A youth expo was held on the Western Sydney University campus in Bankstown on the afternoon of May 27th, hosted by the Canterbury Bankstown Chamber of Commerce (CBCC). Several dignitaries attended the event, including Jason Clare, the Federal MP of Blaxland and Education Minister, Jihad Dib, the State MP and Minister for youth justice, emergency services, and customer service and digital government, and Bilal El-Hayek, the Mayor of Bankstown.
Numerous stalls were set up to showcase various post-high school options for attending students. These included military and police stalls, a dance stall, stalls related to working in hospitality, childcare, esthetics, education, and many more. Additionally, there were stalls encouraging young people to participate in community activities, such as go-karting with friends, assisting in local charitable work, or receiving free legal advice from the legal aid stall. Overall, the youth had a wide array of options to choose from as they contemplated their future paths.
The director of the CBCC, Wally Mehana, began the formal speeches by thanking the attendees and those who collaborated with the CBCC to create such a successful afternoon. He also expressed gratitude to all notable dignitaries. Following this, speeches were given by young individuals representing upcoming leadership in the community, as well as by representatives from Western Sydney University who encouraged the youth to consider their options regarding attending the university, while expressing unequivocal support for their decisions.
Minister Clare was the first dignitary to deliver a speech. His remarks focused on the importance of not only receiving a good education but also having access to education conveniently. For instance, he shared his own experiences as a youth, highlighting the fact that he had to travel over an hour by train to attend the University of New South Wales. Minister Clare praised the city of Bankstown for providing a high-class educational facility in a convenient location, making it accessible to many without difficulty.
Following Minister Clare, Minister Dib took the stage to deliver his speech. His remarks also emphasized the significance of having such a fine educational institution in Bankstown, and he praised the various stalls set up at the expo. Minister Dib expressed admiration for Minister Clare’s dedication to attending university regardless of the travel time required. He encouraged the students to seriously consider the future paths available to them while continuing to commend the university.
Mayor El-Hayek was then welcomed to the stage to deliver his speech. He related to the youth by sharing his own origin story, explaining that he came to Australia in 1999 as an immigrant from Lebanon without speaking any English. Through hard work, dedication, and community involvement, he managed to become the Mayor of Bankstown, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in New South Wales, and one of the youngest mayors in Australia. Mayor El-Hayek effectively used his story to illustrate that the upcoming generation can achieve incredible things regardless of age or the challenges they may have faced in life.
Following the speeches, attendees had the opportunity to browse the stalls and explore the offerings. Each stall provided students with a unique experience, ranging from entertainment options to serious career prospects. Some stalls offered incentives to attract attention, such as free sweets or show bags. People continued to browse long after the conclusion of the speeches as youths contemplated the options before them.
