Education & Industry
Pathways & Opportunity
Working Together
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| | | | EVENTS FROM JULY - SEPTEMBER Visiting Experts Visiting Expert – Associate Professor Rowan Young Visiting expert Associate Professor Rowan Young from The University of Queensland visited local schools from Monday, 11 August to Friday, 15 August 2025, delivering the 2025 RACI O’Donnell Schools Lecture, Recycling and Repurposing Fluorocarbons for a Greener World. During his visit, Rowan presented at Bentley Park College, Cairns State High School, Mossman State High School, Peace Lutheran College, Ravenshoe State School, Trinity Anglican School and Trinity Bay State High School. His presentations explored the environmental impact of fluorocarbons and contemporary scientific research into recycling and repurposing these chemicals into more useful materials. Rowan’s visit provided students with valuable insight into chemistry, scientific research and environmental sustainability. His presentations connected classroom learning with real-world scientific challenges and encouraged students to consider the important role chemistry can play in developing practical solutions for a more sustainable future.
Visiting Expert – Richard Yaxley Visiting author Richard Yaxley visited Far North Queensland schools from Monday, 28 July to Friday, 1 August 2025, engaging with students through a series of presentations and workshops focused on writing, literature, storytelling and the creative process. During his visit, Richard presented at Cairns State High School, Gordonvale State High School, Malanda State High School, Mareeba State High School and Smithfield State High School. Students had the opportunity to hear directly from an experienced author, learn more about developing ideas and creating engaging stories, and gain insight into the work involved in writing and publishing. Richard’s visit encouraged students to explore their creativity, strengthen their writing skills and develop greater confidence in sharing their ideas. Thank you to Neray McBride from Malanda State High School for coordinating the visit and assisting with its organisation. |
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Onsite Visits From July to September 2025, students participated in a range of industry site visits, providing valuable opportunities to experience workplaces firsthand and learn more about different industries and career pathways. Site visits included: Norweld – 22 July: St Andrew’s Catholic College Norweld – 5 August: Bentley Park College and Gordonvale State High School Cairns Hardware – 7 August: St Mary’s Catholic College and St Monica’s College Miller Harris Lawyers – 14 August: St Monica’s College Jet Aviation – 26 August: Gordonvale State High School and Malanda State High School Carey Group – 28 August: Mossman State High School, St Augustine’s College, St Monica’s College, The BUSY Schools and Woree State High School Miller Harris Lawyers – 3 September: Smithfield State High School, St Monica’s College, The BUSY Schools and Trinity Anglican School
Employers enjoyed the opportunity to host students, while teachers and students shared positive feedback about the quality of the experiences and the value the visits provided. Site visits are an important part of the BLA program because they give students direct exposure to real workplaces, help them better understand industry expectations and allow them to explore the wide range of career opportunities available across the region. Thank you to our industry partners who generously hosted students and supported this valuable program. |
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Aspire and DATTA Awards and Competitions Award season continued to build momentum from July to September 2025, with students taking part in several competitions and progressing through the application and interview stages of the Aspire Awards. Students competed in JCU’s Mediation Competition, coordinated by Jessica Williams from St Mary’s Catholic College. The competition allowed students to develop their communication, negotiation, problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills in a practical setting. The Salt House Restaurant Culinary Challenge was coordinated by Tamara Gallagher from Innisfail State College. Students demonstrated their culinary knowledge, creativity, teamwork and presentation skills while completing the competition challenge. The Mario Calanna North Queensland Debating Competition was coordinated by Peter Axford from Malanda State High School and Sonya Barnes from St Stephen’s Catholic College. The competition encouraged students to strengthen their research, public-speaking, critical-thinking and teamwork skills while presenting and responding to different arguments. Throughout this period, Aspire Award applicants completed the application and interview stages of the selection process. These stages allowed students to showcase their achievements, career aspirations, knowledge and commitment to their chosen fields. Applications for the DATTA Awards also closed, with many students from across Far North Queensland submitting projects. The students’ creations, innovation and attention to detail were assessed ahead of the annual DATTA Awards Presentation Night. The winners of these awards and competitions will be announced at the annual Aspire Awards Presentation Night and DATTA Awards Presentation Night. Sponsors are encouraged to keep an eye out for invitations to these special evenings, which celebrate the achievements, skills and dedication of students from across the region. |
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2025 Cairns Careers Expo The BLA team extends its sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the 2025 Cairns Careers Expo. The event brought together exhibitors, sponsors, volunteers, suppliers, food vendors, teachers, students and members of the wider community, all working together to provide young people with meaningful opportunities to explore future career and study pathways. Held at the Cairns Showgrounds, the Expo featured a diverse range of exhibitors from education, training, government, health, construction, aviation, manufacturing and private industry. The event included 8 mega sites, 15 large sites, 48 small sites, outdoor displays and several interactive industry areas, giving attendees access to an extensive range of career information and experiences. Feedback from exhibitors, teachers and event partners indicated that the 2025 Expo attracted one of the largest crowds seen at the event. Exhibitors praised the organisation, communication and strong level of student engagement, with all survey respondents indicating that they would consider returning for the following year.
