From the Sunshine Coast Council:

From part-time jobs to a professional career – that’s the path Caloundra teenager Louis Cadman is now on thanks to the Sunshine Coast Job Show.

The Sunshine Coast Council initiative turned out to be a life-changing experience for the 18-year old, who secured a four-year plastering apprenticeship on the day through East Coast Apprenticeships. 

“I’d been through a few jobs while I was at school at a pizza store, a shoe store, Bunnings and Kmart but that was all casual work and I needed something a bit more permanent because I’m getting older and I wanted to put my head down and do something with my life,” Louis said. 

“I went to the Job Show with it in the back of my head that I could get a job out of this. I definitely thought an apprenticeship was going to be ‘me’ and I had some knowledge about plastering so I decided to go for it and I’m so glad I did!” 

Louis will start his apprenticeship next week with a small Sunshine Coast company.

He’s one of 65 locals who’ve already scored jobs through the August 20 Job Show. More than 250 other participants earned job interviews and around 900 resumes were handed out to local employers.

East Coast Apprenticeships Employment Consultant Nicole Wadsworth said Louis’s success at the Job Show highlighted the event’s value to the Sunshine Coast. 

“The Job Show had a real point of difference from your typical careers expo,” she said. 

“It enabled job seekers like Louis to approach us and fellow exhibitors and achieve real employment outcomes on the day.

“To see more than 2000 people participate on the day and the number of people who’ve already earned jobs or job interviews as a result clearly indicates the need for this event to continue into the future.”    

Economic Development Portfolio Councillor Stephen Robinson said the success of the Job Show highlights the confidence that exists in the local economy.

“More than 500 jobs were advertised at the Job Show and council believes this demonstrates that we’re getting the economic setting right because those jobs wouldn’t be offered unless employers have confidence that the region is moving forward at pace,” Cr Robinson said.

“The Job Show supported the Sunshine Coast Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS) that aims to triple the size of our economy to $33 billion over the next 20 years and increase the number of jobs in our seven High Value industries from 59,000 to 100,000.

“The important thing for Council is to make sure people have confidence in the economy and that our small businesses are encouraged to expand because when they do that, job opportunities arise.

“We’re very confident that over the next few years as the local economy continues to grow  there’s going to be lots more employment opportunities.”