Customer testimonials
Greg Ritchie
Rob Doro
James and Jim Scott
Sharon Finnan
Julie-Ann Presley
Simon Farrar
Anthony Evans
Tanya Smith
Stephen Phillips
Melynda McBratney
Subhashni Appanna
Clive Pickering
A new career direction for cricket star
After years as an Australian sporting hero, former cricketer Greg Ritchie has formalised his skills and is now assisting the next generation of sporting stars to realise their career goals.
Greg gained the Certificate III in Sport and Recreation through recognition of prior learning after visiting Skilling Solutions Queensland in Southport.
"I'm in the process of beginning a new business with my wife Rachel and require assistance with gaining certain qualifications," Greg said.
"I have worked in a variety of industries such as media, insurance, travel, golf and cricket and a qualification is going to help us start our new careers."
"We want to help young people to expand their career options when they decide to enter professional sport."
"We want to be able to show people how to plan their careers for when they finish working at the elite level of sport and also assist people who are just as passionate about sport but may not wish to play professionally."
Greg undertook an interview at Skilling Solutions Queensland to identify how his work experience and skills could be recognised towards the certificate III qualification.
After his interview he was referred to One Step Further, a local training organisation contracted with Skilling Solutions Queensland, to complete the formal assessment of his skills.
Greg has now achieved the certificate III qualification and is on the pathway to starting his own business and realising his own career goals.
"People can contribute hugely to the [sports] industry when guided well, this business is a way we can give something back," Greg said.
"The Skilling Solutions Queensland consultant was very informative and helpful."
"The experience has been most enjoyable due to the excellent service provided," he said.
Twenty-five years of farming experience formalised in weeks
After twenty-five years of working in the agricultural industry, Rob Doro has finally formalised his skills and achieved two diplomas through recognition of prior learning.
The Warwick resident has gained the Diploma of Rural Business Management and the Diploma of Agriculture after accessing Skilling Solutions Queensland in Toowoomba.
And, as a job seeker, Rob now has increased confidence about his future career opportunities.
"Achieving these diploma qualifications has given me the confidence I need to re-enter the job market," Rob said.
Rob, 42, was working as the Chief Operations Manager at Killarney Abattoirs when he decided to explore his training options.
He was aware that the plant would cease operations in 2010 and wanted to equip himself for the jobs market.
A referral from Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE (SQIT) resulted in Rob contacting Skilling Solutions Queensland in Toowoomba.
Rob's Skilling Solutions Queensland consultant provided him with an indication of how his skills aligned with the Diploma of Rural Business Management.
Rob was then referred back to SQIT to undertake the recognition of prior learning process.
As an eligible customer, Rob was provided with a Skilling Solutions Queensland subsidy to assist with the cost of the formal assessment of his skills towards the Diploma of Rural Business Management.
Due to the depth of Rob's work experience and skills, Rob was also eligible to gain the Diploma of Agriculture through recognition of prior learning.
Rob has now achieved both diploma level qualifications and a boost to his confidence as a job seeker.
"The information I received during my interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland was excellent," Rob said.
"My assessor at SQIT also offered a very professional service."
Future of family business secured in two weeks
Gaining formal qualifications through skills recognition has become a family and business affair for Toowoomba's Scott family.
Both James Scott Senior and Junior obtained the Certificate III in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport) through recognition of prior learning in just two weeks after accessing Skilling Solutions Queensland.
As a transport and logistics service provider to the oil and gas industry, attainment of the formal qualification was mandatory.
By obtaining the certificate III, James and James now meet the requirements for their family business, 3JL, to continue as a transport and logistics service provider to the booming oil and gas industry in Queensland.
"The first step towards satisfying the oil and gas industry is that we have the necessary skills to provide quality services with safety as the focus," said James Scott Snr.
After gaining an indication from Skilling Solutions Queensland of how their skills and experience aligned with the certificate III, James and James were referred to Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE to complete the formal assessment process.
As customers of Skilling Solutions Queensland they were eligible for a subsidy towards the cost of the recognition process.
Within two weeks of their initial interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland they had both achieved the qualification.
"This process was a quick and easy way to obtain the formal verification of our skills that we needed," James said.
Netball star achieves career goal
After more than a decade passing a ball around a netball court, former Australian netball star Sharon Finnan is now passing her sporting knowledge and experience on to school students. Sharon, who represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games and the World Championships and won a Medal of the Order Of Australia (OAM) for services to sport, now works as an Indigenous mentor with Primary After School Sports (PASS) Australia.
PASS, a community-based organisation that uses sport to provide mentoring programs for youth in need, developed an Indigenous Youth Leadership model in 2005 using peers as coaches and role models to deliver multi-sport programs. "I enjoy my role immensely as it allows me to indulge in my passion for sport while passing on my skills and knowledge to others," said Sharon.
Although Sharon had a wealth of skills and experience in the sport and recreation field, her job required her to have a relevant formal qualification. "My role as an Area Manager and mentor at PASS Australia required me to have the certificate III qualification. I wanted to obtain a qualification relevant to my twenty years of experience in the sport and recreation industry."
