In mid-March, ALPA hosted a Careers and Opportunities Expo in the East Arnhem Land communities of Milingimbi, Gapuwiyak, Ramingining, Galiwin’ku, and Yirrkala. 

Exploring pathways with secondary school students

ALPA was joined by representatives from the Department of Education and Training, ADF (Australian Defence Force) Careers, NAAJA, GTNT and Miwatj Health. Together, they engaged students to explore different career pathways, including steps they can take now to start preparing for life after school.  

Students shared their interests across diverse fields, such as carpentry, electrical work, hospitality, and tourism. Others expressed enthusiasm for roles as Rangers, in mining, or in the Police and Defence forces. 

The expo aimed to inspire students to think about their future paths and open up meaningful conversations that can be continued with teachers, families and the organisations they met during the event. 

Understanding barriers 

The school events provided insights into some of the barriers young people face when exploring options for the future. For example, many young people emphasised the importance of staying connected to family and culture, which lead to discussions around how they could achieve their goals while maintaining strong ties to their community. 

Some students also shared concerns about their reading and writing abilities, and how this would impact the pathways they're interested in. This opened up conversations about support services and mentoring which aim to build confidence in these skills. 

Outcomes across the week 

Department of Education and Training

The Department of Education and Training had a range of positive conversations with students throughout the week. Among them was a Year 12 student from Elcho Island who wants to become a boilermaker, and a Year 12 student from Yirrkala aspiring to be a Yolngu school teacher. These discussions have paved the way for the Department to support these students and their schools on their career journeys. 

Department representatives Kaitlin Chin and Meg Johnston also spoke to two local employers who were keen to explore the possibility of employing students for school-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SBATs). These employers were the East Arnhem Regional Council Aged Care Facility in Gapuwiyak, and Delta Reef in Ramingining. 

GTNT 

Samantha Lelekis from GTNT spoke with students about the key differences between apprenticeships and traineeships, and the types of courses available to help them achieve their goals. Throughout the week, Samantha said there was great engagement from students. Many showed keen interest, curiosity and enthusiasm when talking about the future. 

ADF Careers

Speaking with Rhiannon Clark and Thalia Tabuai (Tabs) from ADF Careers, students got an insight into the Australian Defence Force’s two flagship Indigenous programs. They learned about the support these programs offer to First Nations students and the unique experiences each would include. 

ALPA

ALPA's Community Engagement team—Eddy Alder, Norman Daymirringu and Leigh Malibirr—had discussions with students about how member communities play a key role in shaping ALPA's work within the regions. They also talked about the ways ALPA can support the development of jobs and local business in community. 

ALPA Community Engagement Manager, Eddy Alder, said: 

"Looking around the room, it was fantastic to see so many conversations happening about so many different interests and passions. Students got to put a face to the name of these organisations and build relationships."

Opportunities expo for the wider community 

On top of the school events, ALPA held a Public Careers Expo in each community. These events provided a platform for additional community stakeholders to get involved and share the opportunities they offer both locally and further afield. Organisation including NIAA, ALPA's Community Development Program, East Arnhem Regional Council and local construction companies took part, sharing information and connecting with community members. 

ALPA Work Experience Program: From school to real-world skills 

Building on the momentum from the expo, ALPA will continue to support students as they explore future pathways with a Work Experience Program in May. The program will bring 20 students into Darwin from Ramingining, Milingimbi, Galiwin'ku and Gapuwiyak for a week of work experience. Students will be hosted by a range of organisations, offering them hands-on experience that demonstrates how the skills and knowledge gained in school can translate into the real-world.