If you asked many young people today about the printing and packing industry, they would think clunky presses and black ink, rather than digital design and laser cutting machines. Many students have no idea about the vast range of careers in design, printing and advertising signage, let alone the job opportunities and pathways available to them!  

In order to change student perceptions of careers in printing, design, signage and packaging, the Visual Impact trade expo hosted 180 high school students at Sydney Olympic Park where they were able to see amazing digital signage and printing technology in action.

With the help of Inspiring the Future partner John Watters and his team at AusSIP, TAFE apprentices and industry experts ran a number of Try a Trade activities at the expo. Some students designed graphics for a chance to win a motorcycle and others tried their hand at wrapping cars and other items, printing on T-shirts, creating a poster and using traditional brush skills. The students also took part in a speed career networking session with industry leaders and apprentices.

Overall it was a highly successful 3 days, with students particularly enjoying the speed career networking session, where they had the opportunity to speak with current Apprentices about their work and study in the industry.