Employment Archives | Page 2 of 2 | Johnathan Thurston Academy

New partnership provides opportunities for Indigenous jobseekers

Young indigenous jobseekers will be given access to opportunities as part of a new two year partnership between the Johnathan Thurston Academy and Australian gold mining company Evolution Mining. Applications of interest are now being accepted.

Under the partnership, indigenous youth aged between 16 and 25will be able to access the education and employment opportunities available at four of Evolution’s regional operations – Mt Carlton and Cracow in Queensland, Cowal in NSW and Mungari in Western Australia – through the Academy’s website.

“We are committed to maximising local and Indigenous employment opportunities wherever possible,” Anika McManus, Evolution Mining Group Manager External and Indigenous Relations explained.

“And we are excited about our partnership with the JTAcademy as their programs will help remove some of the barriers we identified that were preventing some locals from applying for roles.

“Supporting people in the communities in which we operate to competitively apply for jobs, not just with us, but with any company, will benefit both the community and Evolution.

“Targeted training and support around writing job applications, compiling a resume and, importantly, having the confidence to attend and succeed in a job interview, will help more people access available jobs and to have fulfilling careers.”

Thurston said the partnership had the potential to meaningfully change the lives of some who will receive work and training through it and he called on young people to register their interest.

“This partnership has been designed to allow young people in regional communities to get a leg up not just through training and employment, but even through the confidence-building which comes with that,” Thurston said.

“The Academy has been developed to help youth across Australia have more opportunities, and partnerships like this allow us to provide additional support for indigenous youth, especially those in remote and regional communities.

“But if they are to take advantage of the opportunities which are being provided, youth need to get a little pro-active and register their interest to be part of the program. It’s easy. They just need to go to the website: http://jtacademy.com.au/evolution/.”

Thanks Lendlease for joining us on this journey

More than four years ago we commenced the planning and development of the Johnathan Thurston Academy with a clear vision of supporting young people to succeed in employment, education, health and wellbeing.

When having conversations with various corporates, it was always our goal to partner with companies and organisations who share the same values and are like-minded in caring for their people and their community.

At our very first meeting with Lendlease, we knew immediately that we were two like-minded organisations and shared values of respect, integrity, collaboration and trust. What we didn’t realise at that meeting was that Lendlease would soon become our Major Employment Partner – and more so treat us and look after us like family.

Lendlease is a property and construction company with global expertise in shaping cities and creating strong and connected communities. Chief Executive Officer for Lendlease Building, Dale Connor, recognised an opportunity to partner with the JTAcademy to help influence the training and employment outcomes for young jobseekers across Australia.

“When we met with Johnathan, Academy Director Sam Ayoub and General Manager Samantha Johnson, we immediately recognised a clear alignment of objectives,” Connor said of the partnership.

“Both the Academy and Lendlease are committed to supporting the local communities in which we operate whether it is through employment, training or engagement with small to medium enterprise.

“We shook hands on it at the time agreeing Lendlease would be there for the Academy and we have been true to our word. We are proud of the work we have done together and the opportunities it has created.”

JT said the Academy was very much a start-up when the first meeting with Lendlease took place.

“The support and trust from Lendlease meant the world to myself and my team. It is a partnership that will forever remain as our very first. Lendlease backing us was a pivotal point in our journey. Forever grateful.

“We knew exactly what we wanted to achieve, but we also recognised that to achieve it, we needed strategic corporate partners who could help us walk-the-walk and not just talk-the-talk,” Thurston said.

“Samantha literally drew a mud map of the partnership using stick figures at our first brainstorming meeting with Lendlease. We have kept those drawings because they remind us of our humble beginnings and what we set out to achieve – to make a meaningful and very real difference in the lives of young Australians.

“We have achieved a lot in just a couple of years and we could not have done that without the support of Lendlease.”

JT said the partnership with Lendlease had opened several doors to additional employment partners which would not have been accessible otherwise and they have also facilitated introductions to organisations which have become sponsors, supporters and partners.

When Lendlease added a link to its website to the JTAcademy’s job board, visitor numbers to the site went through the roof opening doors for new generations of youth to access opportunities to learn and work.

“The solid foundation we have been able to build is thanks to the generosity and support of Lendlease, and means we are now looking to launch an ambitious new youth and diversity employment program at the end of 2019 – JT2020, which I know will be a game-changer for employment,” Thurston said.

“We are excited about what we have already achieved and even more excited about our plans for the future to help more youth in more communities.”

Visit our website and read more here.

JT kicking youth employment goals

In the Autumn 2019 edition of the industry publication Resource People, produced by the Australian Resources & Energy Group (AMMA), Johnathan Thurston reflected on the partnership between Queensland Field Mining Services (QFMS) and the JTAcademy.

“In many remote and rural areas, the mining sector forms the backbone of the local economy,” he said. “Any chance we have to partner with organisations working in this space who also want to see young people trained and employed, we are happy to talk with.”

