Kickstart 3.0

Careers 

Study Gold Coast recently launched the third incarnation of its graduate accelerator program Kickstart. This year 28 team members from 15 different employers are taking part in the eight month personal development program. Participants will engage in half-day workshops every three weeks, focusing on building skills that will not only benefit themselves but also their employers.

At the launch employers and graduates who had previously participated in the program shared their experiences of how it had transformed their workplaces while providing essential professional skills for graduates.

Graduate and employee benefits

Nicholas Moxey, an employee of luxury boat builder Riviera took part in last year’s program and says participating in Kickstart was an invaluable experience, broadening his perspective by working with graduates from other industries during the program.

“Kickstart gave me a broader understanding not only about my company’s operations, but also many other non-related industries on the Gold Coast,” Nicholas says.

Riviera’s Safety and Training Manager Adam Houlahan echoed Nicholas’ sentiments, confirming that Kickstart had also benefitted Riviera.

“The program was tailored to our needs as a company, so by having Nicholas working on a specific project to our needs the company benefitted as well. It was a win/win for all involved.”

Study Gold Coast's Jennine Tax launches Kickstart 3.0

 Mayoral Endorsement

Kickstart continues to grow in significance and the key role that it plays for employers and their teams, with Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate acknowledging its importance to the local economy by endorsing the program for the first time this year. That could be due in part to the Mayor’s Office participating in the program as Katrina Metcalfe, Senior International Relations Officer for the City of Gold Coast explains.

“Having a young member of our team participating in Kickstart really opened up conversations about my leadership style and the importance of feedback for team members that I would not have otherwise had,” she says.

“I got as much out of the program as my staff member did. It made me reflect on the way I work and why we do what we do.”

Professional skills   

Developing professional skills, often called ‘soft skills’ are at the heart of Kickstart, which leads to greater efficiencies in the workplace for employers, an aspect of the program that Alto Accounting and Advisory staff member Will Coorey appreciated immensely.

“It wasn’t that I just gained better communication skills. By deconstructing the way we operate and my role within our organisation I developed a better understanding of our workflows and how to better manage my time,” the young accountant says.  

Kickstart participants share their experiences from the program

Talent for Business Growth

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