Find locals where possible!

Have a think of some of the places in your local community where you may be able to find suitable candidates.

Some examples include:

• Catchment care groups – people who already care about the environment and water resources may not realise that you can build a successful career in the water sector.
• Migrant and refugee groups -  you may even be able to get financial assistance through the Diverse Queensland Workforce program (PDF, 615KB)which will deliver $8.5 million in funding, until 30 June 2025, to assist up to 2,500 migrants, refugees and international students into employment. This program was implemented as part of the Future Skills Fund and is being expanded as part of Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–2032.
• Indigenous Land Councils may know of local Indigenous people looking for career opportunities. Find your local representative body here. 
• The Clontarf Foundation have academies at schools across Queensland and have run successful water industry traineeships in WA and the NT. Download the map to find your local academy here. The Foundation also hosts Employment Forums where organisations can promote jobs and make connections. We attended one last year and you can read about it in this blog post. 
• Correctional Services: everyone deserves a second chance in life, right? Why not check with the Department of Correctional Services for suitable candidates.
• Share our dedicated careers website with your local career advisors and other employment agencies to promote the industry as an exciting career opportunity.

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I need help developing a Position Description

No need to reinvent the wheel!

qldwater members have kindly shared some PDs which you are welcome to copy. Find them here. 

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What's the best place to advertise positions?

Do you feel like your ads are not being seen? You’re not alone!

qldwater advertised positions on LinkedIn and Seek and had limited interest, but when we promoted a job through the Ethical Jobs platform, we immediately received some impressive applications.

The Federal Government Workforce Australia website offers a free recruitment service as well as personalised and professional help for your workforce needs.

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What government support is there?

State-based support – Regional Jobs Committees

As part of the Skills for Queensland – Great training for quality jobs strategy, Regional Jobs Committeeswere established across the state. The establishment of these committees aligns closely with advice provided by Jobs Queensland on the importance of place-based skills and employment strategies.

These committees are part of the Queensland Government’s plan to work within the community and help grow local industries by ensuring they have the skilled workforce for the jobs they need now and into the future. Committees are located in:

• Cairns
• Fraser Coast
• Gold Coast
• Mackay
• Redlands
• Springfield
• Toowoomba
• Townsville

Each Regional Jobs Committee is supported by Jobs Queensland and can draw upon research and industry engagement to help identify their region’s workforce development priorities and to inform training investment needs.

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Federal Support – Workforce Australia Local Jobs Program

Managed by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), the Local Jobs Program supports the development and implementation of tailored approaches to accelerate reskilling, upskilling and employment across Australia and seeks to provide tailored responses to support local labour markets.

The program includes 51 Employment Regions and runs until 30 June 2025. Each region has:

• An Employment Facilitator
• A Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce
• A Local Jobs Plan
• A Local Recovery Fund to support small scale regional activities
• The National Priority Fund to support employment growth through projects addressing structural barriers in the labour market.

To apply for funding, contact the Employment facilitator in your region to discuss activity proposals. 

Activities must include training and re-skilling opportunities; tailored training; professional development; job seeker mentoring; work experience; employment pathway and internship programs.

The department anticipates success will include, but is not limited to, initiatives that:

• Mitigate or remove barriers for Australians to take up work and/or meet the workforce needs of employers
• Strengthen the capacity of stakeholders, industries and local governments to identify workforce development needs, skills shortages and those occupational areas in which training or retraining might be targeted
• Complement the creation of durable employment for Australians
• Result in more efficient labour markets
• Provide longer-term economic and social benefits for the community

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Workforce Planning Support

Need help with workforce planning?

Jobs Queensland developed a suite of materials designed to support employers access the skills and workforce they need. Find the Workforce Planning Connect tools and resources here.

Workforce Planning: A summary guide outlining the 4 stages of workforce planning can be found here.

All the workforce planning tools and resources can be downloaded via this link.

Workforce Planning Connect Workbook: A practical guide for micro business and small enterprise - 

Jobs Queensland, in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast, is offering a free workforce planning course. The next course starts in 2024 – register here. 

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Where can I find a Relief Operator?

Need to take a break but don't have staff to fill in?

Check out the listings for Relief Operator Services on the Queensland Water Directory.

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