BUSY At Work offer a range of SQW courses in the South East Queensland region, including entry-level courses for Construction, Hospitality, Health Care and Community Services. Recently BUSY At Work delivered an eight week course which offered participants an entry pathway into Pathology. There were twelve participants within this course who, along with two weeks classroom learning, undertook six weeks

Head of labour statistics at the ABS, Bjorn Jarvis said: “Extended lockdowns in New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory have seen employment and hours worked both drop back below their pre-pandemic levels. In September 2021, there were 111,000 fewer employed people (0.9 per cent) and 2.0 per cent fewer hours worked than in March 2020.” The drop

Already investing $3.9 billion in the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program, which provided 50% wage support for employers putting on a new apprentice or trainee, another $716 million, will be invested to extend support into the second and third year of an eligible Australian Apprenticeship under the Completing Apprenticeship Commencements program. Under the new changes from October 2021, eligible employers will

BUSY At Work is contracted by the Australian Government Department of Employment, Skills and Education to deliver the jobactive program which supports eligible, Centrelink-registered jobseekers to find sustainable employment. Along with the jobactive services, BUSY At Work provide a range of supporting programs, including apprenticeship support services. Zech’s employment consultant at BUSY At Work contacted a local painter to see

It is pretty common to feel crushed after finding out you didn’t get the job you wanted and you might even wonder why you were unsuccessful in the process but rather than wondering to yourself, try asking those questions to the right people and find out how you can prevent this from happening again in future. To help you take

This year’s theme of ‘Change Your Story’ is a relevant one for many. With current disruptions to business and industry and rapidly-advancing digital technologies, it is fair to say that the working world will never be quite the same. For the new world emerging, particularly for employment or business, we can all ‘change our story’ by pivoting and adapting. If

With over 7,800 job opportunities in the Electrical Industry and a projected job growth of 10.9% in the next five years according to Seek, becoming a ‘sparky’ never looked so good. To become a ‘sparky’ you will need have some fundamental skills, like basic maths, problem solving, teamwork and customer service. The life of a ‘sparky’ can sometimes mean working

You are effectively in part-time employment and get to ‘earn while you learn’ A school-based apprenticeship or traineeship means that for approximate 7.5 hours a week, you are employed and at work. This is usually during the week in school hours and forms part of your school curriculum, although you may also do more hours over the school holidays or

This information may be a little scary and lead a person to imagine a future workforce led only by robots and tech geeks, however; the flip side of this shows that the more digitally automated our workforce becomes, the more demand for human interaction is. This will increase the need for skills like empathy, with care and personal services becoming

In a more positive light, the study also revealed a 5.9% decrease from the number of people unemployed in June, which means more Australians are finding work every day. Even before COVID, Australia has been experiencing a skills shortage for certain industries. With fewer skilled jobseekers in the market to meet demand for these industries, this represents great opportunities for

Misguided career advisors may think gaining a career in the automotive industry is for those who are more inclined to manual work rather than high-order thinking. As most of us know, cars are complicated beasts these days, with automated functions like park assist, lane departure warning and emergency brake assist – and that’s all before you even try to work

This traineeship will earn Conner a Certificate I in Conservation and Land Management, which he hopes will help him gain full time employment. “When I found out about this traineeship opportunity and what it involved, I jumped at the chance because it is totally different to anything I have ever done and my aim is to work in a job

After working many years in the retail industry, Wanda then spent some time driving delivery trucks, which she really enjoyed. A transgender woman, Wanda found that she could not continue working in the transport industry for medical reasons while she began her transition from male to female. Having heard about the Skilling Queenslanders for Work course through her jobactive provider,

Contracted by the Australian Government to deliver the jobactive program, a program to support eligible job seekers into employment, the BUSY At Work team at Noosaville got ‘busy’ and started referring Jona for similar positions in hospitality. It soon became clear that this was not the best strategy as the hospitality industry in the region was still struggling to get

A single mum, it was vital that Maggie found work that fit in with her children’s school pick-up times and this made it difficult. BUSY At Work, her jobactive provider in Mossman in far north Queensland, supported Maggie with short courses in computer skills, job search strategies and interview skills. Always interested in the hospitality industry, Maggie then enrolled in

Having completed the first two weeks of theory in Ipswich, the participants have since moved to Ormeau three days a week where they have been building planter boxes, dog houses and tables which they will take home to their families. One of the participants in the program, William, said the sign-up process was fairly simple, “I applied for the course

With the impact of the recent COVID-19 lockdowns again starting to bite, the Queensland government in late July launched another initiative aimed at supporting eligible small and medium employers with a $5,000 grant. With Commonwealth support this has now been boosted to be between $10,000 and $30,000 for eligible businesses. The lockdown grants are available for businesses right across the

