• The annual EngFest 2025 at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst on Monday 16 June invites professional engineers and community engagement
• Engineering careers will be showcased at the Careers Expo from 4.30pm, followed by a 6pm public forum to explore ‘Waste to Worth’ to enhance regional sustainability

Charles Sturt University will celebrate its annual EngFest 2025 with two stand-out events on Monday 16 June, a Careers Expo and a free discussion forum for regional engineers and people interested in engineering solutions for waste material.

The fourth annual Careers Expo will start at 4.30pm on Monday 16 June at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, followed by a dynamic forum at 6pm which will bring together ideas and solutions to transform regional waste into environmental and economic benefits.

Ms Karen Brakell, Senior Engineer-in-Residence in the Charles Sturt Engineering program in the Charles Sturt School of Computing, Mathematics and Engineering and Chair of the Central West/Dubbo Engineers Australia Regional Committee, said the Careers Expo and the public forum are opportunities to engage with engineers and contemporary engineering issues.

“The Careers Expo is an opportunity for organisations to showcase cadet and graduate employment opportunities in civil, mechanical and electrical engineering to Charles Sturt students, as well as senior high school students,” Ms Brakell said.

“The Charles Sturt Engineering civil engineering course requires students to complete between one and four years of paid work placements. Students are employed as cadet engineers in organisations around Australia, with placements running from July until June of the following year.

“In July 2025, we expect to have 10 students graduating from the civil engineering course and 60 students on placement.”

Following the success of its foundation civil engineering program, Charles Sturt began offering electrical and mechanical engineering courses in 2025. Students in these new courses will commence their first of two year-long placements from November 2026. Find out more on the Engineering program’s website.

Ms Brakell said the 6pm EngFest evening forum ‘Waste to Worth – Turning regional waste into engineering opportunities’ aims to motivate participants and organisations to work together to turn waste into worth and build a more resilient, sustainable future for regional Australia.

“The Central West/Dubbo Engineers Australia Regional Committee and Charles Sturt Engineering are hosting this important forum to discover cutting-edge sustainability initiatives and explore practical applications of circular economy principles,” Ms Brakell said.

“It is also an opportunity to network with regional leaders and potential collaborators and identify student-industry engagement opportunities.”

Ms Brakell will be facilitator at the ‘Waste to Worth’ forum and the featured speakers are:

• Associate Professor Mark Frost, Charles Sturt School of Business, ‘Keeping track of our trash: what organisations are required to report’
• Mr Maroun Rahme, Founder, NuRock; ‘Unique, Sustainable, Scalable and Economically Beneficial Site Remediation and Product Solutions’
• Dr Simon Wright, Charles Sturt Gulbali Institute; ‘Circularity in the Bega Circular Valley’
• Dr Nariman Saeed, Senior Lecturer in Charles Sturt Engineering; ‘Upcycling industrial waste into construction materials’.

To express interest in hosting electrical and mechanical engineering cadets, or to enquire about advertising cadet engineering positions, contact the Workplace Learning Team at Charles Sturt via engineering-wpl@csu.edu.au.

For any questions regarding EngFest 2025 events or the Charles Sturt Engineering courses, please email engineering@csu.edu.au.

The EngFest 2025 venue is the Engineering precinct, building 1305 (car park 7) on Village Drive, Charles Sturt University, off Panorama Avenue, Bathurst.