Sharon contacted the Queensland Government's service Skilling Solutions Queensland to identify how her experience could be recognised towards a qualification. After an interview at her local customer service centre in Cairns, she worked with her Skilling Solutions Queensland consultant to select the qualification and training organisation that could best meet her career and training goals. "The service at Skilling Solutions Queensland was very efficient, professional and friendly," said Sharon. With the support of her Skilling Solutions Queensland consultant, Sharon went to Tropical North Queensland Institute of TAFE to complete the formal recognition process and gain a Certificate III in Community Recreation.
Julie-Ann paints the way for women in trades
With a new qualification under her painter's cap, Julie-Ann Presley has proven that the construction industry is no longer a place just for men.
After six years in the painting industry, the 29-year-old has become a qualified painter by achieving the Certificate III in Painting and Decorating through recognition of prior learning (RPL).
And, she has also received a pay-rise as a result of achieving the formal qualification.
"I wanted to enhance my current career and I have gained a better income by getting my trade qualification," Julie-Ann said.
The Cairns resident began her quest for recognition of her skills with a visit to Skilling Solutions Queensland, the State Government's free training and career information service.
During her interview, Julie-Ann was given the opportunity to work with the Skilling Solutions Queensland consultant to identify how her skills and experience could be recognised towards the certificate III qualification.
"The service was very informative and very friendly," she said.
She then contacted Australian Construction Training Services, a training provider contracted with Skilling Solutions Queensland, to provide fast-track RPL services.
Within a matter of months she had completed the recognition of prior learning process and was the proud owner of the certificate III qualification.
Qualification constructs Australian career pathway
After months of searching for work, Simon Farrar is now the proud owner of a formal qualification a new job.
The Hervey Bay resident has achieved the Certificate III in Carpentry through recognition of prior learning and has commenced employment building decks with a local Hervey Bay builder.
Mr Farrar, 37, had over five years work experience within the construction industry in the United Kingdom when he migrated with his wife to Hervey Bay in 2008.
Not sure what his career options were, he visited Skilling Solutions Queensland in Hervey Bay.
He undertook the Smart Skilling Indicator service to identify how his skills aligned with the certificate III in carpentry.
He then completed the formal recognition of prior learning process with Australian Construction Training Services.
Within three months, Simon had gained the qualification and had secured employment.
"I would strongly recommend the services of SSQ to everyone who is looking to get skills and knowledge mapped to a specific nationally accredited qualification" he said.Classroom not required to obtain formal qualifications
Anthony Evans has turned his 15 years of business experience into two diplomas without having to set foot into a classroom.
Anthony, 50, has achieved a Diploma of Business and a Diploma of Business Management through formal recognition of his workplace skills.
"I wanted to obtain formal qualifications but didn't want to have to step into a classroom to do so," Anthony said.
For the last 14 years, Anthony has worked at Upholstering Distributors Australia (UDA) where is now the state sales manager. Before that, he worked as an upholsterer.
He undertook a skills pre-assessment at Skilling Solutions Queensland, a State Government career information service, to identify how his work experience and skills could assist him in gaining a formal business qualification.
After his interview, Anthony was referred to the Learning Collaborative, a training organisation contracted with Skilling Solutions Queensland, where he completed a formal skills assessment.
As a customer of Skilling Solutions Queensland, Anthony also received a subsidy of $1000 towards the cost of the formal recognition process.
"I was referred to the Learning Collaborative for the Diploma of Business and was surprised when they could assess me against the Diploma of Business Management also," he said.
"I was cynical about gaining the qualification at first as I didn't want to go back into a classroom environment.
"The process was really simple. I met with the assessor and provided evidence of the work I had completed and two weeks later I was sent the two Diplomas." he said.
The proof is in the job: Qualification leads to employment
Tanya Smith is the proud owner of a new job, thanks to one thing - the qualification she obtained through recognition of prior learning.
The Cairns resident obtained the Diploma of Business (Human Resources) through recognition of prior learning and then won a new position at Rio Tinto Coal Australia, an outcome she knows was a direct result of the formal qualification.
"I got the position because I had the qualification," Tanya said.
Tanya contacted Skilling Solutions Queensland in Cairns to identify how she could formalise her experience within various human resource and employee relations roles.
After her interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland, Tanya was referred to Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE to complete the formal recognition process.
Tanya was also eligible for a Skilling Solutions Queensland subsidy, provided by the Queensland Government, towards the cost of the formal recognition process.
"The service was excellent, there was minimal cost and fuss to have my skills formally recognised," Tanya said.
"Even though I was working in the Torres Strait Islands at the time, I attained recognition through evidence provided through email and technology," she said.
Tanya successfully gained the entire qualification through recognition of prior learning and commenced her search for employment.
Tanya has now commenced her new job with Rio Tinto Coal Australia and describes the services provided by Skilling Solutions Queensland and Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE as excellent.
