MORE than 600 Fraser Coast primary school students are expected to participate at a hands-on jobs exhibition in Hervey Bay on Tuesday.

It's part of the first stage of this year's Smart Steps: Jobs to Go project hosted by the University of Southern Queensland Fraser Coast campus and the Wide Bay Institute of TAFE. 

Project manager Liz Blight said the project was offered to students of upper-primary school age when attitudes and aspirations towards jobs and careers were being formed.

She said stage one included three classroom lessons and a hands-on jobs exhibition at TAFE where students rotated around a variety of tasks related to post-secondary qualifications. 

Ms Blight said stage two would be held later this year in a tertiary trial day at USQ where students explored what life after high school might be like.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations has funded the project for three years via the Higher Education Participation and Partnership Program with the aim of increasing career aspirations.