Building pathways for the future

The 2024 NASCA CareerFit Conference, now in its third year, has firmly established itself as a pivotal event for inspiring NASCA students from years 10, 11, and 12.

NASCA’s CareerFit Conference aims to provide access to career pathways and further education opportunities that would otherwise not be available to our young people. NASCA’s CareerFit enhances students’ career readiness, builds their confidence, and broadens their horizons through direct exposure to various industries.

Sponsored by our partners Cummins, Pinnacle Investment Management, and Firetrail Investments, this year’s event was a resounding success, showcasing the highest level of engagement yet, and featuring diverse interactive workshops.

The five-day conference featured input from our valued partners who worked together to produce workshops aimed at inspiring and educating our young people.

One standout session was the Fantasy NRL Team Workshop by Firetrail Investments which blended financial education and team-building exercises. Students broke up into small groups to draft their Fantasy NRL Teams, battling to secure the best talent, under budget – which proved to be a tough exercise for many.

Similarly, the Sydney School of Entrepreneurship workshop encouraged students to explore entrepreneurial ventures, with one NASCA student noting, “It taught us about how many side hustles we have out there if we are struggling financially.”

“Learning about the financial ways and how they grow in business as well as the investments was enlightening,” said another NASCA student.

DLA Piper’s “Know Your Rights and Minister of Justice” workshop provided insights into Employment Law and justice issues, while the TAL workshop inspired students to learn how to set and achieve their goals.

“I enjoyed how we all got involved and talked about all the stuff we could push to get to our goals,” shared one NASCA student.

For those with a sweet tooth Nestle’s Cooking and Food Styling Challenge was a huge success. The Cummins Lego Engine Build workshop fostered teamwork and problem-solving skills, while Barrenjoey’s Trading Game and Financial Concepts workshop introduced students to the concepts of finance and investment.

“Learning about bitcoin and how to invest in your money was eye-opening,” said one NASCA participant.

NASCA’s CareerFit not only provides opportunities for our young people today, but helps build stronger more resilient communities for the future.