And it may not be a job, it might be a hobby that you want to turn into the ability to earn income by doing something that you love. Learn something, learn something new because knowledge is power. You know, I guess that the world is your oyster so um, you know, aim for the stars.
[Rabieh Krayem, Chair, Redlands Regional Jobs Committee]
You can do anything and your first job is not your last job.
[Speaker – in blue jacket]
It was fantastic to get out on site, have a look at SS Signs. Their factory is absolutely humming and pumping today. Ah, also for teams physically going in and seeing the different stages of construction and having the site supervisor explain all that to us, it was great. I could see the engagement between students and even the employers and Industry departments that have fallen away by the bus tours.
[Speaker – left-hand-side, blonde hair]
So the part of the day that I really enjoyed the most was the capacity to get students out into big Industries, to see the broad variety of things there. So at trans dev, it's not just about being a bus driver or being a mechanic, it's all the background, you know, professional stuff as well as the trade. So it was really valuable for our students to get out and see that broad variety of opportunity.
[Speaker – right-hand-side, dark blue tie]
I guess being there and hearing the sounds and speaking to the people and seeing the uniforms is a lot different to something that you see on the on the internet or on the TV. I guess an old adage is that you can't be what you can't see. So to have the students inside the facilities and seeing working operational industry occurring was just amazing.
[The Honourable Di Farmer MP, Minister for Employment and Small Business, Minister for Training and Skills Development, and Minister for Youth Justice]
We've created something like 225,000 jobs since before COVID and we actually, um, we actually did some projections on well what are we looking like in the future and 290,000 new jobs in 3 years different places across the state. That is amazing and that's because we are going so well, but we obviously are a victim of our own success because we literally don't have enough people to fill the jobs.
It is a very exciting time for all of us and to the students in the room, whether you're a school student or a training student, it is the absolute time of your life. Everyone is looking at you and wanting you to take up their job or wanting to get you to take up training in their sector. So the chance for you to get the job of your dreams and to get the training for the job of your dreams is absolutely here.
[Evelyn Cordell, 2022 School-based Trainee of the Year]
Work experience is my first tip on deciding on a career route and further training. It's the greatest method to determine whether it's the right path for you, whether you want to be a nurse or a hairdresser, a carpenter, electrician… whatever it is, there are only positive outcomes to completing work experience. You'll either enjoy what you did and decide it's definitely what you want to do, or you'll decide it's not.
Really I only gained positive things from my traineeship. The first one is you gain industry experience before you leave school. The biggest thing I've struggled with, and I've seen other students struggle with, is they apply for jobs and the CEO goes 'Do you have any experience in this area?’ and you're kind of like, well, I just graduated of course I don't have any experience in this area. But a traineeship or work experience is getting you that experience.
Work at school and even with the traineeship the theory part of it you learn how to do it in the writing, but actually doing it in person I learned through my traineeship is so much different. Everything I learned at the Mater, being a nurse then actually going and doing it I kind of realised I didn't know how to do it and it was really scary. But my traineeship and the mentor that I had at my traineeship really taught me this is how you do it even though I already knew how to do it, but the hands-on learning is just it is really a really good experience, and I think it's the best sort of learning in my opinion.
[Mayor Karen Williams, Redland City Council]
Job opportunities there for young people I think you've really got to think outside the square whether it's you want to be a… you know a rescue worker or whether it is you want to fly the Ubers of the air, or whether it is that you want to work in a you know on our environmental opportunities that come with that land the sky is absolutely the limit.
[Speaker – student, maroon tie]
Well, I'm definitely going to look more into you know work experience. I think after today I think that's really valuable, you know, it's definitely something I need to look into.
[Speaker – stakeholder, green shirt]
My favourite part of today was connecting with other industry partners, meeting some of the coordinators at schools, and the school students themselves.
[Speaker – teacher, orange jacket]
My students actually all commented that they were really impressed with being able to see some of the workplaces in action some of the job sites in action, so what they've always thought a job was that they actually got to see sort of the nitty-gritty of what it really entails and the different avenues within that particular industry that their skills might take them. So I think they found that the work and the job in action really useful today.
[Speaker – left-hand side, male student]
Our favourite part of today is probably going around, seeing the different uh trades and industries.
[Speaker – female student]
I wasn't today and like everyone's like advice and that, I'm considering doing more courses and vocations instead of going to uni, so I can get an idea of what I want to do before going and doing it.
[Rabieh Krayem, Chair, Redlands Regional Jobs Committee]
You connect with business not business connecting with you, so you had the greatest opportunity is to connect with business walk away knowing someone.
Ensuring the employees of tomorrow have a wide-reaching awareness of the local career path opportunities in their own backyard now and into the future was the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee's goal. With some creative thinking, devoted career pathways coordinators, curious senior high school students and eager local businesses, this successful school-to-work transition event turned into a great example of how it’s never too early to get all parties excited about the future.
