Over the last few months, the TRACQS team has been working in the Western Tablelands region to increase the number of placements with various key industries, including construction. ‘Trialling Pathways to Real Jobs’ is an initiative run through the National Indigenous Australians Association (NIAA) that has seen recent success with a group of TRACQS participants through the Community Development Program (CDP). 

This initiative aims to identify willing participants in CDP regions, seek out employers willing to take them on board and support them into training and employment. By identifying opportunities for training and certifications, TRACQS can offer participants the tools to find suitable careers in the construction industry as newly skilled workers.  

TRACQS connected eight Indigenous participants from the Western Tablelands region to this program to increase opportunities available to them. This involved organising training in civil construction and work site certifications. In preparation, TRACQS arranged for a daily bus to take everyone from their local area to the training sites in Cairns. Access to transport meant that participants who would otherwise not have been able to attend had a fair opportunity to participate.  

Starting in early January 2023, the first two weeks of this program focused on setting participants up with all their employment information, including full medical tests, drug and alcohol screenings, and collecting their banking information, tax file numbers and identification necessities such as driver’s licenses and police checks.  

During this time, participants were taken through the first steps of training in a pre-employment program run by the Australian Training Work Group (ATW). Through this, they developed important soft skills, learning the foundations of teamwork and effective communication.   

After this initial training, the program moved into a 2-week accredited short course through Civil Safety in Cairns, to get everyone certified and ready for work. To make sure all participants would be able to contribute to regular construction duties in employment, they went through the process of obtaining a detailed list of certifications, including:

  • White Cards  
  • Moxie Truck Operation
  • Apply Risk Management Processes  
  • Conduct Civil Construction  
  • Wheeled Front End Loader Operations  
  • Conduct Articulated Haul Truck Operations  
  • Work Safely at Heights
  • Apply WHS Requirements  
  • Policies and Procedures in the Construction Industry  
  • Conduct Operations with Integrated Tool Carrier  
  • Gas Test Atmospheres  
  • Enter and Work in Confined Spaces 

Participants were paid award wages for the work they completed while undergoing this training to support their transition into qualified workers.

Since completing this program, all eight participants have been placed into employment into the Innovative Hydro Power Renewable Energy Project with Genex Power which based at the former Kidston Gold Mine Site. All eight participants can now put their skills to use in these paid employment positions, which started in March and April, 2023.

Trialling Pathways to Real Jobs has undoubtedly been a huge success, with participants sharing how this opportunity has propelled them into strong careers, giving them a new look into their futures in the civil construction and mining industries. Here’s what just a few of our participants had to say:

“Training has been very good, I am learning a lot, and the trainers have been very supportive to make sure everyone is moving forward. The team has been working well together to help each other.”

“Having this training to gain the licenses and tickets has been something that I’ve been chasing for quite some time. I’m sure there are bigger and greater opportunities for our mob and younger generation all over as ATW and TRACQS grow.”

“Having these tickets will give me the opportunity to have employment, financial stability, and to settle comfortably when I retire. Thanks to the staff at ATW and TRACQS.”

“Great training. Great feedback on employment. Great trainers. Great company to work for. Great opportunity for a career change.”

With a 100% success rate and overwhelmingly positive feedback on the program, the people in Western Tablelands feel immense pride in these eight participants’ achievements. TRACQS and our community members have seen a noticeable increase in our participants’ engagement, motivation, and team spirit since achieving these milestones. This project continues to provide opportunities for building and establishing partnerships between TRACQS, ATW and external organisations such as training providers, medical providers and employers. 

Since this first round commenced, TRACQS has seen an increase in participant interest, mostly through word of mouth from those that completed the training. Through discussing their successes with their families and friends, these participants have inspired their community to see these opportunities for their own lives, with TRACQS ready to support them along the way.

About the Community Development Program (CDP)

TRACQS is bringing local experience and knowledge to deliver the Community Development Program (CDP) proudly supported by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). 

CDP is an employment program for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in regional, rural and remote Australia to achieve sustainable employment outcomes by strengthening skills, addressing barriers and contributing to their communities through a range of flexible work-like activities. 

For more information, contact TRACQS by calling 1800 430 779, or email us at info@tracqs.com.au

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