For many young people, choosing a future pathway begins with seeing what is possible. While careers in trade and technology offer creative, practical and rewarding opportunities, girls and gender-diverse students have traditionally been underrepresented in these industries. Events such as the Trade & Tech Fit Expo are helping to change that narrative, creating spaces where students can explore these pathways, meet industry professionals and see first-hand how their interests and talents could translate into meaningful careers.
With 97 exhibitors from industry, education and government, the Expo showcases a wide range of pathways, including construction, electrical trades, automotive, engineering, digital technologies and emerging tech sectors.
The event is particularly valuable for students who:
- enjoy thinking creatively and solving problems
- like making or building things
- are curious about hands-on learning
- want to explore career pathways beyond traditional academic routes.
Encouraging exploration and inclusion
This opportunity has been designed with a particular focus on engaging female and gender-diverse students who may be curious about trade pathways or who could benefit from encouragement to explore careers in these industries.
Government employment projections show that female participation in many trade areas remains very low, including:
- Plumbing, carpentry and bricklaying – 1%
- Electricians, wall and floor tiling, motor mechanics – 2%
- Painting and decorating – 7%
- Gardening and horticulture – 11%
Events like the Trade & Tech Fit Expo help address this imbalance by creating a safe, inclusive and supportive space where students can speak directly with tradespeople, apprentices and industry professionals.
Connecting interests to future careers
Recent VSV student survey data shows that many students in the Year 9–10 cohort express strong interest in:
- creative industries
- care-focused professions
- animal-related careers.
These interests provide a strong foundation for exploring trade and technology pathways in new ways. Fields such as sustainable technologies, environmental engineering, digital design, animal-care technologies and essential community services demonstrate how trade and tech careers can be creative, purposeful and socially impactful. By highlighting these connections, students can see how their passions may align with meaningful and innovative career pathways.
A hands-on experience
In 2025, the Expo welcomed more than 3,700 female and gender-diverse students from over 140 schools. The event offers opportunities for:
- hands-on activities
- conversations with industry professionals
- exploring tools, technologies and equipment
- discovering the wide range of roles within trade and tech industries.
Student feedback highlights the value of this experience. 56% of attendees said they were more likely to consider a career in trade or technology after attending, with a further 42% saying they might consider it.
One student shared:
“Getting involved in hands-on tasks made things more interesting and helped me understand how tech and trade work in real life.”
Experiences like this can support students in making informed decisions about subject choices and future pathways, including VCE and VET options.
Event details
Who can attend: Students in Years 7–12
Cost: Free
Attendance: No limit on numbers
Students are encouraged to register as soon as possible so that accurate attendance numbers can be provided to event organisers.
Register here
For enquiries, please contact: [email protected]
