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Soft skills for a hard launch into a rewarding digital career
TAFE Queensland is supporting Yarrabah First Nations peoples through tailored delivery of a pre-employment course funded through the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program, with successful graduates transitioned into business-traineeship positions at the Yarrabah Digital Service Centre.
Overview
- The new Yarrabah Digital Service Centre is an initiative of Advance Queensland’s Deadly Innovation Strategy, to increase economic opportunities and independence of First Nations peoples through greater involvement in the innovation economy.
- The eight-week “bootcamp” training was provided by the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program, which is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The program supports participants with free essential skills training for the workforce and further study, and is currently delivered by TAFE Queensland at 50 locations across the state.
- After completing the “bootcamp”, graduates transition directly into their new roles within the centre and will continue to learn on the job while completing a Certificate III in Business (BSB30120) with TAFE Queensland.
Yarrabah Digital Service Centre
The Yarrabah Digital Service Centre is the fourth digital service hub of its kind in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, following the successes of similar hubs in Cherbourg, Jumbun, and Palm Island.
Yarrabah is located 60km southeast of Cairns on the traditional lands of the Gunggandji and Yidinji people, and is Queensland’s largest discrete Aboriginal community.
Wugu Nyambil ‘Holding onto Work’ provides employment services to the community of Yarrabah, and is the program’s employer.
Opportunity
The training program mirrors a real-world work environment, easing participants into a full work week by starting with three days of training per week and progressing to five days by the end of the course.
This focused on essential workplace skills, including communication, teamwork, and customer service.
Solution
After an initial eight-week soft skills training program, graduates transitioned directly into their new roles and will continue to learn on the job while completing a Certificate III in Business (BSB30120).
The new digital business enterprise in Yarrabah was an amazing opportunity for the trainees and it will change the way that business is conducted in Yarrabah
Results
The first cohort of the Yarrabah Digital Bootcamp graduated in 2024, following exceptional attendance and enthusiasm throughout their eight-week “bootcamp” course.
he graduates transitioned directly into their new roles with Wugu Nyambil (as the employer) and continue to study with TAFE Queensland on the job, working toward a Certificate III in Business (BSB30120), while serving in roles to support a variety of clients, including Queensland Shared Services, DB Results, and HRS.
Future Plans
Beyond immediate employment, the Yarrabah Digital Service Centre is a lasting investment in the community. This impactful approach to on-Country digital training has gained significant recognition, with the Palm Island Digital Service Centre recently receiving the Premier’s Industry Collaboration Award at the 2024 Queensland Training Awards and advancing as a finalist for the upcoming 2024 Australian Training Awards.