Bundaberg Regional Council has been announced as a North Coast Region finalist in the large employer category of the Queensland Training Awards.
The prestigious Queensland Training Awards provide individuals and organisations with a unique opportunity to showcase their achievements, best practice and innovation in training.
Council’s Organisational Development Team Leader Georgia Burgess said she and her team of three were thrilled with the news.
“We’ve seen a considerable growth in employment programs as well as professional development opportunities for our existing staff,” Georgia said.
“Our employment programs in the last two years, funded by State and Federal governments, have included a focus on disadvantaged jobseekers who might otherwise not be competitive in an open market process.
“With our region’s unemployment rate of seven percent and a youth unemployment rate of 25 percent, these programs are critical in providing opportunities for the unemployed.
“In the beginning we started with 17 trainees and apprentices and now that’s increased significantly to 63.”
Georgia attributed the team’s success to support from the Mayor, Councillors and executive managers who are committed to providing employment opportunities in our region.
Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey said he was very proud of the recognition.
“It’s great to be one of three in the running for the large employer award in the Queensland Training Awards,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“Council has made the commitment to increase the number of trainees that we take and it’s good to see that the programs we run and the learning and development training they receive has been recognised.
“Our goal is to reduce unemployment in our region and a step towards that is providing long-term employment of many of our trainees.
“The ones who complete their traineeships and move onto other organisations and businesses also benefit from the training and skills they learn at Council.”
People, Culture and Safety manager Jon Rutledge was over the moon with this announcement and said it had been a team effort.
“The change in the services delivered by the Organisational Development and Learning team has expanded dramatically over the last two years to the point where we are now recognised for this by organisations from outside of Council,” Jon said.
“The wider PSC team have contributed to a range of programs within the Organisational Development space, most notably the traineeship program.
“The whole team played a central part in this process utilising innovative ways to engage with local service providers and to interview a large number of candidates for the trainee roles.
“The amount of work that goes into the traineeship and apprenticeship programs cannot be underestimated.
“Providing support to the trainees and apprentices and their supervisors contributes greatly to the success of the program and the outcomes achieved by both the organisation and the individual trainees/apprentices.
“This program sets a very strong foundation for our trainees and apprentices to continue their careers within their chosen professions either within or outside of Council.”
The next step in the Queensland Training Awards process is an interview with the judging panel before the announcement of winners at the state awards presentation on a date to be decided.
