Mackay’s ‘Building a Future’ Project Celebrates First Graduates and New Beginnings

At IDEAL Placements, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, and we are incredibly proud of the recent achievements from our ‘Building a Future’ project in Mackay. This 13-week programme, delivered under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) initiative, recently celebrated the graduation of its first intake, marking a significant step forward for many individuals.

Participants, ranging in age from 17 to 52, completed a comprehensive training package. This included a Certificate II in Resource & Infrastructure, essential safety qualifications like a White Card and First Aid, and practical skills such as a Forklift ticket and high-risk work licences. These qualifications are vital for securing roles in various industries, opening up new pathways to employment.

Many of the participants joined the project facing complex challenges and diverse barriers to employment. Our dedicated team worked alongside them, providing tailored support and guidance throughout the programme and continuing post-graduation. It is a testament to their resilience and hard work ethic that the group embraced the training with enthusiasm, leading to remarkable outcomes.

We are thrilled to announce that seven of the ten graduates have successfully secured employment, demonstrating the real impact of local support. The remaining graduates are also on positive pathways, with one pursuing further training for emergency services and another actively engaged in job interviews. This success highlights our commitment to supporting people to build skills, confidence, and pathways to meaningful work.

Building on this momentum, a second intake of participants has already commenced their journey, with many now gaining valuable on-the-job coaching experience. This ongoing success is part of a broader picture: since the start of 2024, our SQW projects have supported 42 individuals, with 31 now employed, two pursuing further study, and one successfully self-employed. Together, we are creating opportunity and building a more inclusive workforce in Mackay.