Inaugural Careers Festival A Success

Inaugural Careers Festival A Success

The inaugural Otago Careers Festival has been deemed a success. A meeting of the Otago Careers Festival steering committee has confirmed that the event will run again in 2010, subject to funding being secured.

A total of 72 career related events took place as part of the inaugural festival held during the month of May this year.

Reflecting the festival’s `any age, any stage’ approach, events varied from tertiary open days and traditional career expos to seminars on dealing with redundancy, preparing a winning CV, business open days and information sessions for parents and new migrants.

Twenty-five organisations hosted festival events, including training providers, central and local government agencies, community organisations, business organisations, private businesses and industry groups.

Festival steering committee spokesperson Peter McBeth said the festival had received an unprecedented level of support from the community, both from members of the public attending events and participating organisations.

He said that post event evaluations had indicated that festival events had attracted people from a cross section of age bands and groups in the community, including a significant number of adults in work or changing career.

``People today are making career decisions at an increasing number of transition points. The careers festival is an effective way of showcasing the range of opportunities and support services that are available to help people navigate these transitions.’’

Mr McBeth said that there was support from attendees and participating organisations to make the festival an annual event.

The Otago Careers Festival was supported by: The Otago Community Trust, The Mayor’s Task Force for Jobs and The Caversham Foundation.

The festival was co-ordinated by Victoria Bunton from Sequel Events.

The objectives of the careers festival are to:

• Raise awareness of the skill needs of Otago and the huge range of career opportunities available to individuals now and in the future

• Develop a wider understanding in the Otago communities of what a `career’ actually is and why it is important to individuals

• Emphasise the value of workforce development to Otago employers in terms of attracting, up-skilling and retaining staff

• Respond to Government initiatives relating to skill development, and to youth making the transition to tertiary study and work.

ENDS

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