Australia's first virtual careers expo launches in May 2026 with free access
A familiar voice to listeners of The Global Horizons / Koala News podcast is stepping onto a much bigger stage, as Rob Malicki and his business, Choosing Your Uni, prepare to launch what is being described as Australia's first fully virtual national careers expo.
Timed to coincide with National Careers Week 2026, the Choosing Your Uni National Virtual Expo will run from 10 to 17 May, offering more than 90 live and on-demand sessions aimed at students, families, and career changers across the country.
For podcast listeners, Malicki's move into large-scale event delivery will feel like a natural extension of the conversations he has been having on the podcast for some time: how to make pathways into education clearer, more equitable, and more responsive to the realities of modern life.
The idea itself was sparked by a moment of dissonance. While researching the space, Malicki attended a traditional in-person careers expo and found the experience surprisingly difficult to navigate. A cavernous hall, thousands of attendees, and no clear starting point left even an industry insider feeling overwhelmed.
That moment raised a bigger question. If someone embedded in the sector found it challenging, what hope does a 16-year-old have when faced with one of the most significant decisions of their life? Or a parent trying to support them? Or a first-in-family student encountering the system for the first time?
It is this gap that Choosing Your Uni is now seeking to close.
The virtual Expo format is designed to remove many of the barriers that have long limited access to careers advice. Students in regional and remote communities, those balancing work and study, and families unable to attend weekday events can all access the same content, from anywhere in Australia.
The response so far suggests the idea has landed. More than 300 schools have already registered weeks ahead of launch, with strong institutional backing from across the sector. Southern Cross University has signed on as Presenting Partner, joined by major sponsors including University of Tasmania and University of New England, alongside participation from University of Sydney, University of Western Australia and Australian Catholic University.
Government representation will also feature prominently, with sessions from Department of Education, Services Australia and the National Student Ombudsman.
In a move that signals a shift in how student information may be delivered in the future, the Expo will include sessions covering every Australian university, regardless of whether they are sponsors. It is a notable departure from traditional expo models, where visibility is often tied directly to institutional presence on the exhibition floor.
The programming itself reflects the breadth of modern pathways. Contributors such as Anita van Rooyen and Mandy Money will lead sessions spanning university entry, vocational routes, HECS funding, gap years, trades, postgraduate study and international options. Importantly, sessions are scheduled across lunchtime, after-school and evening slots, with all content available on-demand.
Underpinning the Expo is the same technology platform that has driven Choosing Your Uni's growth to date. Built as an AI-powered guidance tool focused specifically on Australian higher education choices, the platform is now used by students from more than 500 schools and has attracted users from over 100 countries.
For Koala observers, there is a broader signal here. As the sector continues to grapple with questions of access, equity and relevance, the shift from physical to digital engagement is no longer theoretical. It is happening in real time, led not just by institutions, but increasingly by agile, sector-adjacent players like Choosing Your Uni.
The Expo is free for students and families, with schools registering before the end of March gaining extended access through to late 2026.
For Malicki, and for our website's growing podcast community, it marks a significant milestone: from conversation to execution, and from insight to impact.
our website wishes Rob and Choosing Your Uni the best with this new initiative.
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