29 September 2026
A recent expansion of the Career Taster program will give students the chance to see if their future lies in WA’s thriving defence industry.
About 50 per cent of Year 9 students in WA participated in the Career Taster program last year.
The program allows Year 9 students to experience a range of industries and employment sectors to help them determine their post-school pathway.
Catherine Jack, career practitioner at Gilmore College in Orelia, said the inclusion of the defence sector in the Career Taster program is timely given the school is close to the epicentre of the WA defence industry in Perth’s southern coastal corridor.
“Our proximity to Henderson means students are surrounded by industries that offer a wide range of career opportunities, yet many are not aware of the breadth of roles available,” she said.
“The expansion of the defence industry component will give more Gilmore College students access to highly sought-after Career Taster experiences, particularly in engineering and trade-related fields that are already popular with our cohort.”
About 50 per cent of Year 9 students in WA participated in the Career Taster program last year and the program has been in high demand at Gilmore College.
“Over the past 18 months, we’ve had over 375 Year 9 students involved,” Ms Jack said.
“By immersing students in real workplace and training environments, they gain a better understanding of what different jobs involve, hear directly from industry professionals and TAFE lecturers and learn about the pathways available to enter those fields.
“These opportunities help us make clear connections between what students learn in the classroom and the career pathways available to them in the future.”
Ms Jack expected the Career Taster program would help grow the defence workforce.
“The defence industry offers opportunities in engineering, fabrication, electrical trades, manufacturing, logistics, technology and business support services,” she said.
The growth of the defence industry may also create demand for other occupations like hairdressing.
“As students gain greater exposure to these opportunities through Career Taster experiences, we expect strong interest in exploring careers within this growing and locally significant sector.
“Early exposure helps students make informed decisions about subject selections, VET courses and post-school pathways.
“The program will also provide valuable insight into an industry that is set to play a significant role in our local economy for many years to come.”
The growth of the defence industry would also create demand for other occupations, including hairdressing, beauty, retail, hospitality, administration, health and community services.
“An important part of the program is helping students understand how the growth of major industries creates opportunities across many sectors,” Ms Jack said.
“By providing exposure to both direct and supporting industries, the Career Taster program helps students recognise the diverse career pathways available to them and make confident decisions about their future education, training and employment options.”
Career Taster experiences complement other career and employment programs offered at Gilmore College.
“Our dedicated careers and VET centre offers students access to information about courses, apprenticeships and traineeships, as well as personalised support with career planning, resumes, applications and interview preparation,” Ms Jack said.
“Students also benefit from workplace learning opportunities, careers excursions and strong partnerships with the Peron Trade Training Centre and South Metropolitan TAFE.”
For more information, visit the Career Taster program website.