"I could not have asked for a better service," Tanya said.
Are you like Tanya and have years of workplace skills and experience without a formal qualification? Would you like to know how you could gain recognition of your skills towards a formal qualification? Contact Skilling Solutions Queensland today on 1300 654 687 or visit www.skillingsolutions.qld.gov.au to make an appointment with one of the trained consultants at your local Skilling Solutions Queensland customer service centre.
RPL - not a hard process
Turning 25 years of work experience and skills into two formal qualifications can be an easy process according to Stephen Phillips.
The Redbank Plains resident has achieved the Certificate III in Transport and Logistics (Warehousing and Storage) and the Certificate III in Transport and Logistics (Road Transport) through recognition of prior learning.
"The process was not hard at all," Stephen said.
"It gave me the 'piece of paper' that employers require and an opportunity to progress to better wages and work conditions," he said.
Stephen attributes the ease of gaining the qualifications through formal skills recognition to one service - Skilling Solutions Queensland.
"Skilling Solutions Queensland was really helpful, they were easy to use," he said.
Stephen contacted Skilling Solutions Queensland in Ipswich after visiting the Skilling Solutions Queensland website.
He undertook a free interview to ascertain how he could convert his transport and logistics skills into a formal qualification to assist him enhance his career prospects.
Stephen was then referred to The Bremer Institute of TAFE to complete the formal recognition of prior learning process.
"I have now progressed with my studies and have completed the Certificate IV in Transport and Logistics," he said.
"Skilling Solutions Queensland was very encouraging to me to gain skills recognition for my own career advancement, I certainly recommend the service to others," Stephen said.
Women in trades... a clear sign of the future
Eagleby resident, Melynda McBratney, turned her 11 years of workplace skills into a formal qualification after accessing Skilling Solutions Queensland, the Queensland Government’s free training and career information service.
Ms McBratney, one of the growing number of women working in trades, achieved her Certificate III in Off-site Construction (Sign Writer and Computer Operator) through Recognition of Prior Learning.
"I have been working as a sign writer for 11 years and had no formal qualification," Ms Bratney said.
"When looking for work I was asked to produce my trade certificate which I didn't have.
"I was having difficulty getting job interviews because of not having formal qualification.
"When I did get job offers the pay was well below for my skills," she said.
Ms Bratney undertook an interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland at the Logan Hyperdome to obtain an indication of the skills she could formally recognise and put towards the certificate III qualification.
Armed with her report and referral letter she presented at Southbank Institute of Technology to undertake a formal skills assessment.
One month later she had obtained the formal qualification through Recognition of Prior Learning.
"I would not have been able to find all the necessary information by myself if not for Skilling Solutions Queensland."
"I would like to thank Skilling Solutions Queensland for all their assistance in gaining my formal qualification," Ms Bratney said.
Volunteering rejuvenates spirit and lifts self esteem
Subhashni Appanna has found a way to rejuvenate her spirit and bring her one step closer to achieving her career goals - volunteering. The stay at home mother started volunteering at Durack State School and Beaudesert State School after identifying volunteering opportunities through Skilling Solutions Queensland.
"I am designing theory backgrounds, practicals and eco-science modules for the schools," Subhashni said.
"These experiences have rejuvenated my spirit to do what I'm good at," she said.
Subhashni had been a stay at home mum for two months when she began searching for a way to lift her self esteem and assist her in progressing toward her career goal of teaching.
She contacted Skilling Solutions Queensland for an interview after discovering the service through the web site.
"I told the Skilling Solutions Queensland Consultant of my frustration with finding my career direction and she suggested voluntary work in the community.
"She provided me with the government volunteering web site Australian Volunteer Search and I stated my willingness to do volunteering," she said.
After her interview Subhashni sent an expression of interest by email to 45 schools in the Brisbane school directory and was successful in receiving an offer of a voluntary position.
The Queensland Government's Towards Q2 target aims to increase the proportion of Queenslanders volunteering in the community by 50 per cent by 2020.
If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering, contact Skilling Solutions Queensland today on 1300 654 687.
Skilled migrant reinvests into training sector
English migrant Clive Pickering is re-investing into the Queensland training sector after obtaining the Diploma of Hospitality Management through recognition of prior learning.
Clive 49 is now working as a Workplace Trainer after gaining the diploma through the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE.
"I found the whole process very quick and professional" Clive said.
Since migrating to Australia in 1999, Clive has worked in a variety of roles within the entertainment industry, building on his experience in the hospitality industry in the United Kingdom.
Interested in gaining a diploma qualification, he visited the Skilling Solutions Queensland centre in Southport to obtain information about his training options.
After undertaking the Smart Skilling Indicator service with Skilling Solutions Queensland, Clive completed the formal recognition of prior learning process with Gold Coast TAFE.
"The whole process has provided me with a valued qualification"
"In the current climate it makes perfect sense to take advantage of the Skilling Solutions Queensland service" Clive said.