Customer testimonials
Susan Riggs
Sonnet Orr
Neil Platt
Nathan Williams
Jo Best
Luis Arroyo
Mark Lamberth
Greg Ritchie
Rob Doro
James and Jim Scott
Sharon Finnan
Julie-Ann Presley
Simon Farrar
Anthony Evans
Tanya Smith
Recognition of Prior Learning success inspires further study
Susan Riggs walked into the Gladstone Skilling Solutions Queensland centre looking for information on how she could gain Recognition of Prior Learning for her work experience and skills in youth work.
I had enjoyed a gratifying career in hospitality, retail and youth work, but was now looking to enhance and strengthen my career by obtaining the certificate III in Youth Work," Susan said.
"The Gladstone Skilling Solutions centre provided a prompt and informative service and I appreciated receiving the supportive phone calls throughout the experience," Susan said.
As a Skilling Solutions Queensland customer, Susan was eligible for a subsidy of $500 towards the cost of her Recognition of Prior Learning process at TAFE.
Susan chose the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE to complete the formal assessment, and with the achievement of the Certificate III in Youth Work, Susan said the experience gave her the confidence to pursue further study in Community Services.
Susan went on to successfully complete the Certificate III Community Services qualification and said "after 2 years in my current position without any qualifications I now feel a sense of achievement and enjoy my Youth Worker role even more".
Recognition of skills leads to a Diploma of Business Administration
After seeing an advertisement in the local newspaper, Sonnet Orr visited the Bundaberg Skilling Solutions Queensland centre to find out how she could turn her skills and experience into a nationally accredited qualification.
Having a successful business administration career in a number of industries, Sonnet met with Skilling Solutions Queensland consultant Emma Draper to find out how she could recognise her skills and experience.
During her face-to-face interview, Sonnet was given a referral letter to complete her Diploma of Business Administration at Wide Bay Institute of TAFE.
"The consultant at Skilling Solutions Queensland Bundaberg centre was very good and provided me with heaps of information and tips," Sonnet said.
Since upgrading her qualifications, Sonnet is working to progress her career in business administration where her passion lies.
Diploma accomplished through skills recognition
For the last eight years Neil Platt has been working in the manufacturing industry in an advanced manufacturing specialist role.
Wanting to discuss how he could obtain recognition of prior learning for his experience, Neil made an appointment with consultant Regan Edwards from the Mackay Skilling Solutions Queensland centre.
During his appointment, Regan used the Smart Skilling Indicator tool to map Neil's experience to a Diploma of Competitive Manufacturing.
Neil was given a referral letter outlining a list of registered training organisations he could approach to complete the recognition of prior learning process.
Neil contacted The Improve Group and commenced the recognition of prior learning process immediately.
"Due to my years of experience and the quality of information I supplied, the recognition of prior learning process was very smooth and timely. Also, The Improve Group were very professional and prompt," Neil said.
Neil completed the recognition of prior learning process with The Improve Group within a month.
"The team from Skilling Solutions Queensland Mackay centre were more than willing to assist me with my endeavours to successfully attain the Diploma in Competitive Manufacturing and the service was fantastic," Neil said.
Volunteer skills formally recognised
Nathan Williams has enhanced his future employment prospects by gaining formal recognition of his volunteer experience towards a Certificate IV in Front Line Management.
The Bundaberg resident says he has broadened his employment opportunities by turning his seven years of volunteer experience at the Australian Sugar Cane Railway into a qualification.
"I have assisted management at the railway in operations and maintenance and have now commenced in a new role as the environment coordinator," Nathan said.
"I visited Skilling Solutions Queensland as they are well known as a credible service delivered by the Department of Education and Training and I wanted to find out how they could assist me to enhance my career pathway."
"The staff were friendly and efficient and were well known for quality customer service," he said.
Nathan was provided with an indication of the recognition he could achieve towards the certificate IV qualification.
He was then referred to Job Smart, a local training organisation contracted with Skilling Solutions Queensland to complete the formal assessment of his skills.
"Job Smart was quick in assisting me through the recognition of prior learning process," Nathan said.
Since completing the qualification, Nathan believes he is in a better position to take on new roles in the region if they become available.
"I now have a better standing in the community since gaining the qualification," he said.
Qualification sows the seeds of business growth
Landsborough resident Jo Best has gained a formal qualification and started her own business after accessing the Queensland Government's career and training service Skilling Solutions Queensland.
Jo, 39, obtained the Diploma of Horticulture through recognition of prior learning after undertaking an interview at the Skilling Solutions Queensland centre in Maroochydore.
"I wanted a qualification to enhance my career opportunities so I contacted Skilling Solutions Queensland," Jo said.
"Skilling Solutions Queensland gave me an opportunity to gain a qualification through recognition of my work experience, which has increased my confidence and knowledge within the industry."
"I have now opened my own landscape design business as a result of gaining the qualification," she said.
After her interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland, Jo was referred to Sunshine Coast TAFE, a training organisation contracted with Skilling Solutions Queensland to undertake the formal assessment of her industry skills.
At the completion of her assessment, Jo was awarded the entire diploma qualification through recognition of prior learning.
Recognition of skills results in wage increase
Multicultural Community Relations Officer, Luis Arroyo has received a Diploma of Community Development through recognition of prior learning and a pay rise after accessing Skilling Solutions Queensland.
Motivated by Skilling Solutions Queensland's good reputation amongst the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Community (CALD) in Gladstone, Luis contacted the service to explore ways to enhance his career options.
"Skilling Solutions Queensland has built a good reputation with several CALD clients and the very good word of mouth motivated me to access the service," he said.
The Skilling Solutions Queensland team worked with Luis to identify how his skills and experience aligned with a range of Community Service qualifications.
They then assisted Luis to select the qualification he wished to pursue through formal recognition of his skills and referred him to Bremer Institute of TAFE, a contracted training provider.
"The Gladstone staff members were very hospitable, knowledgeable and helpful in assisting me to identify and develop a career pathway," Luis said.
Luis then completed the formal recognition process and was awarded the entire Diploma qualification.
He has also received a pay rise from his employer a result of obtaining the qualification.
"The Skilling Solutions Queensland is customised for individuals and fast and effective and it provides you with instant outcomes to enhance your career pathway," Luis said.
Did you know that recognition of yours skills is quick and simple?
Turning your skills into a formal qualification is quick and simple according to Toowoomba resident Mark Lamberth.
Mark, 39 has achieved a Certificate III in Transport and Logistics through recognition of prior learning, a process he describes favourably.
"The whole process was very quick and simple," Mark said.
He has also started a new role as a contractor for a number of Auctioneer agencies in Toowoomba.
Faced with redundancy from KR Castlemaine in November 2009, Mark took the opportunity to explore his career options at an expo held by the Queensland Government's Rapid Response Team.
It was at the expo that Mark booked an interview with Skilling Solutions Queensland to identify how he could turn his skills into a formal qualification to assist him to open up his career options once KR Castlemaine had closed.
Skilling Solutions Queensland provided Mark with an indication of the recognition he could achieve towards the Certificate III qualification.
Mark was then referred to one of Skilling Solutions Queensland's contracted training organisations Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE to complete the formal recognition of prior learning process.
Mark was also eligible for a Skilling Solutions Queensland subsidy towards the cost of the formal assessment process.
"Skilling Solutions Queensland was very helpful and supportive which encouraged me to successfully attain my formal qualification," he said.
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.