Pathways and Journeys

In this episode, we’re exploring the power of vocational education through real-life stories — from students who started their journey in high school, to career changers, to apprentices building sets and shaping communities.  We have a fantastic group of Queensland Training award success stories.

If you're a student figuring out your path, or a parent wanting to understand what’s possible, you’re in the right place.

Let’s meet four incredible voices in VET and get started with their stories!

Guests:
 - 

• Jessica Bischel (2025 QTA Metropolitan Region Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year) 
• Felicity Wadsworth (2025 QTA North Coast Region Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year) 
• Christopher Reppel (2025 QTA Tropical North Queensland Region Harry Hauenschild Apprentice of the Year) 
• Harry Roberts – 2024 QLD Apprentice of the Year

Facilitator: Cara Jenkin

Thank you to the Queensland Government  for their assistance with this Vodcast

Interview on ABC Radio Queensland

Jennah's training journey started when her brother, also a refrigeration technician, asked her to help out a few hours a week. From there, Jennah grew a keen interest in the industry and, with the completion of her Certificate III in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration in 2021, she is believed to be the only qualified female refrigeration technician in Cairns – a statistic she's hoping to help change.

Jennah was named the 2022 Queensland Apprentice of the Year and 2022 Australian Apprentice of the Year at the Australian Training Awards. 

"Sharing my story and showing other people what is possible and giving hope to others."

Audio credit: ABC Radio Queensland, Susan Graham-Ryan - Mornings Presenter - ABC Radio Queensland

RPL is not well understood but if you already have industry experience it could help you get formally recognized for those skills and potentially help you to forward your career or help you land the job you have always wanted.

This Podcast will examine what RPL is specifically in the human services sector, the opportunities, and how to access them.

Our guest is Lisa Bale, HSSO National RPL Project Lead

This podcast series explores the world of mineral and resources careers in Australia. With hundreds of diverse career choices open across the mining and energy sector, opportunities exist on remote sites, in city-based offices and high-tech control and management centres, in science as well as computer laboratories, in a mix of locations across Australia, the mining industry is driving a recruitment program to showcase the career opportunities and diversity of work in the industry. They are asking people to be part of the solution, to take up the challenge and help change the industry, drive sustainability and to recognise how the industry is critical as a partner in the renewable sector and the economy

This episode guests are  Darrell Cox and Dr Gavin Lind.  Gavin is the CEO of Australian Minerals and energy skills alliance and Darrell is the Industry Engagement officer for AUSMESA   has been in the Mining industry for over 20 years.

People associate jobs with “care’ as personal care but there are diverse

careers within with industry. The opportunities are extensive in the Human services sector.  This podcast examines examine what the job opportunities are and what skills are needed as well as where to get your qualification.

 Australia will need to find 250,000 workers in the next 10 years, many of these will need to come from young people.

Our guests for this episode are Michelle Hurford who works at Mercy service  which provides community and in-home support across various parts of Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Lower Hunter region of NSW,  Sue Ellen is the Skills Development Subject Matter Specialist at HSSO.

Episode 1: The world of careers in the  of Human Services sector.

Australia will need to find 250,000 workers in the next 10 years, many of these will need to come from young people.

This podcast  looks to provide information and give advice on Human Services (what is it, where are the jobs, what skills do you need and where do you get them) as well as discuss their partnership with Year13 Positive Humanity

The guest speaker is Jodi Schmidt- CEO of HSSO

Digital is “the new black” for companies that want to thrive.  But what does “digital” really mean? Is it about technology? A new way of engaging with customers? Cost saving? Search Engine Optimisation? Remote capable handsets? Smart phones? Cloud computing? What does it all mean?

We are sitting down with Patrick Kidd today who is the CEO of the Digital Skills Organisation to explore what it all means, look at possible pathways and training options and talk on technology careers. 

AUSMESA:  Dr Gavin Lind and Savanne Canobie . 

An interview with  2 people in the industry:  Savanne)who has undertaken an apprenticeship in the industry and also been incredibly successful in winning awards and accolades for her work, obtaining insights and her view on the work and the industry- reality verses perception, insights and advice, and  Gavin who is a leading spokesperson and industry expert  who issues some of the emerging skills and needs of the industry - new technology, sustainable practices and careers.

Australia is facing a digital skills shortage. Australia needs 1.2 million Tech workers by 2030 according to a report by the Tech council of Australia. 

The report revealed that there are significant shortages, particularly for technical and experienced tech roles. Vacancy rates in tech is 60% higher than the national average and are forecast to grow at triple the rate.

The most severe shortages are in technical occupations like software programmers and computer network professionals but there are also big gaps in commercial and creative roles like product managers.

Todays podcast is to explore different people’s pathways to their job how people can get into the industry and to speak on an initiative called SkillUp which you can use to identify your digital skills and gaps and also find courses that can get you started, build your skills and get a rewarding career in the digital tech sector.

Let’s welcome our guest Liselle Pote who is Chief Product Officer at Digital Skills organisation and is involved with the SkillUp initiative 

Interview with Faith Sylvia

Australia is facing a digital skills shortage. Australia needs 1.2 million Tech workers by 2030 according to a report by the Tech council of Australia. 

The report also states that

- 1 in 2 students state that they have never been taught about digital careers.

- Only 33% of young women consider a career in tech, compared to 69% of men.

And that the main source of future tech workers will come from people transitioning from other parts of the economy,

With us today is one of the new workers in the tech industry- doing exactly that- transitioning from one industry into the tech industry and Faith is loving it.

 My guest is Faith Sylvia- who started studying coding, but whilst she loved the content in her course, the competitive environment left her feeling defeated and instead pursued a finance and insurance career. 7 years later Faith was exploring what she wanted in her career and life and decided to go back into coding, She enrolled herself in a 12-week General Assembly Bootcamp and has not looked back.

Faith describes coding as an addictive and cool combination of both logic and creativity and hopes to add as much value to Envato as they have added to her life.