Connecting with real‑world careers
The Careers Day opened with a Welcome to Country by Uncle Craig Egert, followed by opening remarks from Waverley Stanley, before moving into a program centred on practical, real‑world experiences.
Students engaged directly with organisations and alumni who shared their experiences, challenges and career journeys, supporting students as they explore new possibilities and consider how learning today can shape future opportunities.
Bringing pathways to life
Students immersed themselves in a series of activation zones designed to support learning and build confidence, helping future career pathways feel accessible and exciting.
In the QUT’s Robotics and AI zone, students interacted with a humanoid robot named QUTie (pronounced cutie), gaining insight into coding and machine learning. Others connected with Country through Native Oz Bush Foods, exploring native ingredients while learning about culture, sustainability and enterprise.
Engineering and construction challenges with Northrop Grumman and BADGE saw students building cardboard Triton Drones and testing their problem‑solving skills through structural design challenges.
RACV also offered students a mix of interactive and health‑focused activities followed by a quiz on health and the human body delivered by Waijungbah Jarjums.
Yalari alumnus Nathan Sagigi, an Exercise Physiologist with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, shared these insights on his career journey:
“It’s been an awesome opportunity to reconnect with Yalari and share a bit about what I am doing now and my journey, to hopefully inspire the younger students who are still on their journeys and finding their way.”
Reflecting on the day, Yalari alumna and BADGE Construction cadet Megan Fields shared how meaningful it was to see students beginning a journey she once walked herself.
“The girls and boys really got into the building side of it, and they did really well. I love how happy the kids are. It’s good to show them that I’ve experienced what they’re doing right now. It reminded me of when I did the Careers Expo when I was at school.”
Partnerships supporting student success
The Careers Day was supported by RACV, with representatives from over 25 of Yalari’s partner organisations attending. We are grateful to our partners for walking alongside Yalari to support students as they discover pathways, connect with industry and alumni, and build confidence in their future beyond school.
That impact was echoed by industry partners, including BADGE Operations Manager Jai Johnson, who reflected on the potential he saw in the room.
“Thank you for the opportunity to be part of the Yalari Careers Day. There were so many future leaders in that room. I am very excited to see where they end up. We want them to know they’re welcome in our industry, and we’d love to support and mentor them.”
Together, these partnerships play a vital role in ensuring Yalari students feel supported, inspired and empowered as they take their next steps beyond school.
