The latest cohort of aspiring manufacturing professionals have successfully progressed into employment opportunities after completing the Foundations in Manufacturing short course delivered by Strategix Training Group south of Brisbane.
The 10-day intensive training course, funded by Manufacturing Skills Queensland (MSQ) through the Skills Invest program, is designed to deliver fundamental skills and knowledge and prepare participants to step into employment in manufacturing and warehouse environments. From General Induction to competitive systems training and workplace health and safety procedures, it is a hands-on learning experience allowing them to put theory into practice.
Hosted at the Strategix Training Group’s training facility in Loganholme, nine participants undertook the latest course, with all nine successfully passing their final Forklift License assessment to graduate from the course.
As the Queensland manufacturing sector continues to face skill and labour gaps in key areas, MSQ Chief Executive Kris McCue said that the course was proving effective in expanding pathways to entry-level employment and equipping job seekers with identified critical skills.
“Manufacturers continue to highlight the challenges around sourcing skilled employees, which is why we are committed to developing the pipeline and delivering opportunities to grow a more sustainable skilled workforce by funding the Foundations in Manufacturing course,” said Kris.
“The course is all about equipping participants with these highly sought skills, such as forklift licensing, which gives them a jumpstart in stepping into employment with confidence, knowledge, and experience.”
A key component of the course is establishing relationships between job seekers and manufacturers, with Strategix facilitating work placement during the course to give participants an understanding of the workplace they will be stepping in to.
According to Strategix Training Group National Workplace Training Manager Michael Fitzpatrick, these connections are proving fruitful.
“It is incredibly pleasing to see all nine participants progress through the program and show outstanding development and commitment to their careers across the duration,” said Michael. “They all responded incredibly positively to the training, and showed their skills commendably during final assessments.”
“After completing the five units of competency, six participants immediately transitioned into employment opportunities, all stemming from the connections they made through the program. All nine are now engaged in manual food processing and warehousing roles with local manufacturers, which is a fantastic outcome for the course.”
The Foundations in Manufacturing course is scheduled regularly throughout the year at Strategix Training Group’s two training facilities in Loganholme and Coopers Plains, with limited places available to ensure optimal training delivery. Manufacturers looking to get involved in the program and support work placement and employment opportunities can contact Michael and the Strategix team by visiting their website.
Manufacturing Skills Queensland’s Skills Invest program will continue to invest in projects that address critical skills shortages and provide employees with the training required to drive innovation, productivity, and long-term growth in manufacturing.