Alf Cosgrove

After a visit to the new, fulltime, temporary Skilling Solutions Queensland office in Southport in early January, Gold Coast resident Alf Cosgrove has now obtained two Diplomas.

Having worked predominately in production and manufacturing management, Alf wished to fast track gaining a qualification by having his work experience and skills formally recognised.

After making initial enquiries to TAFE, Alf was referred to Skilling Solutions Queensland. Throughout his interview with Annette Morphett, a Skilling Solutions Queensland Consultant, Alf shared details of his work experience and goals.

After his interview, Alf chose to undertake the formal assessment process with The Learning Collaborative, a Training Organisation contracted with SSQ operating in the Gold Coast region. After providing details of his experience and evidence to the assessor at the Learning Collaborative, Alf was advised he could receive recognition for the Diploma of Business and Front line Management.

On the services received by SSQ, Alf commented "My experience of Skilling Solutions Queensland was excellent - the staff were friendly and put me at ease when I walked through the door." Alf has now obtained full time work since receiving the formal qualifications.

Troy Hammant

Troy Hammant visited Skilling Solutions Queensland because he hoped that his current skills and knowledge could help him complete a qualification in horticulture more quickly.

At Troy's appointment his consultant entered information about his skills and knowledge into the Smart Skilling Indicator software system to see if his skills may be recognised through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.

Troy contacted his preferred registered training organisation to begin the RPL process and was pleased to discover that his skills and knowledge could be recognised formally.

Thanks to the professionalism and expertise of the staff at Skilling Solutions Queensland, the whole process was stress-free.

"I definitely recommend that anyone who wishes to become certified in their current role, advance or change their career path visit Skilling Solutions Queensland to get the best information around."

Lesley Houston

Since visiting Skilling Solutions Queensland in May last year Lesley Houston has completed a Diploma in Events Management and started her own event management company.

When Lesley first visited Skilling Solutions Queensland she had no idea what to expect but found it easy to tell her consultant about her skills and experience.

Thanks to the information she was given by skilling solutions Queensland Lesley was able to complete a Diploma in Event Management more quickly as her existing skills and experience were credited towards the qualification thanks to the Recognition of Prior Learning process.

"When I walked into SSQ, I really had no idea about why I was really there and how SSQ could help me. When I left the office I felt really excited about doing a qualification and building a better future for me and my adult family. I hope that my story encourages other people to visit Skilling Solutions Queensland as I found their service invaluable in steering me in the right career direction."

Tetei Toma

Motivated by an ad on Skilling Solutions Queensland in her local newspaper, Tetei Toma is now working at a nursing home in Boronia Heights.

Having worked as a carer in Blacktown, New South Wales, Tetei had recently moved to Queensland and had been looking for work in a similar field.

Although Tetei had a variety or relevant skills and experience within the Aged Care industry, she did not hold a formal qualification, a fact that had hindered her quest for employment.

Tetei contacted Skilling Solutions Queensland (SSQ) to discover how she could fast track gaining a formal qualification to support her employment search.

Tetei attended an interview with Donna, the consultant at the Woodridge office of Skilling Solutions Queensland. Details of Tetei's work experience and skills were captured through the interview process and a report outlining the potential recognition she may receive was generated.

A referral letter outlining the Training Organisations contracted with SSQ to deliver the fast-track formal recognition process was also provided. Choosing Australian Competency Training for Industry and Vocational Employment (ACTIVE), Tetei completed the formal Skills First (Recognition of Prior Learning) process.

Tetei commented that she was "very, very happy with the service she received from Skilling Solutions Queensland" and has now received the Certificate IV in Aged Care.

Dave Kompo

After years of assisting teenagers in accessing education, training and job pathways, Dave Kompo (pictured right) decided to investigate his own training pathways.

Having been employed by Success Employment and Training Co-operative Ltd in Townsville since 2003 as an Employment and Project officer, Dave contacted Skilling Solutions Queensland to determine pathways to obtain a formal qualification in the Community Services field.

At the end of his interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland, Dave was given a report outlining possible matches with the Certificate IV in Youth Work.

Motivated by the prospect of fast-tracking the process of gaining this qualification, Dave then contacted the Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE to undertake the formal assessment process.

Through the formal assessment process, Dave supplied evidence of the tasks he had undertaken in his current role and subsequently was recognised for the entire Certificate IV qualification.

Dave has now been awarded the Certificate IV in Youth Work based on his work experience and skills.

He would like to encourage anyone thinking of upgrading their skills to contact Skilling Solutions Queensland.

Pieta Fletcher

Visiting Skilling Solutions Queensland's Woodridge office has helped local resident Pieta Fletcher, 26, into a new career.

