Focusing on careers in primary school might seem early, however more than 500 Moreton Bay students will soon discover it is the perfect time to explore their future job options.

USC will host a hands-on career immersion day for the region’s Year 5 students at its Caboolture campus on Tuesday 4 June from 9.15am to 12pm.

USC Manager of Student Access and Diversity Veronica Sanmarco said the Explore Pathways Expo would allow the 10 and 11-year-olds to experience a range of occupations –- and help them change their thinking on gender stereotypes.

“Decades of studies have found children can form their ideas about careers and gender stereotypes at a young age, so early intervention while still in primary school is important,” Ms Sanmarco said.

“These stereotypes and a lack of information on job pathways can influence the subjects that they choose in high school and the jobs they end up chasing.”

Expo exhibitors from USC, QUT and TAFE will provide fun, hands-on experiences across a range of fields, including high-performance athletics, music, town planning, science, education, law and criminology, nursing, marketing and art.

“We want to help raise aspirations among primary school children in the Moreton Bay region by exposing them to some of the vast career and educational choices open to them,” she said.

“The expo will encourage them not to limit their choices based on gender and to expand their thinking when it comes to what they can do when they finish school.”

The expo is part of a wider program run by USC for Year 4, 5 and 6 students that includes practical career development activities in the classroom.

“These activities aim to help children develop an awareness of their own talents and interests while discovering which skills are necessary for a range of different jobs.”

It is funded through the Federal Government’s Higher Education Participation and Partnership Program and forms part of a suite of USC programs for primary and secondary school students to build aspirations to go on to higher education.