Students try skills of the trades

Donna and Nikki getting some tips from Swinburne University's Cara. 152644 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

By GEORGIA WESTGARTH

TRADESMEN talking trades stole the show at this year’s South East Careers Expo.
In its eighth year, the try a trade and careers day on Tuesday 19 April had 3000 young and adult learners walk through the Cranbourne Turf Club.
Participants could try their hand at bricklaying, dentistry, floristry, auto, carpentry and plumbing among other trades and SELLEN CEO Andrew Simmons said the high quality displays were “unbelievable”.
“We had about 30 schools attend along with mature aged students looking to change careers or courses and migrants from AMES,” Mr Simmons said.
“Exhibitors couldn’t believe how many came through and were running out of brochures.”
It was the expo’s largest spread of exhibitors, rivalling the Melbourne Career Expo, Mr Simmons said.
“A lot of local schools are coming to us rather than going into the city, because it’s local and a lot of exhibitors are doing the same,” he said.
SELLEN hopes to engage more agricultural businesses at their next event, but Mr Simmons said the main thing was the students and “they’re coming in and asking the right questions”.