Chance meeting leads to new job and training for young mum
A chance meeting with a Skilling Solutions Queensland consultant at Sunnybank Hills Shopping Centre has lead to training and a new job for 24-year-old Nicole Clarke.
Employment, Training and Industrial Relations Minister Tom Barton congratulated Nicole on her recent appointment and said her story was an excellent example of how Skilling Solutions Queensland can work for Queenslanders.
"Skilling Solutions Queensland is our unique, customised, face-to-face training and career information service set up by the Queensland Government under the ground-breaking SmartVET strategy," Mr Barton said.
Ms Clarke said she had just decided she was ready to rejoin the workforce after taking time out to look after her two children when she saw the Skilling Solutions Queensland stand at the shopping centre.
"Even though I'd had experience in administration, I was worried about getting back into the workforce, but after my appointment at Skilling Solutions Queensland I felt confident about my abilities," Ms Clarke said.
"The consultant at the Woodridge Customer Service Centre took me through the Smart Skilling Indicator which identified the skills I already had.
"I was amazed that thanks to Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) I was competent in seven areas towards the Certificate III in Business Administration and it really boosted my confidence.
Recognition of Prior Learning allows workers to have the skills and experience they have acquired through their working life assessed against the requirements of recognised relevant formal qualifications.
"Soon after my visit I received a referral letter to complete a Certificate III in Business Administration. I contacted Orion Training and Performance Management and was surprised by the results.
"After my initial interview to discuss the Recognition of Prior Learning process I was advised that there was a job coming up within the company and invited to apply. Two weeks later I had a full-time job and my new employers offered to upgrade my training to a Certificate IV in Business Administration.
"When I first contacted Orion it was just to discuss the Recognition of Prior Learning process for the Certificate III in Business Administration. To get a full-time job and have my qualification upgraded is great. I didn't expect that talking to Skilling Solutions Queensland would lead to this!" Ms Clarke said.
Mr Barton said Skilling Solutions Queensland, which was opened by the Premier last March, is a key initiative of the State Government's three-year, $1 billion SmartVET strategy.
Initially four service centres were opened; three in Logan City and one at the Open Learning Institute of TAFE at South Brisbane.
"Since then a pilot satellite service has been opened at the Gold Coast TAFE and mobile part-time services have been established in Eagelby, Boonah and Beaudesert," Mr Barton said.
"The first regional Skilling Solutions Queensland centre was also established in Rockhampton at the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE and was opened in early October 2005.
"Due its success, planning is underway to expand the service by establishing centres in regional areas, one in the Stocklands Shopping Centre in Rockhampton and two further regional sites in Mackay and Townsville, expected to be opened in the first quarter of this year," Mr Barton said.
For more information about Skilling Solutions Queensland customer service centres call 1300 654 687 or visit www.skillingsolutions.qld.gov.au.
Media contact: David Brewtnall or Michael O'Meara on (07) 3225 2210
February 2006
Caption: Nicole Clarke with her Skilling Solutions Queensland consultant, Syd.