14 Jul 2025
Narrabri, NSW – On Wednesday, 18 June 2025, Narrabri High School hosted a significant gathering focused on enhancing the future career and life outcomes for students in regional, rural, and remote areas of New South Wales. The event brought together key educators, industry representatives, and community leaders to further the reach and impact of the NSW Department of Education's Educational Pathways Program (EPP).
The roundtable, held in Narrabri High's "The Living Room," fostered a collaborative environment. Attendees included representatives from the NSW Department of Education's support office, local principals, career advisers, and VET ambassadors, alongside external partners from organisations such as TAFE NSW and CSIRO. The day began with a heartfelt Acknowledgement of Country delivered by Narrabri High students Menzie Baker-Harvey and Zeiken Green-Murray, setting a tone of local engagement and respect.
"We are celebrating five years of the EPP," explained Shannon Mudiman, a key organiser from the Department of Education. "The program has grown significantly from a pilot involving 24 schools to now supporting 183 schools across NSW. Our purpose today is to collaborate, share insights, and identify opportunities to refine EPP service delivery, particularly in areas like Moree and Lightning Ridge."
The agenda featured interactive workshops designed to generate practical solutions. Participants engaged in a session titled "Optimising Opportunities and Minimising Barriers Facing Students." This involved discussions on successful regional strategies, the primary challenges encountered by students in regional locations, and proposed tangible actions, ranging from immediate improvements to longer-term systemic reforms.
A notable segment of the day was the discussion surrounding the 'RoSA@work – Future Pathways Program'. This personalised model is specifically designed to re-engage students who may have become disengaged from their educational journey. Rachael Shearer, Head Teacher Careers, who has been instrumental in the EPP's expansion in the Moree and Lightning Ridge areas, and Laura Peisley, shared valuable insights into this impactful program, highlighting its role in keeping young people connected to their future prospects.
The afternoon continued with a workshop focused on "Strengthening partnerships to promote engagement." This session aimed to identify strategies for enhancing collaborations with various stakeholders, ultimately increasing student access to diverse opportunities and training essential for meeting future industry and skill demands.
Richard Finter, Principal of Lightning Ridge Central School and a Principal Champion for the EPP since November 2022, also shared his valuable reflections and insights, offering a ground-level perspective on the program's effectiveness and its ongoing evolution.
"The collective commitment demonstrated today was truly impressive," Shannon Mudiman concluded in her closing remarks. "The willingness of everyone to invest their time and collaborate means we can take meaningful steps to further enhance the career and life outcomes for our students across regional NSW."
The Narrabri roundtable underscored the NSW Department of Education's dedication to ensuring all students, regardless of their location, have equitable access to meaningful post-school pathways. Through strong partnerships and innovative programs like the EPP, the future prospects for regional students embarking on their career journeys appear promising.