Funded by the Queensland Government, the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee brings together local representatives from a diverse range of businesses in the Redlands region, senior school representatives including principals and career counsellors and other local employment stakeholders to lead place-based skilling and workforce advocacy, and create initiatives that foster growth in employment, skills and training.
Earlier this year, the Committee organised the Futures Forum—an event designed to explore upcoming careers and industry opportunities in the region over the next decade. The event also focused on linking potential future jobs with the aspirations of young people, as well as curriculum and at-school industry exposure opportunities for high school students on the Redlands Coast.
Close to 100 people attended. The event involved local industries, school industry liaison officers and career pathways coordinators, and most importantly, the school students themselves, to showcase local career opportunities as a strategy for promoting local employment and, ultimately, school-to-work transition.
Research shows that proactive career exploration is a key factor that contributes to a students' interest and career decidedness (Quinlan and Renniger 20221). The power of events and activities that bring stakeholders together to connect with students to help them refine their interests shouldn’t be underestimated.
Over 40 local businesses participated in the Futures Forum activities, which provided context to students about the types of work available in the area. Senior high school students visited the workplaces of 5 businesses, receiving behind-the-scenes tours of workspaces and access to local employers to ask questions and to see work demonstrated.
The Redlands Regional Jobs Committee hosted the event, coordinating the involvement of interested businesses, and the transport between workplaces for students at no cost to the schools or the students.
Redlands Regional Jobs Committee Project Manager Kate Adams coordinated the event, and said the logistics of hosting the Futures Forum event with many stakeholders involved and bus trip visits to various parts of our City took some planning, however the rewards were well worth it.
'The students who attended were naturally very keen to ask questions, speak to the people in charge—their potential future employers—and really get a good sense of what working for each local business in attendance across many industry sectors might look like,' said Kate.
The Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce President Suzie Tafolo shared, 'The students didn't hold back—they got in there, presented their best selves, and sought out the CEOs and business owners asking them all kind of questions. We were really impressed, and the atmosphere was electric.'
Secure the date, get planning
'Involving our Committee Chair, the Chamber of Commerce Executive and members, our Local Member for Parliament, and the Minister for Youth Justice, Employment Small Business and Training Di Farmer saw great take up and enthusiasm, and the feedback from everyone was incredibly positive,' Kate continued.
'Matching key speakers and dignitaries is important, and once a date was set, local businesses—those who are active in the community, and in the Chamber—jumped at the chance at getting in front of the potential future workforce.
Redlands Regional Jobs Committee Chair Person Rabieh Krayem shared, 'It really was an opportunity for local businesses to make a great impression, and their potential future employees (soon-to-be-graduating students) to do the same.'
Rabieh said that ensuring commitment from local businesses was key because they are a drawcard when it comes to getting young people excited and educated about career options.
'Events like the Futures Forum are such a great opportunity for businesses to showcase what they do to young people. It's an opportunity to demystify what the world of work is all about, and to create excitement. I would encourage any business to take part in a program like this—it should be a key part of a workforce strategy and succession planning.'
School-to-work transitions, a local solution
Partnerships between schools and industry have become increasingly important in preparing students for the jobs of the future. By connecting with local businesses students can gain valuable insights into the current job market and the skills that jobs require. Additionally, students gain a better understanding of the industry's expectations, work culture, and professional conduct, which can significantly increase their employability and job readiness.
Rabieh said the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee recognised the importance of connecting students with local businesses in the region.
'Supporting our young people is an important part of the local solution to workforce shortages. Programs like this can help develop and keep skills and talent within the community.
'By linking students with local businesses, we can help facilitate a smooth transition for school leavers, ensuring that they have access to employment opportunities right in their own backyard.'
By working with various stakeholders, the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee ensures the Redlands remains competitive and resilient in a rapidly changing economic landscape.
The Queensland Government funds 9 Regional Jobs Committees to coordinate regional communities, industry and government to identify barriers and opportunities for local skills development, workforce participation and business growth. The Committees support government to identify potential areas of Queensland at risk of not connecting with the benefits of the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032 and providing targeted workforce support.
Top 3 takeaways for employers
- Connect with your local Regional Jobs Committee to find out what events are upcoming.
- Consider how you might connect with young people through programs like the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee's Futures Forum or building a relationship with local schools.
- Promote yourself to young people in your region as a career opportunity.
This showcase is powered by the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.
Special thanks to Redlands Regional Jobs Committee, for sharing this story.
More information and support
Connect with your local Regional Jobs Committee today.
Visit the Redlands Regional Jobs Committee for more information about the Futures Forum, how to get involved, or for work of the committee.