North Queensland Toyota Cowboys players Hezron Murgha and Jake Granville took time out from training this week to thank the Cowboys Leagues Club for supporting local job hunters and meet two Cowboys work experience trainees.
Trainees Saulo Waia and Selina Zaro are participants in the Cowboys' Dream, Believe, Achieve program, which is funded by the Queensland State Government and provides local Indigenous Australians with training, work experience and employment opportunities in the hospitality industry.
As part of their contribution to the program, the Cowboys Leagues Club are providing work experience opportunities for seven trainees.
"The Cowboys Dream, Believe, Achieve program is a great initiative and we've seen first-hand the positive impact the program has on the students,” Cowboys Leagues Club general manager Clint Williams said.
“The two-week placement at our club provides the students with excellent hands-on experience and a valuable insight into the hospitality industry.
"Two students from last year’s program, Adrian and Matilda, were offered casual employment at the club after their placement, and one year on both remain valued employees – Matilda was recently voted employee of the month, which is a great achievement.”
On hand to thank the Cowboys Leagues Club for providing work experience opportunities for the group, Cowboys hooker Jake Granville said: “It can be tough when you’re trying to break into the workforce like these guys have just been able to do.
“Just like in football, you need the skills and the right attitude to get a position on the team, you also need the opportunity to prove yourself and the Leagues Club has done that for these guys.”
For program trainees Saulo and Selina, Dream, Believe, Achieve has been an extremely positive experience.
“This course has motivated and encouraged me to progress towards my future goals,” Saulo said.
“The past three months studying in the Dream, Believe, Achieve program has given me more than I hoped for," Selina said.
Cowboys Dream, Believe, Achieve is focused on providing appropriate training and qualifications to Indigenous Australians aspiring to work in the hospitality industry and then assisting them to take the next step in converting their acquired skills into paid employment in an industry of choice.
The program's Indigenous mentors support the students throughout their participation, with the work experience component providing exposure to real work environments and demonstrating their value as potential employees.
