The Careers and Conversations LIF funded series launched on Tuesday 17 February 2026 at the Warrnambool Library and Learning Centre, bringing a focused spotlight to career opportunities in Health Care and Social Assistance. Seven local jobseekers attended the inaugural session, each eager to explore or advance their pathway into this rapidly growing industry.
Though the group was small, the conversations were rich and purposeful. Attendees met directly with five local employers—Warrnambool City Council, Southwest Healthcare, Opal Aged Care, Mercy Health and Mpower—many of whom brought additional staff to share deeper insights into their organisations and the variety of roles available.
The session was further strengthened by SWTAFE, who provided a subject matter expert from Health and Community Services to answer questions about training pathways and qualifications.
Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with all attendees stating they would recommend the event to others. Key themes included the value of meaningful, low pressure networking, the benefits of talking to employers in a conversational format and the confidence gained in understanding their career options. Employers echoed this sentiment, expressing enthusiasm for future involvement.
The presence of regional training and support providers reinforced the momentum behind this initiative, demonstrating a shared commitment to creative, community focused ways of connecting people looking for work with industry.
With nine additional Careers and Conversations events already scheduled for 2026—each featuring a different industry—this series will continue to highlight local career pathways and strengthen connections between jobseekers, employers and training providers across the south coast.
