The coronavirus hasn't stopped young people from the Boonah district from chasing their career dreams.
Nine teenagers will graduate from the Get Set for Work programme, run by the Carinity Fassifern Community Centre, with a Certificate II in Vocational Pathways and Work Skills today.
The Queensland Government-funded initiative helps people aged 15 to 19 years who have left school to transition into work or undertake further education or training.
Carinity Fassifern Community Centre Learning Centre Coordinator Allison Blake says the graduating students, from Boonah, Kalbar, Tarome and Aratula, have had to overcome some unique challenges to complete the course.
Face-to-face group classes weren't possible due to COVID-19 social distancing protocols so students did their learning via video conferencing with trainer Caz Pickard, from ABC Connect, twice a week.
"Students who didn't have access to a computer or technology came in to Carinity Fassifern Community Centre and worked in separate rooms with the trainer online," Alison says.
The Certificate II in Vocational Pathways and Work Skills is a stepping-stone for young people to commence careers, obtain trade qualifications or undertake tertiary study.
"For students who may have not previously had success or enjoyed their schooling, undertaking the Get Set for Work course has given them the skills and confidence to know that they can achieve their employment goals," Allison says.
Even before graduating from the Get Set for Work course, some of the latest group of students had started on new career paths.
"Two of the young men have returned to high school knowing that they want to take vocational subjects to learn a trade such as becoming an electrician," Allison says.
"Another graduate has secured a job with a local farmer who is training him up in the business, in the hope of him getting fulltime work at one of the large local distributors of produce for our region.
"Two students are starting part-time jobs in a local hotel and in a tourist shop at Mt Tambourine, while others are undertaking work or work experience in local cafés and dress shops."
Enrolments are being taken for the next Get Set for Work course at Carinity Fassifern Community Centre, open to 15 to 19-year-olds who are not attending school.
"For the next round Caz our trainer in conjunction with R.T.O. Educare are looking at doing two shorter courses of the Certificate II. This means we can help more people struggling with getting a job and assist them to take steps towards the career they dream of," Allison says.
The next Get Set for Work course will commence in September.