Kaitlyn was happily working in Child Care and then at a swimming pool teaching kids how to swim before she decided it was time for a change. As Kaitlyn was scrolling through Seek one day, she came across a traineeship through Group Training Organisation, Skill 360, at the Cairns Regional Council that would allow her to gain a Certificate III

After bouncing between workplaces, Tyrone was looking for full-time work but unfortunately found nothing that fit inside his sons’ school care hours. When Tyrone heard about a paid traineeship at the Wynnum Manly District Cricket Club, funded through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program he jumped at the chance. The paid traineeship would provide him with a Certificate I in

Originally from Melbourne, Chris has been living in Wynnum (QLD) for the past five years and within that time, has completed his Vet Nursing certificate and many hours volunteering in the industry. With the events of COVID-19 making it difficult for him to further his career, Chris decided to press pause and instead try something different. Having been unemployed for

Since COVID hit in 2020, the centre saw an initial increase in persons who had relied on the hospitality industry for an income (particularly international students) and sadly, a huge spike in requests from families in domestic violence situations. The centre also had to change it’s way of service delivery to staggered appointments and take away meals. Dianne Kozik, General

Rhys was working as a baggage handler at an airport a few years ago until choosing to leave the workforce to focus his time and energy on taking care of his mother who had fallen ill, and his grandmother who had just moved in at the time. Having recently heard about an opportunity to do a Certificate I in Conservation

The mantra must have worked because the year has brought Gladis a bounty of good fortune including a new career path, new friendships and better health! Originally from Cairns, Gladis and her family moved to Toowoomba two years ago in pursuit of a better life for herself and her children. Her children range in ages from 3 to 21 and

NAIDOC originally stood for ‘National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee’. This committee was once responsible for organising national activities during NAIDOC Week and its acronym has since become the name of the week itself.  You can find out more about the origins and history of NAIDOC Week. In short, NAIDOC week is about recognising and celebrating the history, culture and

Apprentices and trainees 2020 – December quarter released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) provides a national picture of apprenticeship and traineeship activity, including both quarterly and annual figures that can be broken down by state and territory. It also includes information on the main movements across various demographic and occupational categories. According to the research report,

Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) programs are a set of short upskilling courses that are funded and supported by the Queensland Government. These training programs are perfect for people who are unemployed or under-employed, re-entering the workforce after a little while or disadvantaged job seekers. Since the program launched, Skilling Queenslanders for Work has assisted over 36,000 people into jobs and

Lucky for us, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) have provided some helpful tips on how to successfully submit your tax return for the 2020-2021 period. To make sure you are getting the most possible out of your tax return, you need to be certain about what you can claim. The ATO lists a variety of expenses that you can deduct

Flash forward after leaving school and Maggie found herself in full time administration work, which she wasn’t particularly enjoying but it paid the bills. When Maggie saw a position advertised for a painter her passion for hands-on work and a desire for a trades career was reignited. With a push from her family and friends, Maggie decided to stop thinking

With economic recovery still the main focus, the Treasurer, Cameron Dick, stated yesterday that as many jobs that were lost during the pandemic have now been recovered. The unemployment rate is forecast to drop from its 2020-21 rate of 7% to 5% by June 2025. Below is a summary of what the budget means for skills and jobs growth for

With an extensive suite of regulatory approvals and strong Original Engine Manufacturers (OEM) partnerships, TAE Aerospace are backed by a technical workforce with a passion for service and the expertise to deliver. TAE Aerospace have a broad range of clients around the world and offer premium quality products and services in aerospace engineering, manufacturing, turbine engine and component MRO, and

Many of us have been in jobs we’ve hated at some point in our careers, jobs where we just feel stuck. Well, we’re here to tell you how stepping outside your comfort zone can help you achieve your long-term goals, whatever they may be. Think of some of the most successful people you know. Most of them started at the

To celebrate the success of the varied courses delivered which included Barbering & Hairdressing, Hospitality & Tourism, Retail and Construction; this week BUSY At Work hosted a graduation ceremony for the participants who received their achievement certificates, and a morning tea to thank all those involved. Paul Miles, Managing Director at BUSY At Work presented the certificates to participants at

In 2020, Baxter found out about BUSY At Work’s Transition to Work program which supports young people aged 15-24 with intensive support to find work. When you are young and just left school, it is extremely difficult to get your first ‘foot in the door’ and this is where the program helps. The Transition to Work program is an Australian

Raymond initially had contactless appointments with his Transition to Work consultant, he was always punctual and was very keen to find employment in his local area. An unusual opportunity came through Selborne Biological Services (Aust) Pty Ltd who were looking for local people to join their company, contracting at Swickers, Kingaroy’s well-known pork processing plant and the largest in the

