The 2010 FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Expo series is now complete following the success of the event in Townsville on Wednesday 6 October at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.

Bronco Sam Thaiday and Cowboys Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott made special appearances at the event which drew almost 2,500 Indigenous job seekers and school leavers, bringing the overall attendance at the 2010 expo series to a figure well in excess of 12,000; an increase of approximately 2,000 from the 2009 expos.

Former Origin Greats Arthur Beetson, Allan Langer and Gene Miles together with Greg Dowling, Gary Belcher, Colin Scott and Sam Backo continued their support of the FOGS expos in Townsville.

The team of FOGS mingled throughout the crowd at the event, encouraging the local Indigenous community to approach employers who had over 500 jobs to fill in a full range of industries. The prominent Queensland employment, education and training providers at the expo included Construction Skills Queensland, Australia Post, Greyhound Australia, Thiess, Virgin Blue, Tourism Queensland, Woolworths, the Australian Catholic University and TAFE Queensland.

The Worldskills Try’a Trade display, new to the 2010 expo series, was also embraced at the Townsville expo. The current and former Rugby League stars in attendance enjoyed engaging with job seekers who were eager to seize the opportunity to try their hands at skills required in the construction, hair and beauty and hospitality industries.

FOGS Executive Chairman Gene Miles said the 2010 expo series had enjoyed unprecedented success and this was achieved through the support of the strong network of people committed to improving Indigenous employment in Queensland.

“The series of seven expos this year all drew bigger crowds from Queensland’s Indigenous communties and a greater number of prominent employers with more jobs to offer,” Miles said.

“This success is a credit to the hard work and unwavering support of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the FOGS staff, our sponsor Construction Skills Queensland, and the large number of exhibitors who committed to offering jobs at multiple expos,” he said.

“FOGS hope to receive continued support as we work towards enhancing the expo series for 2011,” he concluded.

Enquires about the 2011 FOGS Indigenous Employment and Careers Expo series can be made by calling (07) 3331 5062.