Tens of thousands of people at Qudos Bank Arena were buzzing with excitement as 6,000 public school students took to the stage at the 2025 Schools Spectacular.

While onstage performances dazzled crowds with dance numbers, singing and acrobatics, behind the scenes, over 150 vocational education and training (VET) students showcased their technical skills.

The years 11 and 12 students travelled from across the state to manage cameras, audio engineering, lighting, production, styling and costumes, event and stage management, and even operated the popular tiny café.

Karabar High School led the way in VET participation with 11 students gaining hands-on industry experience throughout the event.

One of the school’s students, Jack Merton, worked as a vision specialist operating a camera for the IMag screens and projected performances around the arena.

“My Certificate III in Live Production and Technical Services is a fun, interactive course that really takes you away from your academics and gives you a break to get hands on with items and learn about how to do cool stuff like this,” Jack said.

“I’ve been getting hands on with all the cameras and seeing the large-scale technical aspects of a show.”

Accompanying Jack was Karabar High School music and entertainment teacher, Stephen Barrett, who was the 2IC for the Schools Spectacular’s student production team.

“With VET, it’s all about building kids that have the capacity to go into the industry and hit the ground running by engaging in work placement like Schools Spectacular,” Mr Barrett said.

“They’re not only getting the opportunity to build their skills, they get to work on an event that is world class, and they’re learning from industry professionals who guide and nurture them as they head off into the industry.

“VET is one of the ultimate pathways in schools; there really is a VET subject for every student, whether they want to be a mechanic, carpenter, graphic designer or work in live entertainment.”

Students also had the chance to learn from industry players like Eclipse Sound & Vision that provided all the technical equipment for SpecFest, the entertainment hub hosted outside of Schools Spectacular run almost entirely by VET students.

Nicole Neal, director and vision switcher from Eclipse, praised the enthusiasm of the students and the unique training environment.

“SpecFest is such a unique situation because we have a 100 per cent student-operated broadcast to the screens. Some students have never touched a camera or seen a vision switcher before, so we’re throwing them in the deep end,” Ms Neal said.

“SpecFest gives them an idea of whether this is something they want to pursue and allows them to meet industry contacts to get advice on career pathways. The enthusiasm and eagerness to learn is inspiring, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see how much they progress and enjoy the experience.”

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan attended Schools Spectacular and SpecFest and was delighted to meet with students from his electorate’s Karabar High School, where his children attended and daughter currently teaches at.

“Schools Spectacular and SpecFest were immense productions that ran smoothly with VET students managing everything behind the scenes. Their dedication and skill powered an unforgettable experience which saw them train up to be future workers in the entertainment industry,” Mr Whan said.

“These hands-on experiences are invaluable in preparing young people for real careers, giving them a foot in the door to an exciting and dynamic sector. We’re proud to see these students turning their passion into pathways that are wowing audiences.”

The NSW Department of Education is proud to support programs like Schools Spectacular and SpecFest that provide students with essential vocational skills and open doors to future careers in the live entertainment industry and beyond.