How did you get your traineeship?
I was offered a workplace traineeship in Business Cert III through my employer at the time, Coast2Bay Housing Group, at the end of my temporary three-month contract with them as an Administration Support Officer and Receptionist. I had made a good impression and the organisation wanted to keep me, but didn't have the budget for a full-time worker. The Chief Operating Officer found the traineeship and offered it to me in my last few weeks of my contract. I said yes, obviously! They did all the paperwork and the transition into the traineeship was smooth.
What did a typical day at work look like for you?
I would work full-time hours, however a portion of my working day and week had a number of training and study blocks set aside for me to work on my traineeship modules. My traineeship facilitator also visited me a few times each month to go through any questions I had, and give me support where needed. As I was working as a receptionist and also gaining experience in tenancy administration at Coast2Bay, it was super easy to apply what I'd learnt in my Cert III studies to my work, and it gave me a great introduction to the sector.
What were some of the benefits and challenges of a traineeship for you?
Benefits:
- Save money on bulk Uni/TAFE Fees
- Ability to attain a qualification while working
- Not having to sacrifice my work availability to attend a study campus
- Able to immediately apply gained knowledge from study in the workplace
- Staying employed!
Challenges:
- Hourly pay rate was lower than the typical full-time salary
- Managing workload with study was sometimes challenging (but I think that's every person's experience when studying!)
Where are you working now, or what has the traineeship helped lead to?
More than five years later, I am still in the housing and homelessness sector! I am currently working at Q Shelter as a Project Support Officer, working on the HomeNow project and the WellNow workforce wellbeing program. The traineeship only took one year and has opened so many doors to professional development opportunities, training and events. One of the best parts has been connecting with all the vibrant and dedicated professionals who work hard to provide better housing outcomes for Queenslanders.
I found the traineeship to be really helpful in guiding my career. As a person with ADHD, for a long time I struggled to figure out what I wanted to do with my career, and I thought I had to know exactly what I wanted to be and not stray from that path. Thankfully, low-risk opportunities like work-based traineeships have really helped lead me to the incredible career path I now walk on!
What advice would you give people looking to secure a traineeship?
Have a look at any traineeships that align with the work you currently do or want to do, and talk to your manager about them. If you're not currently working, approach organisations you're interested in that are currently hiring and see if a traineeship could be an option for you.
Traineeships exist for a whole range of career pathways and interests, many of which relate to the housing and homelessness sector. Visit the Queensland Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET) website for more information, as well as a full list of traineeships currently available.
