Wairarapa’s third Future Me Careers Conference was held on Friday for Year 11 – 13 students at Ucol in Masterton.
The conference offered more than 200 students an opportunity to develop a direction for their future career paths and better understand the impact of their educational choices.
Organised by the careers and transition teachers of Wairarapa, it was hands-on and aimed at helping students understand what local employment opportunities exist, what employers are looking for in a new employee, and about workplace training options and relevant school and other courses.
More than 200 students attended from all the local colleges; Tararua College, Wharekura o Wairarapa, Wairarapa Teen Parent Unit, Makoura College, Chanel College, Solway College, Rathkeale College, St Matthew’s Collegiate, Wairarapa College, Kuranui College and Ponatahi Christian School.
Organisers wanted local employers and employees to run interactive hands on workshops with students.
The workshops were aimed at helping students understand more about the workplace, and the realities of working in different industries.
The conference was well supported by local employers with some of their younger employees passing on first-hand their experiences of moving from school to employment, including their apprenticeship and on the job training details.
Employers supporting were Breadcraft (Wai) Ltd, Tranzit Coachlines Ltd, Wairarapa DHB, Farman Turkington Forestry, Masterton Fire Station, Mitre 10 MEGA, Pohutukawa Early Learning Centre, Gibson Sheat Lawyers, Moore Stephens Markhams Accountants, Whaiora, Masterton District Council, McDonalds, Wairarapa Police, Destination Wairarapa, Copthorne Hotel and Resort Solway Park and the NZ Defence Force.
Tertiary providers including Ucol and Taratahi also hosted seminars.
The conference included a keynote address from Tom Hullena, chairman of the Youth in Education Training and Employment Network with the Ministry of Education.
There were also two employers’ panels to take questions from the students.
College students plan careers