BUSY At Work is providing a full-time career facilitator at 131 Bazaar Street, helping youths develop skills to help them find employment without having to leave the region. The hub services the Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Gympie, Bundaberg and Burnett regions. Mr O’Brien said the hub is one of ten training hubs being trialled across Australia as part of a $50.6 million

The economy is recovering with the unemployment rate at 5.6%, now lower than pre-pandemic levels, and the continued focus of this budget in ‘creating jobs’. The strategies to achieve this include investment in education, infrastructure projects and an extension of the highly successful 50% wage subsidy for hiring a new apprentice or trainee until March 2022. For businesses and job

Early childhood learning is incredibly important in shaping the education outcomes for the future. The Victorian Early Years Awards is a great way to provide recognition to those in the sector. Nominations are now open across seven categories. Winners in each category receive a grant of up to $15,000 towards their initiative or professional development. Finalists in each category are

PWR have always invested in their staff, providing qualification skills that can assist their employee’s career paths in the automotive, engineering and manufacturing industries. They currently have 30 apprentices on staff, supported by BUSY At Work, an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider. The Minister Di Farmer, along with Paul Miles (Managing Director for BUSY At Work), listened to the

An opportunity came up for Tyler to do a Scaffolding course through the Transition to Work program, and Tyler jumped at the chance. The Transition to Work program is an Australian Government initiative that assists young people aged 15-24 who have disengaged with education or employment. Tyler gained assistance through the program with funding to complete the scaffolding course, increasing

The impact of losing her job and the events of 2020 left Layla feeling low and unmotivated. She was soon referred to the Transition to Work program, delivered in her region by BUSY At Work. The Transition to Work program is an Australian Government initiative and aims to assist young people aged 15-24 who are finding it difficult to find

The program provides formal qualifications through traineeships and apprenticeships, as well as educating young people in the multitude of career paths available in the industry. It turns what can sometimes be a gap year straight out of high school, or a short term experience on a remote property into a genuine and life changing career opportunity. Established in 1824, AACo

The Palaszczuk Government’s $100 million Equipping TAFE for our Future plan is available across Queensland while continuing to deliver free training for young Queenslanders under 25. Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the investment into TAFE and skills is critical to Queensland’s economic recovery plan. “Queensland is leading the way

  When his son Noah expressed interest in becoming a builder himself, helping out in the business during school holidays, Simon’s fatherly reaction was ‘finish year 12 first’. Which is what Noah did, during a very difficult 2020, he completed his QCE, and when he still expressed interest in becoming a builder Simon agreed to put him on as an

BUSY At Work is a part of The BUSY Group who provide a large range of supportive services to job seekers including: Australian Apprenticeship Support services, Disability Employment Services, Transition to Work (career pathway support for disengaged youth), No-cost training and work experience opportunities through Skilling Queenslanders for Work programs, Skills Checkpoint for Older Workers, to support persons over 45

BUSY At Work has been contracted to deliver the Industry Training Hub as part of a $50 million national program to assist regions with high levels of youth unemployment. The Maryborough area is one of ten regions in Australia to benefit from this program. The Industry Training Hub aims to improve the career opportunities for unemployed youth, focusing mainly on

With clients across Queensland’s commercial, industrial and government sectors, Multhana offer cost-effective and efficient solutions, underpinned by seasoned project management and industry knowledge. Joseph Wallace, current Director and Aboriginal descendent of the Jirrabal Rainforest people in the Atherton Tablelands and Juru people in Bowen, North Queensland, in partnership with CMBM Facility Services’ Managing Director, Mark Hohn, and Director, Damien Cann,

Great news for businesses looking to put on a new apprentice or trainee! The Australian Government has now announced the extension of the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) scheme , which offers a 50% Wage Subsidy incentive to keep apprentices working. Businesses can be eligible for up to $7,000 per quarter and a potential maximum amount of $28,000 for the 12

The Commonwealth Scholarships Program is an Australian Government initiative to support young people (aged 15-24) in designated regional areas with funding to undertake study and internship opportunities in their career path. Also eligible are ex Australian Defence Force personnel (of any age) who have exited within the last two years. The program offers up to $13,000 in funding with $5,000

Rheinmetall has offices and operations in Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra and its new headquarters is now at its new Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence manufacturing plant in Redbank, Queensland, south west of Brisbane. The facility currently has more than 350 employees and will grow to 450 as production of the new BOXER 8×8 Combat Reconnaissance vehicle commences in late 2022.

And it wasn’t just the boys lining up for the career path opportunities with Hastings Deering! The growing trend of young women entering the traditionally held male trades was evident with 6 women also starting new career pathways, born from an interest in engineering or mechanics. One of the newly signed female apprentices from Mackay Queensland, Nadia Beyer said “I