One for the kids…

The Department of Education’s Trade and Tech Fit event brings 3000 girls and gender diverse secondary school students to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre for two days during which they are be exposed to non-tradtional careers from construction and aviation, to agriculture and the military.

Across June two and three 100+ TAFEs, universities, private education businesses, industry associations and employers lined up to talk to the students about their future and potentially change their trajectories. The effort and investment of the exhibitors to engage and offer hands-on experiences is impressive. Wanna see what it’s like to help a cow give birth - no problem! Wanna fly a military helicopter simulator - no problem!

Emcee Brett de Hoedt helms the main stage chairing interviews and panels.

Brett loves to improvise so he was delighted to take the plunge into the crowd for Q&A with the crowd and commentate along the demonstrations of construction projects.

Here’s what the event organiser Ellen Ramsay Senior Major Events Adviser with the Department of Education said about Brett’s performance:

It was fantastic working with you on the Trade & Tech fit career expo. The passion, laughs and supportive energy you brought to the stage in your role as MC was critical for the stage program and participation of the students. It was a real pleasure watching you achieve this across the two days. Thank you so much for your expertise and advice throughout the planning stages as well.

Here’s what Victoria Robinson, Senior Events Adviser with the Department of Education had to say:

You surpassed my expectations yet again, and it showed with how the speakers and students interacted.