After being out of the workforce for over 12 months, Pieta, a mother of one, visited Skilling Solutions Queensland in June 2005 to find out what careers were available in her local area.

Unsure of the career path she wanted to follow, Pieta used Skilling Solutions Queensland's career planning service to identify occupations that matched her interests, and to find out what qualifications would help deliver her career goals.

At the same time Skilling Solutions Queensland was also able to provide her with information about job programs for which she was eligible under the Department of Employment and Training's Breaking the Unemployment Cycle strategy.

Soon after her initial interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland, Pieta started volunteer administrative work with local organisation Access, giving her the chance to get current workplace experience.

This experience helped Pieta obtain 16 weeks full-time work with Access through a Breaking the Unemployment Cycle job program. As part of the program Pieta successfully undertook a Certificate II in Business at Logan TAFE.

With growing confidence from her full-time employment experience and a formal qualification Pieta successfully applied in January 2006 for a 12 month Certificate III in Community Services traineeship with Interlink Housing and Support Association.

Pieta described the service she received from Skilling Solutions Queensland as 'outstanding', saying she couldn't have achieved what she had without their support and encouragement.

When asked if she would recommend Skilling Solutions Queensland to other people looking for career advice, she replied "they are the best people to go and see if you don't know what you want to do."

Helen Geale

Helen Geale (pictured right) first visited Skilling Solutions Queensland in May 2006 after being referred to the service by a friend.

Not sure of how the service could assist her, Helen attended an interview at the Hyperdome Customer Service centre.

At the beginning of her interview with Janet, an SSQ Consultant, Helen described her working background and personal circumstances, explaining how she was the primary care giver of three children aged 11, 15 and 17 and therefore could not attend full time training.

Details of Helen's work experience and skills were captured and entered on the Skilling Solutions Queensland database.

The end result was a report outlining the units of competency within the Diploma of Business Helen may receive recognition for through the Skills First (Recognition of Prior Learning) process.

After her interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland, Helen contacted the Moreton Institute of TAFE and undertook the formal assessment process for the Diploma of Business.

Once the formal process had been completed, Helen received the Diploma of Business based on her work experience and skills.

Robyn Redknap

In September 2005, Skilling Solutions Queensland provided a mobile service to ten staff at the Sea World Nara Resort at Southport.

Robyn Redknap, the Deputy General Manager, undertook the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pre-assessment process offered through Skilling Solutions Queensland, for the Diploma in Hospitality Management.

Robyn commented, "I found the consultants at Skilling Solutions Queensland (SSQ) both professional and helpful.

They simplified the paperwork and whole process for busy employers... So much so that I have recommended the training information provided by SSQ to all of my Senior Staff, including our Reception Manager, Training Manager and Food & Beverage Manager.

It has increased the morale of our team as their skills and experience can finally be recognised and rewarded. Thank you for your assistance".

Robyn and her staff have now commenced the RPL process with Blue Print Career Development and are on the pathway to obtain a range of qualifications relevant to the workplace.

Valerie Cullen

Counsellor Valerie Cullen is working to bridge the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures in the community of Cherbourg.

Valerie, 63, has just been appointed as Cherbourg’s first Indigenous sexual abuse counsellor, after recently obtaining two Diplomas through Recognition of Prior Learning.

Although Valerie had undertaken various jobs in the Community Services field, she had never obtained a formal qualification. Deciding to investigate her training and career options, Valerie undertook an interview at the Skilling Solutions Queensland office in Bundaberg in March 2007.

As the eldest of a family of ten, she grew up living in a tin humpy, without access to running water. She attended the local primary and high school but was forced to leave school in Year 10 to care for her family. She has since worked as a day care provider, undertaken a traineeship in a crisis centre and had been a counsellor and teacher aide at TAFE.

After her interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland, Valerie was referred to the Wide Bay Institute of TAFE where she undertook a formal assessment of her experience and skills. Then came the good news. She was awarded the Diploma of Community Education and the Diploma in Child Protection.

After receiving the two qualifications, Valerie saw the position of Sexual Abuse Counsellor advertised. With new confidence gained from having the formal qualifications she decided to apply.

"A person from a previous workplace told me about the position and told me to apply. I was apprehensive at first but having the qualifications made me feel as though I had achieved something through my work and life experience"

Valerie applied and was successful in gaining the position as she had the two formal qualifications.

"This has given me the encouragement and confidence to make changes in my life and if I can do it then hopefully other Indigenous women will be encouraged" says Valerie.

"In my new role I hope to make small changes to build bridges between the two cultures, my main aim is to bring the two cultures together and give them a better understanding of each other"

Valerie is enjoying her new role and is now studying to complete a Diploma of Counselling.