Trainee & apprentice positions

Trainees and apprentices are engaged by council as part of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, and are employed through either the Youth Training Incentive, or the First Start program (which provides young people and other disadvantaged job seekers with opportunities to gain a nationally recognised qualification and paid work experience through subsidised apprenticeships and traineeships).

Council's focus during the 2011 recruitment was on environment-related or 'green' training qualifications consistent with the Queensland Government’s Green Army initiative.

In 2011, over 35 trainees/apprentices were appointed to various areas in council including Human Resources, Art Gallery, Water Operations, Engineering, Information Technology, Administration, Horticulture, Library, Finance and Community Services with positions either in Toowoomba or at one of council's district services centres.

As well as on-the-job training, trainees complete a nationally accredited qualification that is customised to their current work area.  They also take part in the Youth Project 500 Program where they learn skills such as:

• effective communication in the workplace
• personal presentation
• building positive relationships and influencing people
• team communications
• preparing and lodging an individual tax return
• RACQ driver safety awareness
• understanding human behaviour
• dealing with anger, and
• job search and interview skills.