The North Queensland Cowboys Group has been recognised for its commitment to education, training and workforce development, taking home two major honours at the 2026 Queensland Training Awards North Queensland regional final.
The Cowboys Leagues Club was awarded Large Employer of the Year, while the Cowboys Community Foundation's transformative Dream, Believe, Achieve program was named Community Training Initiative of the Year, highlighting the Group's investment in creating opportunities, developing skills and empowering people across North Queensland.
The awards recognise excellence in workplace training and development, celebrating organisations that create meaningful pathways for people to learn, grow and succeed.
Dream, Believe, Achieve has been helping disadvantaged North Queenslanders build skills, confidence and employment opportunities since 2015, supporting more than 870 participants through accredited vocational training, personalised mentoring and work placements with local employers.
In 2025 alone, the program supported 93 participants across its Hospitality and Engineering pathways, achieving a training completion rate of 69 per cent and employment outcomes for 83 per cent of participants. The program's Engineering Pathways pilot, introduced to address local workforce demand, achieved a 100 per cent completion rate, with 75 per cent of participants progressing into employment within the engineering and manufacturing sector.
Cowboys Community Foundation CEO Fiona Pelling said the award reflected the determination of participants and the collective efforts of those who support the program.
"For Cowboys Community Foundation, this award is not simply about our achievements. It belongs to every participant who has found confidence, built new skills and taken meaningful steps towards employment," Ms Pelling said.
"Being part of those journeys is an enormous privilege.”
"This recognition celebrates the courage of our participants, the dedication of our team and the commitment of the partners and employers who continue to open doors across North Queensland."
The Cowboys Leagues Club's Large Employer of the Year award acknowledges the organisation's long-standing commitment to investing in its people through training, professional development, leadership opportunities and clear career pathways.
Employing hundreds of team members across gaming, food and beverage, administration and customer service, the Club has built a workplace culture focused on learning, growth and supporting employees to achieve their career aspirations.
Cowboys Leagues Club General Manager Clint Williams said the award recognised the Club's people-first approach and the commitment shown by staff at every level of the business.
"We are incredibly proud to be recognised as Large Employer of the Year," Mr Williams said.
"This award is a reflection of the culture we have built and the value we place on investing in our people.
"We believe that when we provide our team members with the training, support and opportunities to grow, they are empowered to deliver exceptional experiences for our members and guests while building rewarding careers of their own.
"To be recognised alongside the Community Foundation's Dream, Believe, Achieve program makes this achievement even more special, because together these awards demonstrate the Cowboys Group's commitment to creating opportunities both within our organisation and throughout the wider North Queensland community."
Mr Williams said both awards reflected the Cowboys Group's broader purpose of making a positive impact across the region.
"Whether it's helping a team member take the next step in their career or supporting a participant to enter the workforce through Dream, Believe, Achieve, it all comes back to giving people the opportunity to reach their potential," he said.
"These awards belong to our people, our participants and the many partners who support what we do every day."
