Four Torres Strait Islander workers are the latest recruits to remote store operator Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ)’s innovative retail trainee program.
The participants are aiming to gain a Certificate I in Retail Work Skills by the end of their six-month traineeships, which are funded through the Queensland Government Department of Employment, Small Business and Training’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) initiative.
The four trainees are hosted at three CEQ locations, with two participants at Thursday Island Mitre 10, one at Col Jones on Thursday Island, and the other at IBIS Horn Island supermarket.
The latest trainees are:
Elisa Miskin (IBIS supermarket, Horn Island)
Tomken Savage (Col Jones Homewares, Thursday Island)
Aaron Guligo (Mitre 10, Thursday Island)
Joshua Yamashita (Mitre 10, Thursday Island).
Having completed their first unit in work safety on Thursday Island, the participants will now undertake online training through the National Retail Association, with trainer support readily available throughout the units.
The nationally-recognised qualification provides a pathway to work in a diverse range of retail settings including supermarkets, specialty retailers, department stores, and quick service restaurants.
CEQ Chief Executive Officer Ian Copeland said CEQ was passionate about providing training opportunities for its employees, the majority of which are Torres Strait Islander or Aboriginal people.
“We have a real desire to establish local people in local jobs, and we can help achieve this by investing in the future, as shown throughout all our stores,” said Mr Copeland.
“All four trainees are an absolute credit to CEQ, themselves, their families, and their communities in general.
“To undergo their retail traineeship, they’ll have to show outstanding dedication and expertise in their work.
“We’re proud to have Elisa, Tomken, Aaron, and Joshua on board as CEQ trainees to help develop their careers in retail.”
Mr Copeland said CEQ has a proud history of working closely with remote communities across northern Australia.
“CEQ always plays an active role in the communities where we operate,” he said.
“These trainees are just another example of the opportunities CEQ creates for Indigenous people across Far North Queensland.”
CEQ is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for providing goods and essential services to the Torres Strait, Northern Peninsula Area (NPA), and mainland Aboriginal remote communities through its 28 stores.
CEQ’s Corporate Office is based in Cairns, and manages Islanders Board of Industry and Service (IBIS) and Aboriginal Business, Industry and Service (ABIS) remote stores, as well as other stores including Col Jones and Mitre 10 on Thursday Island.
For more information, visit www.ceqld.org.au