There were proud faces all around at Rydges Gladstone on Thursday afternoon where seven local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students were awarded their graduation certificate for completing the Santos GLNG Work Readiness and Retention Program.
The students were all part of the Santos GLNG school-based apprenticeship and traineeship program, delivered in partnership with BUSY At Work, local host employers and Tooloah, Tannum Sands and Gladstone State High Schools.
The school-based apprenticeship and traineeship initiative is a two-year program funded by Santos GLNG that provides pathways for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to begin work placements and complete formal qualifications in their chosen fields.
Santos GLNG Stakeholder Manager Garry Scanlan said Santos was a proud Australian-owned and operated company and was pleased to support Gladstone students through the school-based apprenticeship and traineeship program.
“The students involved in the program have been getting hands-on experience in important fields, all of which could be translated to a range of industries in future,” Mr Scanlan said.
“Supporting education and training initiatives is just one of the ways we are sharing the benefits of our world-class natural gas business with local communities, and in this case, Indigenous Australians, in a meaningful way.
“I congratulate everyone involved for their hard work over the past couple of years, and wish them well for their future careers.”
BUSY At Work CEO Paul Miles said he was delighted with the partnership between BUSY At Work and Santos GLNG.
“It is with great satisfaction that we see these students come through this innovative initiative implemented by Santos GLNG,” Mr Miles said.
“BUSY At Work provides a support role focused on retention and completion and matching the right people with the right job and employer. The critical skills training BUSY At Work provides helps set these students up for their potential employment.
“I congratulate each of the students who have graduated and wish them every success in their future career endeavours”.
Photo caption: A proud moment for all graduates: left to right: Bonnie-Jean Murratt, Vanessa Parry Team Leader – Managed People Services, BUSY At Work. Georgia McManus, Taleah Cleland, William Docherty, Billie Hamilton, Noah Saumalu-Johnson, Tyran Eggmolesse, Toni Spendelove, Training and Aboriginal Employment Coordinator, Santos GLNG .
