Seven women from international backgrounds now have brand-new business administration skills after having to undergo up-skilling to gain employment in Australia.
The women, who all now live in Yarrabilba, have taken part in a three month Skilling Queenslanders for Work Business Administration Traineeship.
Indian migrant Krishna Koduru had spent months relentlessly applying for jobs, without any success.
Despite having a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and a good reference from the employers she had worked for back in India before migrating to Australia a year ago, the 25-year-old’s efforts to secure employment bore no fruit.
“I started losing hope,” she said.
“I must have applied for well over 100 administration and reception roles.”
But now, Ms Koduru, and the other six women who took part in the program are facing significantly improved job prospects.
The program was hosted by Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) in South Brisbane and accessed by the women through The Yarrabilba Exchange.
The Exchange is a partnership between Lendlease and south-east Queensland settlement agency Access.
It is located near the Shaw Street Oval, Yarrabilba.
Access CEO Gail Ker OAM said meeting local skills needs and delivering sustainable employment opportunities was a key focus of Access.
“Having completed the SQW program, these seven women will find their employment prospects significantly bolstered, as they now have a certificate 1 in Business Administration, local experience and good references,” she said.
“Additionally, they have developed the confidence to travel to the city and understand the benefits of actually broadening their employment goals.”
Skilling Queenslanders for Work is an initiative of the Queensland Government to provide training to people who are under-utilised or under-employed in the labour market.
