NZEA engages the next generation at the Hunter Careers Expo

The Net Zero Economy Authority (NZEA) connected with thousands of students, educators and families at the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Careers Expo. The expo drew more than 4,000 students. It provided an important opportunity for NZEA to engage directly with young people at a critical time – when study pathways and early career decisions are beginning to take shape.

Racing to conversations about the energy transition

The NZEA partnered with education provider Net:Zed to deliver an interactive and engaging booth experience. At the centre was Net:Zed’s net zero trailer. The trailer featured a racing game using electric cars and quickly became a standout attraction.

Students were drawn in by the hands-on experience. The NZEA took the opportunity to speak with students about how Australia’s energy system is changing, the emerging industries shaping the Hunter region. We also talked about the career and study pathways that will come from this change.

To support these conversations, students were provided with the Hunter Jobs of the Future brochure. The brochure is designed to build practical understanding of the types of careers expected to grow as the region transitions. 

Listening to young people

A key focus of the NZEA’s presence was to provide information and listen to young people. Through an anonymous voluntary survey, the NZEA gathered insights from close to 300 students. These insights will help us better understand student awareness and perceptions about the transition in their region.

The findings highlight clear gaps in understanding about what the transition means but strong interest in wanting to know more. While many students had heard about changes to Australia’s energy system, fewer understood what ‘net zero’ means. This highlights a gap between general awareness and deeper understanding.

At the same time, there is strong appetite to learn: 140 students indicated they would be interested in a net zero education program such as the Transitioning Economies – Your Say program. The NZEA is supporting Net:Zed to roll out this program in secondary schools across the Hunter. The program is designed to provide curriculum-aligned education in schools across the region, helping students understand the transition and explore relevant study and career pathways.

Responses also suggest many students are on the fence on whether young people have a meaningful say in decisions about the future of their community. This highlights the importance of creating opportunities for young people to engage, ask questions and contribute their perspectives as the region transitions. This is something NZEA aims to provide by working with organisations such as Net:Zed.

How young people see their future in the Hunter

The survey also offered insight into how students are thinking about future jobs in the Hunter, with many expecting significant change. While 42% of students anticipate more AI-related roles, others believe jobs will require higher levels of education or become harder to find. Students also expressed mixed views about whether they see themselves living or working in the Hunter as adults, pointing to some uncertainty about their future in the region. 

These findings suggest young people recognise the scale of change ahead, but many are unclear about what it means for them in practical terms.

Supporting informed pathways

The NZEA’s engagement at the expo forms part of its broader work to support regional communities through the transition to a net zero economy.

In the Hunter, this evolution will bring both challenges and opportunities. As traditional energy assets retire over the coming decade, new industries are expected to grow. These new industries include clean energy supply chains, advanced manufacturing and industrial decarbonisation.

However, as the survey results highlight, many young people are currently making education and career decisions without a strong understanding of how these changes might shape their future.

The NZEA is working to address this gap by supporting education programs such as The Transitioning Economies – Your Voice, Your Say program led by Net:Zed. We are also engaging with young people in the region through events like this career expo. 

Engaging youth for the future

The strong level of participation from young people in the Hunter combined with survey insights will help inform future education and engagement activities in the region.

As the energy system continues to evolve, ensuring young people are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to navigate this change will remain critical to building a resilient workforce and community, and supporting their future and career pathways.

To learn more about Net:Zed, visit their website.