- Digital Workplace Job Ready program responds to demand for skilled workers
- Short course trains new entrants for a range of administration and customer service roles
- Free in 2024 through the Cook Government’s partnership with the Albanese Government
- Unique delivery of the program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants
- Government and industry partnership connecting participants with employers
The Cook Government is encouraging Western Australians to take advantage of a free pre-employment pathway that guides them into administrative and customer service jobs quickly and effectively – to help meet the State’s workforce needs.
The Digital Workplace Job Ready program is one of 130 fee free courses in 2024, made possible by the Cook Government’s partnership with the Albanese Government.
Training and Workforce Development Minister Simone McGurk today met with 11 Digital Workplace Job Ready participants who are graduating from a unique delivery of the program at North Metropolitan TAFE (NM TAFE).
The Digital Workplace Job Ready program is delivered at NM TAFE under the banner of its Koomba Birdal (Big Spark) program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Students are supported throughout their training by NM TAFE’s Koolark Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and the NM TAFE Jobs and Skills Centre.
On completion of the course, students will be connected with opportunities to transition into employment. The program engages with employers, who have the opportunity to host a work placement student with the objective to transition into a traineeship.
Many of today’s graduates have secured a 12-month traineeship following their completion of the program, with Pacific Energy, MEGT, Waalitj Foundation and WesCEF among the employers taking on trainees from this cohort.
The Digital Workplace Job Ready program provides training in organising data and records, producing documents and the use of different software applications. The program is designed to develop participants’ confidence and ensure they are job ready for a wide range of business support roles.
Job Ready programs ensure Western Australians – particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people, people looking for work or receiving income support, unpaid carers, people with disability, and women facing economic insecurity – can access training and support to help them upskill or reskill for jobs in industries with a need for skilled workers.
To date, 32 per cent of Job Ready participants are women, 19 per cent are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, and 27 per cent undertook the training in regional WA.
Registration for the Digital Workplace Job Ready program occurs on the Jobs and Skills WA website at www.jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/pathways. Contact the Job Ready team on 6551 5049 or nearest Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64.
As stated by Training Minister Simone McGurk:
“The Digital Workplace Job Ready program is designed to develop the digital skills of job seekers or career changers, preparing them for administration and customer service-based roles across a range of industries.
“The Digital Workplace Job Ready Program is a great opportunity to gain valuable entry-level skills and links with an employer to help you enter the digital workforce.
“The Digital Workplace Job Ready Program was developed in response to workforce needs and responds to feedback from industry for short, sharp training as raised in the 2021 WA Skills Summit.
“The State Training Board and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA identified that employers in a range of industries were having difficulty filling administration, reception, and customer service roles.
“Congratulations to the newest graduates of the Digital Workplace Job Ready Program and best of luck with your traineeships.
“There has never been a better time to boost your confidence and enhance your digital skills through the free Digital Workplace Job Ready program, where you can learn valuable skills in a real workplace.”
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Tony Buti:
“This is a fantastic initiative that is helping Aboriginal students get the skills they need be part of the digital workforce and land jobs in administration and customer service.
“Well done to the new graduates of North Metropolitan TAFE’s specialist Koomba Birdal program.
“I would encourage other young Aboriginal people to consider taking advantage of this free training – who knows where it could take you.”
