Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) will continue its proud tradition of investing in youth, with funding secured to place more trainees within the organisation.
After receiving $66,000 through the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, TRC Finance and Business Strategy Committee Portfolio Lead Cr Kerry Shine said four trainees would join the team at Council.
“This is a crucial form of funding which gives us an opportunity to give our young people a start in the workforce,” Cr Shine said.
“It allows them to learn new skills and receive coaching and training which sets them up for their working career.
“Since 1 July 2015, Council has put on 226 apprentices and trainees with 144 of these transferring into permanent positions.
“It’s telling that more than half of the apprentices and trainees who started their journey at Council have moved into permanent positions in the organisation.
“This is a great result and reinforces our commitment to creating a positive work environment that our staff want to be a part of.
“It’s also a good result for the community that we’ve been able to upskill so many staff and retain them, as this helps us deliver vital services to our residents.”
One of the trainees who started their working career at Toowoomba Regional Council before transitioning into a full-time position is finance officer Abby Kirby.
“I started with Council after graduating high school. My traineeship with Council was my first introduction to full time work,” Abby said.
“After obtaining knowledge of the organisation and gaining valuable skills, my confidence in the work environment grew immensely.
“Since starting as a trainee in Property Services, and later with Development Engineering and Plumbing and then Transport and Drainage Planning, I’ve gained further skills and knowledge to help me further my career and am now in a full-time role as a finance officer in procurement.
“Council really helped kick start my career at a young age and I’ve been able to grow on a personal and professional level.”