Jason Holt, COO at CFMS added: “When we received the call to say we were accepted to work with the JTAcademy we were over the moon as there was some very large companies involved and we could see the opportunities it could open up and help to drive diversity in our workplace.”

QFMS has been a supporter of the JTAcademy since it was launched in March 2018.

To read the full story on page 30 click here.

JT gives Summer a kick start

Ibis Mackay manager Scott Grant with Summer Seden who trained through the Johnathan Thurston Academy. Daily Mercury.

A true JTAcademy success story, Summer Seden spoke with the Daily Mercury earlier this year about her journey from nervously starting a traineeship at ibis Mackay hotel to now securing full-time work at the venue.

Summer was connected with the ibis through the JTAcademy and completed a traineeship in hospitality. She impressed management so much; she now has a permanent job.

“A lot of people ask me how I got my job because they are having trouble,” Summer told the paper. “I tell them to go to the JTAcademy because there is no harm in trying.”

JT said the role of the academy is to connect youth with work and training opportunities.

“They just need to be given a go by businesses who believe in them and are happy to take the time to train them,” he said.

To read the full story, visit the Daily Mercury’s website here.

JT Academy Partnerships Making Life-Changing Impacts for Jobseekers

Stable and supportive employment opportunities have provided life-changing impacts for south Queensland Indigenous residents thanks to partnerships between the Johnathan Thurston (JT) Academy and national businesses.

Torque Heritage chief executive officer Michael Hall said they had placed around 100 Indigenous candidates into employment within Queensland solar farm developments and the JT Academy partnership had played a big part in achieving this.

“We are really on board with everything it [the JT Academy] stands for, we want to be part of it well into the future and continue empowering Indigenous and non-indigenous people to achieve sustainable life-changing results for themselves,” he said.

Butchulla man Wayne Tobane said his life just kept getting better after stable local employment through Torque Heritage in a Hervey Bay solar farm enabled him to stay close to his community, pay his mortgage and provide for his four children.

“I’m over the moon and so grateful to be part of the local workforce and look after my boys,” he said.

“I was going to have to relocate but this opportunity came just at the right time and was a real life-saver.

“I’ve really felt supported, learned new skills and had the chance to gain certification that will help my employability into the future, which all has a positive flow-on effect for my family.”

AccorHotels Indigenous programs executive Kedea Atherton said the JT Academy partnership was generating a great response, with many of the recent Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane program attendees coming via the JT Academy.

“Through our [Indigenous employment] program, many attendees have been offered positions at AccorHotels,” she said.

“It’s important we provide sustainable and authentic opportunities and through the partnership with the JT Academy we have reached a greater number of applicants and built good relationships.”

The recently retired NRL star Johnathan Thurston, earlier this year embarked on the Brisbane based JT Academy venture, with the intention of empowering people to achieve their life goals.

Thurston said each participant would leave the Academy with a new set of skills to tackle their respective ambitions, whether it is employment, education, health or sport.

Check out the JT Academy Jobs Board here >

Why the Johnathan Thurston Academy needs partners like CQFMS

The work being done by the Johnathan Thurston Academy to ensure youth have the chance to get on-the-job-training would simply not be possible without the support of our corporate partners such as CQField Mining Services (CQFMS).

CQFMS has been a strong and active supporter of JT Academy since it opened in early 2018, regularly posting job ads on the site and taking on trainees and apprentices.

“What we are trying to accomplish here would simply not be possible without the support of companies like CQ Field Mining Services,” Samantha Johnson, General Manager of the JT Academy, said.

“We have the ideas of what we want to achieve but we need active engagement in what we are doing – giving kids a chance by offering the education, training or work – if we are to be successful.

“We know that CQFMS is hoping their example will encourage others to get on board and partner with the JT Academy to make a meaningful difference to lives of our youth.”

CQFMS is a maintenance and construction contractor based in Central Queensland, specialising in Project, Field and Diesel Maintenance servicing the Australian and Pacific region mining and gas industries.

The company was established in 2006 and has a workforce of some 300 staff. Being privately owned, the company prides itself on “looking after its employees”.

“CQFMS values the importance of offering opportunities to those who are new to the industry, everyone needs to start somewhere and when surrounded by the right team it makes for positive results” Jason Holt, Director, said.

“We are a premium sponsor of the JT Academy and support many community events and associations throughout the year.”

Samantha said the Academy thanks CQFMS for their ongoing industry support and it’s vital to help the Academy realise its goals of helping youth into education and training.

“We have been lucky to have the support of a number of corporate partners including CQFMS,” Johnson said. “In keeping with the ethos and principles of the Academy, we only partner with employers of choice who have a proven track record of supporting their staff through the good times and the bad times.

“CQMS is one such company which prides itself on its engagement with its staff and the community and we are very proud to have them on board.”

If you are interested in partnering with the JT Academy, contact Samantha on info@jtacademy.com.au. If you are interested in finding out more about CQFMS, visit their website or email enquiries@cqfms.com.au