By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Industry Education Association (SDIEA) has settled into their new location at the old St Mary’s lower campus on Palmerin Street.
SDIEA has been at the location for around a month now and their programs for the year have so far been a roaring success.
Eight locals are currently undertaking their Workplace Skills Traineeship (Business), a paid traineeship run over 18 weeks which commenced in January.
The project employs locals full time to work for SDIEA while also supporting major local events such as Stanthorpe Apple & Grape Harvest Festival, the Warwick Show, CelticFest, and more.
This project supports individuals to gain valuable workplace and administration skills whilst earning an income and contributing to our community.
SDIEA is also currently running their paid Traineeship in Conservation and Eco System Management, with 15 people across the Southern Downs employed for 20 weeks to work on partnered projects with Landcare, Southern Downs Regional Council, Queensland Parks and Wildlife, Hermitage and Rivertrust.
They have successfully delivered Certificate 3 Individual Support qualifications over the last few years, which is a direct pathway to employment in Aged/Home and Disability care.
SDIEA are very excited to be offering a Cert 2 Health Services Qualification for the first time starting this year. The program commenced in early February.
This supports broad foundational employment skills transferrable across the Health sector.
SDIEA also host PCYC’s Braking the Cycle program, which offers mentor driving lessons to young people who need assistance to gain their 100 hours of learner driving hours.
SDIEA’s programs are funded by Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative and the objective of the programs is to support people aged from 15 to 65 to gain the skills required for employment.
All qualifications and programs SDIEA offers are within key employment areas across the Southern Downs.
The organisation’s support is customised to each individual’s needs and where needed they also work to support other barriers to employment such as licence, clothing, accommodation/mental/social support referrals and more.
