JT Academy Partnerships Making Life-Changing Impacts for Jobseekers

Stable and supportive employment opportunities have provided life-changing impacts for south Queensland Indigenous residents thanks to partnerships between the Johnathan Thurston (JT) Academy and national businesses.

Torque Heritage chief executive officer Michael Hall said they had placed around 100 Indigenous candidates into employment within Queensland solar farm developments and the JT Academy partnership had played a big part in achieving this.

“We are really on board with everything it [the JT Academy] stands for, we want to be part of it well into the future and continue empowering Indigenous and non-indigenous people to achieve sustainable life-changing results for themselves,” he said.

Butchulla man Wayne Tobane said his life just kept getting better after stable local employment through Torque Heritage in a Hervey Bay solar farm enabled him to stay close to his community, pay his mortgage and provide for his four children.

“I’m over the moon and so grateful to be part of the local workforce and look after my boys,” he said.

“I was going to have to relocate but this opportunity came just at the right time and was a real life-saver.

“I’ve really felt supported, learned new skills and had the chance to gain certification that will help my employability into the future, which all has a positive flow-on effect for my family.”

AccorHotels Indigenous programs executive Kedea Atherton said the JT Academy partnership was generating a great response, with many of the recent Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and Brisbane program attendees coming via the JT Academy.

“Through our [Indigenous employment] program, many attendees have been offered positions at AccorHotels,” she said.

“It’s important we provide sustainable and authentic opportunities and through the partnership with the JT Academy we have reached a greater number of applicants and built good relationships.”

The recently retired NRL star Johnathan Thurston, earlier this year embarked on the Brisbane based JT Academy venture, with the intention of empowering people to achieve their life goals.

Thurston said each participant would leave the Academy with a new set of skills to tackle their respective ambitions, whether it is employment, education, health or sport.

Check out the JT Academy Jobs Board here >