Allan Langer, Gary Belcher and Gene Miles were among the FOGS who encouraged job seekers alongside Mal Meninga in Mackay.

Queensland State of Origin coach Mal Meninga used his history-making leadership qualities to inspire nearly 1,000 Indigenous Queenslanders seeking job opportunities at the 2010 Mackay FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Expo on Wednesday 21 July.

Meninga, along with a host of Queensland Origin Greats, encouraged Indigenous job seekers and school leavers from Mackay and surrounding areas to take advantage of the unique opportunity to speak one-on-one with prominent Queensland employment, education and training providers at the event held at the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre.

Australia Post, Construction Skills Queensland, Ergon Energy, Greyhound Australia, Thiess, Tourism Queensland, Virgin Blue, Westpac, Woolworths, the Australian Catholic University, James Cook University and TAFE Queensland were among the exhibitors at the expo.

“FOGS is a truly fantastic initiative,” Meninga told the Mackay Daily Mercury.

”We will do what we can to get Indigenous kids on the right pathway,” he said.

Former Origin Greats including Allan Langer, Gene Miles, Arthur Beetson, Gary Belcher, Chris Close, Steve Walters, Colin Scott and Greg Conescu were also at the expo helping Mackay’s Indigenous community to engage with exhibitors offering opportunities which matched their skills and interests.

A Hip-Hop workshop, facilitated by the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, and a new Worldskills Try’a Trade display enabling job seekers to try the skills required in the construction, electrical, hair and beauty, and hospitality industries added to the interactive and relaxed atmosphere of the expo.

The 2010 FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Expo will next be held in Brisbane before heading to Townsville. For more information please ring (07) 3331 5062.