An upcoming expo will provide young people with a care experience the opportunity to apply for a tax file number, register to vote, hear about job opportunities and connect with a range of services supporting young adults.

Moving into adulthood can be a tricky time for a young person in care, but the CREATE Your Future Expo – a partnership between the CREATE Foundation and family services agency Key Assets Australia – aims to make the process a little easier.

The expo at St Clair Recreation Centre, Woodville, on Thursday, 2 October is aimed at those aged 15-25, their carers and child protection staff who support young people.

It’s a one-stop shop for young people to build a toolbox for their life as adults, with about 70 stalls expected on the day from organisations such as family support agencies, financial institutions and healthcare groups.

There will be free pizza on offer, along with the chance to win an iPad and join a musical workshop with cultural institution Carclew.

The Department for Child Protection provides funding support to the CREATE Foundation, and will have a stall at the expo, featuring information about a grant program, other post-care support and the department’s focus on ensuring young people’s voices are heard and elevated.

CREATE Foundation CEO Imogen Edeson said young people transitioning from out-of-home care were reporting cost of living pressures and challenges with securing housing and gaining employment.

“With 70 services expected this year, the expo aims to give young people real tools to plan their next steps – whether that’s finding a job, applying for housing, budgeting, or learning more about their options,” she said.

“We also hope the expo helps young people transitioning from out-of-home care to feel seen, heard and supported because they deserve to know they’re not doing this alone.

“We want every young person transitioning out of care to know who they can talk to and what supports are out there, while also having a sense that there’s a whole community backing them.

“Our hope is that every young person who comes along to the expo leaves feeling confident, more informed, and in greater control of their future.”

CREATE Foundation Young Consultant Ethan, 18, who grew up in care, said the expo would give young people an opportunity to learn more about supports available to them.

“Once they can really see that there are things that can help them in the future, they don’t have to stress about things – they can get a helping hand, they just have to ask,” he said.

“It will be really helpful, even for those who are 15 or older, because it allows those kids and young people to take more educated action towards goals, with more information.

“There will be a team there helping young people get their Tax File Number – things that directly relate to a young person getting a job.”

Another Young Consultant, Allie, 20, said for young people still living at home with their parents, turning 18 was exciting, “but for someone in state care, it can be a really scary and daunting time”.

“There’s lots of great resources out there but young people have no idea where they are. This expo allows young people to go to one place and see what resources and organisations are relevant to them.

“There are improvements that we can do in this space, but this expo provides them with resources to help them support themselves through this tough journey.”

For more information about the event, which runs from 10am to 2pm, visit the CREATE website (external site).