Eye-Opening Avalon Airshow Careers Day

On Friday 28 March, the Avalon International Airshow hosted its much-anticipated Careers Day, drawing 7,000 students from across Australia to explore pathways into STEM-related careers in aerospace and defence industries.

I was lucky enough to attend and enjoyed seeing all the cool aircraft on display, such as the Supermarine Spitfires and P-51 Mustangs. I learnt more about careers in aviation, particularly around defence and commercial aviation, and would encourage anyone interested to attend this day in 2027.

In the official wrap-up, it was noted that Avalon 2025 was an event of impressive scale, with over 200,000 attendees across its 6-day duration, including more than 60,000 during the dedicated Trade Day sessions. The show featured 902 participating exhibitor organisations from 28 nations, 291 delegations from 43 nations, and an astonishing 350 aircraft displayed both in the air and on the ground.

The Careers Day was designed to provide an engaging, interactive, and educational experience for students, educators, and industry professionals. Key highlights included:

• Sky’s the Limit Speakers Program – Industry leaders shared their expertise and career journeys, inspiring students with real-world insights. A standout session was Dream Big: Journeys, Innovations, and Humanity in Space, featuring NASA
• Astronauts – Astronaut Mike Bloomfield and Australian Astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg.
• Military Working Dogs and Drone Zone – Students got up close with military working dogs and explored cutting-edge drone technology, with live demonstrations and career insights from industry professionals.
• STEM Interactive Hub – Hands-on flight simulators and interactive STEM activities provided an exhilarating experience, allowing students to grasp the science behind flight technology.
• Tour Program – Student groups had the chance to tour the aerospace and defence industry exhibition, unveiling career opportunities many had never considered before.

Sachin Cody, Year 11