The BLA team looks forward to continuing to bring together industry, education and the community through future Cairns Careers Expos, helping students make informed decisions and connect with the opportunities available throughout Far North Queensland. |
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2025 CAIRNS CAREERS EXPO SURVEY |
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IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY |
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| Friday, 3 October 2025 | FGF Development Design Awards - Applications Closed Friday, 3 October 2025 | Hutchinson Builders Award For Excellence In Graphics - Applications Closed
Friday, 3 October 2025 | Jacobs Engineering Awards - Applications Closed
Friday, 3 October 2025 | Vocational Education And Training Awards - Applications Closed
Monday, 6 October 2025 | King’s Birthday Public Holiday
Tuesday, 7 October 2025 | Term 4 Begins
Wednesday, 8 October 2025 | DATTA Awards Judging [3.00 Pm–6.00 Pm]
Tuesday, 14 October 2025 | iEngage - Jet Aviation [10.30 Am–12.00 Pm]
Thursday, 23 October 2025 | DATTA Awards Presentation Night
Monday, 3–Thursday, 6 November 2025 | Visiting Poet - Joel McKerrow
Friday, 21 November 2025 | Year 12 Students Finish School
Thursday, 27 November 2025 | Aspire Awards Presentation Night
Friday, 28 November 2025 | Private School Students Finish For The Year
Friday, 28 November 2025 | Christmas Cocktails
Friday, 5 December 2025 | Public School Students Finish For The Year
Saturday, 13 December 2025 | School Holidays Begin |
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| | OUR 2025 CORPORATE SPONSORS |
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SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS’ EVENTS! |
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Rotary TNQ Lift the Lid Walk for Mental Health About the Walk:
This isn’t a race – it’s a fun, inclusive community walk designed to raise awareness and vital funds for Australian Rotary Health’s Mental Health Research. Whether you’ve been personally impacted or simply care about the cause, your participation helps make a difference. Since the first walk in Mooloolaba in 2016, this initiative has grown into a national series, raising over $250,000 for mental health research – and we’re just getting started. Date: Sunday, October 12th, 2025
Time: Registration opens at 7:00 AM | Walk starts at 8:00 AM
Location: Cairns Esplanade (corner of Smith Street)
Distance: Up to 5KM – walk at your own pace
Dogs on leashes welcome! |
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2025 Cairns Maritime Jobs & Careers Expo The 2025 Cairns Maritime Jobs & Careers Expo develops local talent by connecting career seekers with real pathways through hands-on experiences, live job opportunities, and direct engagement with industry and training providers. This practical approach builds the regional workforce pipeline and helps attract high-calibre talent aligned to major infrastructure projects. Date: Saturday, November 8th, 2025
Time: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Cairns Cruising Yacht Squadron Adress: 448 Tingira St, Portsmith |
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