Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Career Expo

On Tuesday 2 June, we hosted our Years 10–12 Careers Expo, welcoming university representatives from 13 institutions including the University of Sydney, UNSW, UTS, ACU, Western Sydney University, Notre Dame, Macquarie University, Torrens University, Bond University, the University of New England, ICMS, TAFE and The Fashion Institute. Students engaged actively with the representatives, asking thoughtful and informed questions about courses, pathways, and future career opportunities. For Year 10 students, this was particularly valuable as it came at the perfect time to support their decision-making ahead of this week’s Subject Selection evening.

The UNSW Civil and Environmental Engineering Work Experience program provides selected Year 10 students with the opportunity to explore engineering careers through hands-on learning and exposure to university environments. Annie Cordony-Jones was chosen from a competitive field of applicants, recognising her strong interest and potential in the field.

Annie’s reflection on the experience:

As part of the UNSW Civil and Environmental Engineering work experience week, I was one of 90 students from across NSW who spent five days discovering the various career options and processes of engineers. We travelled all around Sydney, exploring multiple construction sites (such as the new Rozelle Village and Balmain Leagues Club), Sydney Water facilities, the Opera House and buildings all over the UNSW campus. We completed activities such as bridge building competitions and robot creation, and were guided by qualified professionals in their respective fields of surveying, civil engineering, planning, project management, environmental engineering and more. As we were taking on the role of an engineer, we made reports at the end of each day, condensing our day’s learnings and experiences onto one A4 page. The key insights I documented in these reports were regarding emerging technologies in construction, the possible career paths open to me in engineering, the role engineering plays in disaster recovery, and the construction process. Ultimately, the week provided me with new knowledge and skills in engineering, while connecting me with like minded students and mentors. I would highly recommend any student with an interest in engineering to apply to similar programs, and always keep a look out for what UNSW has to offer in the holidays to get a gauge of what your future uni life and career could look like!

Jacqueline Pugh
Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning