Cairns Kicks Off another great year of FOGS Expos

THE successful FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Expos have kicked off for another year, with the travelling job and training roadshow getting underway in Cairns on March 20.

This year marks five successive years that the FOGS Expos have been held in Cairns, and once again it was standing room only at the Cairns Convention Centre for the city’s most successful Expo yet.

Just under 3800 job seekers turned up on the day to find a new or future career path from among the 60 exhibitors that included Construction Skills Queensland, Department of Community Safety, Qantas, Accor Hotels, Cairns Regional Council, Defence Force Recruiting, Rio Tinto and BMD Constructions.

As always, there were plenty of FOGS in attendance, with Executive Chairman Gene Miles joined by Allan Langer, Steve Walters, Colin Scott, Gary Belcher, Sam Backo, Steve Price, Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, and Jharal Yow Yeh, as well as Brisbane Bronco Dale Copley.
Federal Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, Julie Collins, described the Expos as a great opportunity for young Indigenous Australians to connect with employers, trainers and mentors to help decide on a career path.

“There has been a fantastic response from the Cairns business community to this year’s expo,” Ms Collins said. “The aim is to get local people in local jobs, and I am sure this expo will deliver many opportunities for people in the Cairns community.

“(Attendees are) able to speak with representatives from various organisations including Qantas, Accor Hotels, Cairns Regional Council, Australian Defence Force and Rio Tinto.”
Mc Collins said the Expos were a key part of the Australian Government’s “Learn Earn Legend!” campaign to increase the number of Indigenous people in long- term employment by encouraging young people to stay in school or training.

Following the success of the 2010 and 2011 FOGS expos, the Australian Government committed more than $2.4 million to FOGS to support 21 events in 2012 and 2013, including the expos, employment forums and corporate events.

“The Australian Government–FOGS partnership through these expos is about encouraging young people to stay in school, find a job and become leaders in their communities,” Ms Collins said.

“These Expos build on the outstanding results from 2012 where more than 16,000 young Indigenous job seekers attended the seven FOGS events.” Since the region held it first Expo in 2009, more than 300 employment, education and training outcomes have been achieved, directly through the FOGS event.

Gene said the results spoke for themselves. “We always have a great response to the Expos, wherever we take them – and that is from the community and business leaders, and the attendees themselves,” he said.

“Over the past five years, we have had over 16,000 attendees come to the Expos, and we have showcased nearly 300 exhibitors, ranging from smaller enterprise, to government to multi-national corporations.

“The key to the success of the Expos is simply in putting kids who want a career directly in touch with employers who are looking for staff. “The results we have had have been incredible, not just in Cairns but around the state.

“But once again, the turn-out in Cairns and the support we have received for the event have been amazing. It was a great way to start the Expos for another year.”