What's it like on the frontline? Students find out at new careers day
During National Skills Week, Illawarra Sports High School hosted a careers day for students wanting to work in emergency and support services
There was a rush of interest in emergency services last month, when students from 15 high schools gathered at Illawarra Sports High School for the first Regional Industry Education Partnerships (RIEP) Emergency & Support Services Careers Day.
Students seized the chance to try rope throwing with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES), check out rescue vessels with NSW Water Police and jet skis with Marine Rescue NSW, try firefighting gear with Fire and Rescue NSW, and learn first aid techniques with Illawarra First Response.
Held during National Skills Week, the careers day on 25 August attracted employers, career advisers and more than 350 students from Years 9 to 12.
Career firefighters, police officers, roadside patrol crews, rescue operators and lifeguards spoke to students about what it's like working on the frontline.
In addition to talking to people from emergency services, students could meet psychologists, mental health nurses, youth workers, counsellors and support workers. Representatives from headspace, the Women’s Health Centre, Wollongong Homeless Hub and Dress for Success were on hand to explain how they help the community too.
“Students gain so much more from speaking directly with the people doing these jobs than they ever could from reading about them," said NSW Department of Education’s Executive Director, Skills & Workforce Programs, Suzie Matthews.
“By bringing schools and employers together, we're helping young people discover careers they may never have considered and better understand the pathways available after school.”
