Rockhampton Regional Council celebrated its 2023 apprentices and trainees at a graduation ceremony held at City Hall today.
The graduates successfully completed qualifications in various fields such as horticulture, business administration, and live production services.
Rockhampton Regional Council CEO Evan Pardon congratulated the 13 graduates for their hard work and dedication.
"The apprentices and trainees have shown commitment, enthusiasm and professionalism throughout their training and should be very proud of this achievement," Mr Pardon said.
"Graduates have not only gained valuable hands-on experience in the workplace but also successfully achieved nationally recognised qualifications.
"On top of that, a number of the graduates have secured ongoing employment with Council, showcasing both their achievements and the program's success.
"At Council, our commitment to nurturing talent is demonstrated by our outstanding retention rates among apprentices and trainees - a significant number have not only flourished within their roles but have also risen to become respected leaders within our organisation which is a testament to our culture of growth and development.
"We are incredibly proud of our apprentice and trainee program and the great opportunities it provides each year."
Rockhampton Regional Council also acknowledged the continued support of the First Start Funding program.
"The First Start Funding program is proudly funded by the Queensland Government through its Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, which has been supporting Council's apprentice and traineeship program since 2016," Mr Pardon said.
"At Council we are committed to providing opportunities for local talent development and career progression, and we look forward to welcoming our next intake of trainees in 2024."
Council's 2024 intake includes 15 trainee positions thanks to the First Start Program.
Member for Rockhampton Barry O'Rourke said Skilling Queenslanders for Work is a game changer for young people.
"The Palaszczuk Government is committed to providing opportunities for young people and are proud to provide funding through the First Start Funding program through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative," Mr O'Rourke said.
"Some 52,000 people have gone through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative which is just fantastic to be able to provide them with those opportunities.
"The more we invest in our young people the better it is for our region."
