A unique training program developed between Hallam Community Learn Centre and Aussie Broadband is opening up work opportunities for unemployed people in Lynbrook.
Kickstart your Career in Call Centre Operations is a four week pre-employment course developed by non-profit Gippsland Employment Skills Training (GEST) that offers people essential skills to return to the workplace.
Students learn a range of different skills related to the call centre industry, including telephone etiquette and IT skills such as touch typing.
Amanda Wright, Hallam Community Learn Centre Trainer said the idea is to make sure the students are ready for the workplace.
“The course aims to support the learners by offering basic employability skills, like making sure you turn up on time and how to handle customers,” she said.
Kirralee Richardson, People and Culture Manager, Aussie Broadband said the company has already had 27 placements through the program.
“Hallam Community Learn Centre runs the course, and then Aussie Broadband hosts them on a placement. If candidates have a successful placement, they’re bookmarked for an interview at the end of the 4 weeks,” she explained.
Jordan Mizzi, a 23-year-old from Narre Warren, said he’s been out of work for almost two years after developing forearm tinnitus. It was so bad that even picking up a pillow was exhausting,” said Mizzi.
“I’ve mostly been trying to recover. I hope this course will help me develop the necessary skills to return to the workplace.”
Other students include workers who are transitioning to office-based work as they near their retirement.
So far Aussie Broadband has hired 10 people through the course, all of whom are still employed there. The first employee started in January this year.
