Career Activate
The Link Between Your Degree and Your Career
Western's Career Activate program is all about opening doors for you.
This innovative industry engagement program is designed in collaboration with valued industry partners to help you develop a range of real-world skills and experiences that will set you apart from the competition. Career Activate combines self-paced online learning experience with a live industry challenge, giving you the opportunity to engage directly with employers and apply your skills to real-world business scenarios. Live experiences may include industry challenges, case studies, workshops, pitch sessions or other interactive activities designed to simulate workplace environments and build your confidence when engaging with employers.
Through the program, you'll have the opportunity to;
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Develop professional and workplace skills
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Learn directly from industry professionals
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Build your professional network
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Gain insight into graduate recruitment and career pathways
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Connect with students who share similar interests and career goals
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Apply you learning to real-world business challenges
Before attending the live event, participants will complete a tailored online learning module containing industry-specific content and professional skills development activities. The online component is designed to help you get the most out of the live experience and can be completed at your own pace.
By participating in Career Activate, you'll gain valuable industry exposure, strengthen your employability and make meaningful connections with employers.
2026 KPMG Career Activate Challenge
Following a successful collaboration with KPMG in Autumn 2025, we're excited to bring the Career Activate KPMG Challenge back for 2026.
This is your opportunity to gain insight into one of Australia's leading professional services firms, develop key workplace communication skills and connect directly with KPMG professionals through a combination of online learning and a live industry challenge.
Program Overview
Online Learning Module
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Approximately 2-3 hours (self-paced)
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Available from Monday 5 October, 2026
Live Industry Challenge
- Date: Tuesday 27 October, 2026
- Location: KPMG Parramatta
Students who complete the online learning component will be invited to register for the live challenge.
Please note that places at the live event are limited. Students interested in participating should ensure they are available on the live event date.
Program Dates
Note : Please email careeracceleratorprograms@westernsydney.edu.au if you have questions concerning the 2026 program.
Previous Challenges
EY
The Spring 2024 event with EY focused on how AI is transforming the world of work. We invited students to learn about AI, and to develop practical skills around the process of Design Thinking, a transferrable skill highly sought after by employers.
The Design Thinking workshop saw great feedback from students who participated in 2023 and was a welcome return in 2024.
Deloitte
We were excited to partner with Deloitte for Autumn 2024 in the Career Activate Challenge. Deloitte is in the business of solving complex problems by providing audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax, and technology services. The Career Activate Deloitte challenge was designed to spotlight personal branding, professional communication and business chemistry.
KPMG
KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing a full range of services including tax and legal, enterprise, audit and assurance, risk consulting, management consulting and deal advisory. As part of this challenge, across both the Virtual and Live Experience, students were able to develop a range of transferrable skills highly sought after by employers, including professional communication, critical thinking, and collaboration.
Benefits of Career Activate
What did Jonathon have to say about his experience in the program and his exciting internship with Western?
“I found the program to be very well structured, they give you tonnes of guidance, and I think it's well worth the time investment... During my role I learned a range of professional soft skills such as communication through emailing and collaborating with my co-workers. I feel that the experience has made me more confident and has shown me how I can apply myself in a professional setting”. (Jonathon Hines)
"FDM partnered with Western because we see a great potential for talent out there, and we want to help students, before they graduate, to foster the skills we are looking for."
- Sophie Zdenkowski, University Partnerships Manager, FDM Group
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact us
Direct your inquiries to: edge@westernsydney.edu.au