Busi course a welcome boost

Christmas came early for Clontarf’s Rachel Pattel, who has landed her first job since leaving high school.

Rachel is a recent graduate of Deception Bay Community Youth Programs’ Business and Events course.

She credits the Busi Events course, during which she completed a Certificate I in Business traineeship, with helping her find work.

“It really helped build my skills and my confidence,” Rachel says.

As well as learning office skills and administration, the course involved participants working with Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism to deliver major events such as Kitefest, Jetty2Jetty and a comedy festival.

Rachel graduated from Redcliffe State High School in 2015 and says she struggled to find work, hampered by employers wanting experience.

“I graduated from high school and I couldn’t afford to go to TAFE, so I was really stuck,” she says.

Practical skills

Busi events co-ordinator Pina Asekona says Rachel’s story is a common one, and the course equips students with real-world skills, as well as ongoing support, to help them gain employment.

“As well as learning at external events, we get them to run inhouse events like our Father’s Day barbecue and a Halloween disco,” Pina says.

“We give them a budget and they have to plan the event and learn how to budget and prioritise.”

Pina says Rachel was an outstanding student who showed great commitment to the course.

“Rachel had 100 percent attendance and caught two buses to get here every day,” she says.

“One of the best things is seeing the women start here all shy and nervous and then seeing the friendships they make and them supporting each other and empowering each other.”

Rachel says she was thrilled to gain a position at Emerald Training College at Scarborough, where she will also have the opportunity to complete a Certificate 3 in business.

“They rang me back within two hours of the interview,” she says.

“As someone who was not qualified in anything six months ago, that felt great.”

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