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News Updates - September 2025


Education & Industry

Pathways & Opportunity

Working Together


EVENTS FROM JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2025


Over the last few months, BLA has engaged with over 5000 students in
Far North Queensland.


Students have attended:

Organised On-Site Visits

Thank you to Carey Group, Cairns Hardware, Jet Aviation, Norweld
and Miller Harris Lawyers


Our Visiting Expert Lecturers

Professor Rowan Young - Visiting RACI lecturer and

Richard Yaxley - Visiting Author who was coordinated by Neray McBride from Malanda State High School

Education-Based Awards and Competitions

Students have competed in the:

JCU’s Mediation Competition, coordinated by Jessica Williams from St Mary’s Catholic College.

Salthouse Restaurants' Culinary Challenge, coordinated by Tamara Gallagher from Innisfail State College.

Mario Calanna North Queensland Debating Competition, coordinated by Peter Axford from Malanda SHS, and 

Sonya Barnes from St Stephen’s College.

The Aspire Awards consisted of applications and interviews in the process of their submission.


The DATTA award applications have closed for this year, with many students applying throughout Far North Queensland. Their creations and the attention to detail are judged before the DATTA Awards Presentation evening.

All winners for these awards and competitions will be announced at our

Annual Aspire and DATTA Awards Presentation Nights.

If you’re a sponsor, make sure to keep an eye out for the invitations to these

awards nights.

2025 Cairns Careers Expo

On August 21st, 2025, BLA hosted our biggest event of the year!

Over 5000 students attended the expo, which was held at the Fred Moule Pavilion, Cairns, Showgrounds.

115 Exhibitors and 11 food vendors were in attendance this year, making it our

most successful yet.

Thank you, Rotary, again this year for volunteering with the buses and producing the exhibitors' lunch packs.


Thank you to our Meet & Greet Sponsors: Rio Tinto, Australasian Drilling Institute & Skills360

Thank you to our VIP Sponsor: James Cook University

Thank you to our Major Sponsors: Cairns Show Grounds, Win TV Network, Star 102.7 and Total Exhibition Services

Thank you to our Minor Sponsors: BDO, Catholic Education, Department of Education, Rotary

Michael Healy MP, Status Signs and Red Marketing Australia


The 2026 Cairns Career Expo will be held at the Fred Moule Pavilion on

4th June 2026

Contact Keren - admin@bla.org.au if interested in being a part of the 2026 Cairns Careers Expo

UPCOMING BLA EVENTS!

Tues, 14th Oct 2025 - Jet Aviation Site Visit

THURSDAY, 23rd OCTOBER 2025 -DATTA AWARDS PRESENTATION NIGHT

Mon, 3rd to Thurs, 6th Nov 2025 - Visiting Poet, Joel McKerrow

Fri, 21st Nov 2025 - Year 12’s Finish High School

THURSDAY, 27th NOVEMBER 2025 - ASPIRE AWARDS PRESENTATION NIGHT

Fri, 28th Nov 2025 - Thank you to our Sponsors and Supporters: Christmas Cocktails


OUR 2025 CORPORATE SPONSORS




SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS’ EVENTS!



BLA, Marine Futures & Norsta Marine

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

Address: 448 Tingira St, Portsmith

BLA STAFF

Leisa Toombs

Manager

manager@bla.org.au

+61 431 022 249


Abigail Peter

Events and Administration Officer

events@bla.org.au

+61 403 724 093


Keren Goodchild

Career’s Expo Coordinator

admin@bla.org.au

+61 403 724 093