Helping to kick-start local careers.
We started our Community Skills Scholarships program to help keep young locals employed and staying in their communities. The program is designed to help people realise their ambitions, kick-start careers and ease training costs.
We’re working with local businesses to address vital skills needs and to help people stay local by offering up to $13,500* to support them through their apprenticeship in a local trade.
Local people are eligible to apply who are:
- Aged 15 years or older
- Reside in the Western Downs, Maranoa or Banana Shire regional council areas
- Enrolled and employed as a first year apprentice by a business located in the Western Downs, Maranoa or Banana Shire regional council areas in a trade that is listed on the current National Skills Needs list.
See the Origin Community Skill Scholarship Application form for full eligibility details and information on the program.
Over 75 recipients have been awarded a scholarship. In addition to the financial support, Community Skills Scholarship apprentices are able to gain access to the Skills Scholarship Network to help build their careers.
*Scholarship subject to taxation.
We’d like you to meet some of the people we’ve been proud to have helped through this program so far.
Loclan Hope, Mechanic apprentice, Ostwald Brothers, Dalby.
“I’m looking forward to getting my certificate as a qualified tradie. I’ll probably work for a couple of years and then try and start my own business in town.”
Ryan Jiggens, Cabinet Maker apprentice, Golden West Joinery, Dalby.
“This scholarship will go a long way in helping me afford tools and purchasing a ute for my trade.”
Sandra Wendt, Butcher, Queensland Country Meats, Roma.
“Being able to work as a butcher with Queensland Country Meats means I have achieved a lifelong dream. With a commitment to what you want to do and a little bit of help you can achieve a lot.”
Bryan Vincent, Fitter and Turner, Westlands Engineering, Roma.
“The support I’ve received has made a big difference to me and means that I can stay in the local area to build my career. It’s great to see that scholarships are given to people wanting to make a go of it outside the oil and gas industry. I’m doing a fitter & turner apprenticeship, but there are others in the program who are training to be hairdressers, chefs, boiler-makers, electricians, plumbers and carpenters.”
Naomi Bowman, Hairdresser, Hair @ Dalby.
“I had to move out of home to work and with paying rent the scholarship has made it a bit easier to pay for tools and things for work. I plan to finish my trade, stay working here and then eventually own my own salon – around Dalby, or in a rural area.”
Harrison Ellis, Community Skills Scholarships recipient,
Dalby.
Lachlan Drury, Community Skills Scholarships recipient, Condamine.