After successfully helping hundreds of North Queenslanders gain industry qualifications and employment, Toyota Cowboys training program Dream, Believe, Achieve has been recognised for its own achievements with a prestigious regional award.
The Cowboys community program was named as the inaugural Community Training Initiative of the Year at the Queensland Regional Training Awards, for providing assistance to Queenslanders in gaining the skills and vocational education to enter or re-enter the workforce.
Dream, Believe, Achieve delivers accredited courses to unemployed and disadvantaged North Queenslanders, with mentoring support to assist in completing training and securing ongoing paid employment.
Cowboys General Manager – Community Fiona Pelling said that even though the club is driven to repay the loyalty and support received from the local community through their programs, the award came as a welcome surprise.
“This award is a shared one – many partners have come together to achieve the successful outcomes under the Cowboys Dream, Believe, Achieve program that have been recognised by this award," Ms Pelling said.
“Our training partner, Allara Learning, have been integral to the training attainment and many of our corporate partners should be acknowledged for providing opportunities for real industry experience, often leading to paid employment for our participants.
“To be recognised as a leader in the community in this space is truly humbling; this award is the pinnacle in recognition for the work we strive to do each day and is an endorsement of the results we have seen in the program since it began five years ago.
"As a community-owned club, we aim to bring the same commitment and drive for success shown by our players on field to the work we do across our range of programs, using the profile of rugby league to engage the region’s most disadvantaged.
"Through our education and training programs, we seek to inspire and assist young people and disadvantaged job seekers to embrace the role of education and training in their future and help them succeed in their education and training choices," Ms Pelling said.
Queensland Minister for Justice and Minister for Training and Skills, Hon Yvette D’Ath, presented the award, and noted the importance of remaining committed to growing a strong vocational education and training (VET) system for Queensland.
“The awards celebrate the way Queenslanders have used VET to build careers, grow businesses and strengthen their respective communities,” Mrs D’Ath said.
The award win will see Cowboys Dream, Believe, Achieve now progress to the state final of the Queensland Training Awards at a gala dinner on Friday 1 September in Brisbane.
Some state winners will then have the opportunity to progress to the Australian Training Awards, to be held in Canberra in November.
Cowboys Dream, Believe, Achieve
Cowboys Dream, Believe, Achieve was established in 2015 and has successfully helped hundreds of North Queenslanders gain an industry-recognised qualification and find long-term employment.
The Cowboys partner with registered training organisation Allara Learning to deliver course content and engage with students to secure work placements with local employers.
For more information, visit cowboys.com.au.
Top image: Alby Reuben, Samantha Johnstone and Marian Malua (Cowboys), with Minister D’Ath
