Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State for Defence and Manpower,

Our Valued Volunteers and Partners,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening! It is my pleasure to welcome you to our annual Volunteer Career Advisors (VCA) Appreciation Night. As we gather here, I am filled with immense gratitude for your unwavering commitment to supporting the careers of many in our workforce.

Our VCAs are the cornerstone of a unique support system that complements the work of career coaches. You bring invaluable industry insights, personal lived experiences, and a passion for helping others that cannot be replicated. Your ability to connect with advisees on a peer-to-peer level creates a powerful dynamic that fosters trust and opens doors to new possibilities.

Over the past years since the launch in 2020, we have seen the VCA initiative grow in exciting ways. Beyond one-to-one advisory sessions, many of you have lent your expertise to events and content creation, further extending your impact. Your spontaneity and willingness to give back have been instrumental in reaching a wider audience and addressing the evolving needs of our workforce.

So today, while we look back and extend our appreciation, it is also a chance for us to look to the future and I am thrilled about the potential for even greater collaboration and impact. Our plans ahead envisions a deeper integration of the VCA programme into Workforce Singapore's overall career services. We are exploring ways to harness your collective wisdom through co-creation, ensuring our services remain relevant and responsive to the rapidly changing job market.

Such rapid changes in the job market has really elevated the need for stronger career health. Just as we prioritise our physical and mental wellbeing, we must also nurture our career health more. This involves continuous learning, adaptability, and a proactive approach to career development. As VCAs, you play a crucial role in promoting this mindset. Your support is instrumental in fostering a workforce that is not just reactive to change, but one that is prepared to shape the future of work in Singapore.

Recognising the importance of your role in advocating career health, we are committed to expand the reach and impact of the VCA initiative, exploring new avenues to support individuals at various stages of their career journeys. Your insights and experiences will continue to be invaluable as we develop and refine our initiatives to meet the evolving needs of Singapore's workforce.

In the coming year, we will organise more frequent get-togethers and cross-learning opportunities for our VCAs. These sessions will not only allow you to network and share experiences with fellow volunteers but also provide platforms for you to engage in meaningful dialogue about the evolving career landscape. Additionally, we will be having more conversations with you, ensuring your insights continue to shape and improve our programmes and services. Your voices and experiences are crucial in our ongoing efforts to enhance the VCA initiative so that we can all work together to support individuals in their journey towards better career health and career fulfilment.

I truly am inspired by your commitment and dedication in helping others, and am excited about the impactful work we will accomplish together in the coming year. Enjoy your evening, and do take this opportunity to connect with one another and forge new friendships. Once again, thank you for being the heart of the VCA initiative.