As 2024 comes to a close, we reflect on our 26th year defined by resilience and commitment to creating opportunities for individuals within our communities. At Community Solutions, we’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of collaboration—whether through helping disadvantaged jobseekers find meaningful employment, supporting businesses with skilled talent, or delivering impactful disability services. This year was not just about reaching milestones, but about the stories behind them. Let’s take a moment to celebrate the impact made in our communities, your achievements, and moments that shaped 2024 in each of our services.
Our apprenticeship and traineeship services are essential within the community to support individuals gain valuable experience and help local businesses grow. This year we have placed over 170 apprentices and trainees across various industries. We have partnered with 124 host employers which enabled us to connect talented individuals with meaningful career opportunities while ensuring businesses had access to skilled and dedicated team members.
Among the various programs we run throughout the year, the Women in Construction initiative with Roadtek and Major Training was a highlight. This program attracted over 400 applicants, underwent 90 interviews, and resulted in 15 women commencing traineeships. This is a significant step towards increasing gender diversity in the construction sector.
Meet Felicity Wadsworth who is a shining example of how dedication and the right opportunities can help someone construct their dreams. Felicity started as a school-based trainee, who propelled into a full-time traineeship with Hall Contracting and is now completing a Certificate IV in Civil Construction Supervision with Roadtek. Felicity’s journey even led her to return to her previous school as a guest speaker, inspiring the next generation to follow in her footsteps.
We’re excited to build on this year’s successes in 2025, empowering even more Queenslanders to gain valuable qualifications and advance their careers. In Townsville, we’ll be running the Pre-Apprenticeship Program, helping our community develop engineering skills and prepare for rewarding careers in the field. We’re also thrilled to announce the return of the Women in Construction Program for its second year in partnership with Roadtek and Major Training. This initiative will continue breaking barriers for women in the construction industry while offering the opportunity to earn a Certificate III in Civil Construction. Additionally, we’re expanding our traineeship program with Endeavour Foundation, starting with an Individual Support Traineeship intake this February, to further support skill development and career growth across our communities. Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to creating apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities for Queenslanders in 2025 and beyond.
Our Specialist Employment Services provide a diverse range of programs across Queensland, designed to empower communities by offering youth support services, upskilling opportunities, qualifications and pathways into meaningful employment. This year, we’re proud to have supported over 360 individuals through these programs, helping them gain the skills, confidence, and connections needed to achieve their goals.
In 2024, we proudly delivered the Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) program across Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, and Maryborough, specifically designed to support unemployed and underemployed Queenslanders facing barriers to entering the workforce. Through four tailored programs and three intakes throughout the year, we’ve helped over 167 disadvantaged job seekers develop the skills, qualifications, and experience needed to secure and maintain meaningful employment. The success of this initiative is reflected in the 67 formal qualifications completed and the 74 participants who successfully transitioned into employment, marking a significant achievement in our commitment to creating sustainable workforce opportunities.
Another program that has seen continued success throughout 2024 is Circles of Support – Youth (COSY). This program provides vital support to young people aged 12-21 who are facing social, emotional, or behavioural challenges. We’re proud to have assisted over 190 young people across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie region with personalised support, brief interventions, and case management. Throughout the year, our team focused on integrating more creative and proactive approaches to help clients overcome barriers and achieve their goals. This shift allowed us to offer a more tailored, collaborative service, empowering our clients to make meaningful progress and excel in their personal development.
2025 is shaping up to be another exciting year for our Specialist Employment Services as we expand and enhance our programs. Our SQW initiatives will continue to offer valuable opportunities for disadvantaged job seekers to gain qualifications and secure meaningful employment, and we’re eager to explore additional regional areas that could benefit from the program. For COSY, we’re excited to introduce new and innovative approaches to better support young people in our communities. In response to the growing need for early intervention in gender-based violence, we’re also working on developing a program specifically for young men. This program will combine physical activity with the development of healthy, individualised perspectives on manhood, while challenging harmful and outdated views of masculinity. We are excited to see the positive impact this initiative could have as a powerful tool for early intervention.
