NSW CAREERS EXPO

SUPPORT DOCUMENT

2012

INFORMATION FOR IMPLEMENTING

CAREERS EXPOSSUPPORTING GOVERNMENT SCHOOL STUDENTS

Vocational Education in Schools Directorate

CONTENTS

Guidelines for Convenors of Careers Expos 2012

  • Introduction...... 3
  • The purpose of careers expos/markets..……………………………………...3
  • The management of careers expos……………………………………………4
  • Requirement for the Volunteer Declaration...... 4
  • Risk management and public liability...... 4
  • Public liability...... 5
  • Liability of individual committee members...... 5
  • Promoting industry involvement in the careers expo...... 5

Introduction

This document provides essential information to inform NSW Department of Education and Communitiesemployees on the implementation of careers expos for students from NSW government schools. This support document isalso available on the NSW Department of Education and Communities internet - Vocational Education in Schools Directorate at:

or at

>Teachers > School to Work > Teachers > Careers Advisers > Careers Expos

The purpose of careers expos/markets

Careers expos and markets support NSW students with up-to-date information on career opportunities, industry and educational options and vocational pathways to support their career planning for transition to post-school life. In some cases, the expos cater for identified TAFE students.

The expos should provide students with chances to:

  • ask questions relevant to their own personal career planning
  • talk with an experienced person in an industry or profession of the student’s choosing which may stimulate deeper questions
  • experience aspects of that industry or profession through structured activities on the day
  • gain contacts for the future
  • broaden or consolidate their currentcareer thinking.

Ideally careers expos should ensure that they:

  • promote post-school career pathways
  • are explicitly linked to career and transition planning
  • involve industry actively in the organisation and implementation of the event
  • involve consultation with local providers of similar activities
  • are interactive rather than solely information giving events
  • provide structured activities such as seminars and workshops
  • promote teaching as a career where applicable
  • focus on areas of skill shortage
  • provide current industry information and training advice
  • involve parents and carers as well as students.

Careers expos build on a range of career and transition planning activities already undertaken by students in school and complement planned activities designed to maximise the effectiveness of the students’ experiences and learning from the expo or market. The website, myfuture, provides a range of Career Expo Learning Experiences that support:

  • planning sessions to prepare young people to attend expos
  • guiding student exploration at the event, and
  • reflection and further researchafter the expo.

Career Expo Learning Experiences are located at:

Schools use careers expos to provide students with sound career information and knowledge prior to subject selection. Students usethis experience to choose courses that reflect their career planning. Marketing the availability of specific courses at individual schools and TAFE colleges is the responsibility of each school and TAFE college.

As parents and carers are very influential on young people’s career decision making, it is recommended that where possible they should be invited to attend career expos. Current research recommends that parents and carers have access to the same career information as their children.

The management of careers expos

The organisation of a careers expo or expos is usually overseen by a committee, working party or reference group that identifies the deliverables and outcomes of the expo. The committee usually consists of members representing a range on interest groups, including the NSW Department of Education and Communities.

The committee might elect to “outsource” the implementation of the careers expo to an external organisation. In such cases a contract(in the case of a funding agreement) or a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)should be drawn up. A Contract Kit may be obtained from the relevant vocational education consultant in the region. DEC employees can download the kit from the DEC intranet at:

Requirement for the Volunteer Declaration

The organisation managing the careers expo may engage various personnel, for example, from industry to conduct small group seminars with school students. All personnel involved in conducting the seminars must first complete a Volunteer Declaration unless the seminars are directly supervised by DEC staff at all times.

For the purpose of the careers expo, those non–DECpersonnel are “volunteers” and DEC policy requires them to completethe Volunteer Declaration.

The Declaration (Appendix 4 on the website) can be downloaded from:

The relevant policy is the Working with Children Check Policy.

Risk management and public liability

Risk is a function of two criteria:

  • Likelihood of occurrence
  • Consequence.

It is essential for all providers of careers expos to undertake a risk assessment of the event and implement strategies and processes to eliminate or minimise those risks.

WorkCover NSW has provided information regarding the basic steps of risk management on their website covering the following:

1. Hazard identification.

2. Risk assessment

3. Risk elimination and control

4. Risk monitoring and review

While the information focuses on occupational health and safety issues, the same principles apply to risk management in general. This information is available from the WorkCover NSW internet site at:

Public Liability

Events organised by the Department will be covered by the normal insurance arrangements that are managed by the Treasury Managed Fund and that apply to Departmental activities. To provide evidence of coverage,a copy of the Department’s Certificate of Currency from the Treasury Managed Fund may be downloaded from the Department’s Legal Services Unit intranet site at:

Events that are organised independently of the Department will need independent public liability insurance cover. This is irrespective of whether the Department contributes funding towards the event.

It may be that the organising body already has coverage that will extend to a careers expo, but this should be checked with the relevant insurer. Otherwise specific coverage will need to be purchased and the cost factored into the expenses of the event.

Liability of individual committee members

Where individual committee members are participating as part of their employment, the employer will be liable for their acts and omissions. Likewise the committee member will be covered by their employer for workers compensation.

Committee members who are volunteers will be covered by the Department's arrangements if the event is organised by the Department. If it is an independent event, volunteer worker insurance should be considered.

Promoting industry involvement in the careers expo

Actively involving industry, community and tertiary education provider representatives at both the planning and operational stagesensures that students receive up-to-date information on jobs as well as career and training opportunities in a variety of vocational areas. The committee/’outsourced’ organisation should consider strategies that encouragesbroad community participation in the careers expo.

The School Business Community Partnership Broker in the relevant service region/s is well placed to assist through their strategic expertise. Supporting “linkages between education and career opportunities” and “improved employability, career development and life skills of young people” are key aspects of the work of Partnership Brokers.

1