Skilling Solutions Queensland teaches the teacher
After nearly 25 years teaching primary school music, Heather Wentworth decided it was time for a career change and a visit to Skilling Solutions Queensland helped her decide which career path to follow.
Employment, Training and Industrial Relations Minister Tom Barton said visiting Skilling Solutions Queensland was an excellent way for people looking for a career change to discover their career possibilities.
"Skilling Solutions Queensland is our unique, customised, face-to-face training and career information service set up by the Queensland Government under the ground-breaking SmartVET strategy," Mr Barton said.
"Whether you are looking to change your career or complete a qualification to enhance your employment prospects, visiting Skilling Solutions is a great way to get individualised information and advice."
Mrs Wentworth visited the Loganlea centre after realising she didn't know where to start in her quest for a new career.
"After doing my own research and visiting a tertiary education expo I found I had too much information and didn't know where to start. Someone recommended I visit Skilling Solutions Queensland to help get a clearer idea of what career options were open to me," Mrs Wentworth said.
"The information Skilling Solutions Queensland provided me was in-depth and exactly what I needed to hear. The consultant helped me cut through all the information I had collected and showed me what options were available.
"After 25 years of teaching I decided I wanted to work in the business world and since visiting Skilling Solutions Queensland I have enrolled in a business diploma at Southbank Institute of TAFE.
"The course I'm doing suits my needs because it allows me to continue working. It is an accelerated course which I attend two nights a week and has the potential to carry on to become a double diploma in business and human resources.
"In addition to the course options, I was also given information about employment opportunities and what level of pay I could expect to receive which helped me form realistic expectations.
Mr Barton said Skilling Solutions Queensland, which was opened by the Premier last March, is a key initiative of the State Government's three-year, $1 billion SmartVET strategy. Initially four service centres were opened; three in Logan City and one at the Open Learning Institute of TAFE at South Brisbane .
Since then a pilot satellite service has been opened at the Gold Coast TAFE and mobile part-time services have been established in Eagelby, Boonah and Beaudesert.
The first regional Skilling Solutions Queensland centre was also established in Rockhampton at the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE and was opened in early October 2005.
"Due to its success, planning is underway to expand the service by establishing centres in regional areas, one in the Stocklands Shopping Centre in Rockhampton and two further regional sites in Mackay and Townsville, expected to be opened in the first quarter of this year," Mr Barton said.