Our Employment services are dedicated to helping individuals overcome barriers to employment and build brighter futures. Through our Disability Employment Services (DES) and Workforce Australia (WFA) we provide support for job seekers of all ages and backgrounds to gain meaningful employment opportunities. In 2024, we have supported over 6000 disadvantaged individuals creating pathways to success, empowering them with the tools and resources needed to thrive in the workforce. We empowered individuals through local job placements, training programs, and/or personal support.
This year, we focused on creating clearly defined pathways for our clients, alongside more effective methods for measuring progress. This approach enabled us to offer more personalised and targeted services, allowing us to better support each individual while celebrating their successes at every step of the journey. In addition, we strengthened our collaboration with employers during the post-placement phase to ensure a seamless integration between client and employer. By actively engaging with both parties, we were able to ensure that the placement was a good fit and that the client was progressing smoothly in their new role, fostering long-term success for both the individual and the employer. This success was evident in our outcomes: through DES, we placed 694 clients into employment, while WFA placements reached an impressive 2068. These achievements highlight our commitment to empowering individuals and fostering lasting employer relationships for continued success.
Meet Mark! After struggling with unemployment, he believed his age was the biggest barrier to finding work. His journey took a positive turn when he reached out and connected with a Community Solutions Mentor who helped him identify his goal of pursuing a career in hospitality management. With the support of his mentor, Mark obtained his Responsible Management of Licensed Venues certification, opening the door to employment at his local RSL. Today, he’s thriving in his new role, proving that with the right guidance and determination, any obstacle can be overcome.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to build on the successes of our WFA services and with our recent submission for new Specialist DES contract, we are hoping to expand into new locations. We’re committed to enhancing our offerings, with new initiatives aimed at providing greater access to training, upskilling, and career opportunities for those facing barriers to employment.
Specialist Services extends across various regions on the east coast of Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, offering specialist NDIS funded services for people with disabilities and psychological support for people with barriers to employment. We are dedicated to empowering participants through a range of services designed to meet their unique needs. In 2024, we supported over 2400 people through support coordination, specialist support coordination, specialist behaviour support, psychology, and play therapy. At Community Solutions, we are committed to providing tailored, person-centered support that helps each person to achieve their goals, enhance their well-being, and live more independent and fulfilling lives.
This year, we proudly launched Community Solutions Psychology, offering vocational psychology support to participants engaged with Workforce Australia who face barriers to employment. This new service has experienced significant growth, making a positive impact on the lives of many people seeking employment. By providing tailored psychological support, we’ve helped participants build confidence, address underlying challenges, and develop the skills needed to pursue and maintain meaningful employment. The success of this service has been evident in the progress made by participants, as they work toward overcoming obstacles and achieving their career goals with newfound resilience and clarity. As we step into 2025, we’re excited to continue expanding our psychology services, increasing our caseload through referrals from Workforce Australia and Parent Pathways across all eastern states.
Whether our clients are seeking employment or are people with disabilities needing coordination of supports or plans to manage complex and challenging behaviours, our regular contact and personalised approach will ensure that each participant feels fully supported on their journey, empowering them to achieve their goals and thrive in their individual pathways.
As we conclude another year at Community Solutions, we reflect with pride on the strides made in 2024, knowing that the impact we’ve had on individuals and communities has been truly transformative. From empowering jobseekers through apprenticeships and traineeships to supporting vulnerable individuals with specialised NDIS services, we’ve witnessed countless stories of resilience, growth, and success from the individuals in our communities. These achievements are a testament to the strength of our partnerships, the dedication of our team, and the unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers for those who need it most.
As we look ahead to 2025, we remain focused on expanding our programs and services, creating even more opportunities for individuals to build brighter futures. Together, we will continue to inspire change and foster inclusion, ensuring that the promise of a better tomorrow is within reach for all. Here’s to another year of progress, possibility, and empowerment.
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