News

Krish Rawal is an aspiring pilot from New Delhi. Originally the 19 year old came to Australia to study aviation in Sydney, but he soon realised that his course of study there would place limitations on his opportunities after graduation. After a little online research Krish found the course he was looking for on the Gold Coast.

After Krish’s application was accepted by Southern Cross University he heard about Study Gold Coast’s Student Accommodation Grant which covers up to 10 weeks’ accommodation for new students enrolling to study on the Gold Coast.

Rohit Mankame is an international student from India currently pursuing a Master of International Tourism and Hospitality Management at Griffith University. Recently he commenced an internship at Service.com.au to increase his skill levels while providing work experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Having heard mixed reviews from my friends about their own internship experiences, I didn’t know what to expect from an internship in Australia, but I was excited to join a new organisation and upskill”, Rohit said.

So, you’re fresh out of university and you land your first job. You have all the theory you need in your chosen profession, but not the experience. How do you gain an understanding about the way your new employer operates their business? What are their expectations of you in your new job? What’s the team culture like and will you be able to confidently apply yourself in the organisation?

From an employer’s perspective they face a similar dilemma. How can they quickly get their new employee up to speed on how the business runs? Will the graduate be familiar with their systems and processes? Does the new employee understand business etiquette and will they be able to successfully communicate their ideas within the team?

In short, you can have all the knowledge in the world, but there’s no substitute for experience. But how do you gain experience and the confidence to operate within a real world situation when you’ve just spent the last few years studying?

Business administration tends to be dominated by women, but that hasn’t stopped Jett Podesta from seizing his opportunity in the field. The Year 11 Merrimac State High School student is currently undertaking a traineeship with the Aurora Training Institute as part of his Certificate III in Business Administration.

Aurora’s General Manager of Operations for South East Queensland Kim Little illustrates the gender imbalance in business administration from experience. “Jett is just the second male trainee we’ve had in the 10 years we’ve been doing this. We have an office full of females, so the girls get excited when a male shows interest in working here. It’s nice to see young men like Jett apply for these positions.”

As Australia moved into lockdown earlier this year Study Gold Coast began to look at how it could help the city’s students in need, particularly international students who did not receive any funding from the Federal Government.

The most obvious and urgent issues were food and shelter. Study Gold Coast quickly began consulting with its members and the student community to ascertain the most effective solutions to these issues. One of them was to provide free grocery packs through the Gold Coast Student Hub.

Su Noh is from South Korea. When she arrived in Australia she based herself in Sydney. Last year Su took a road trip, heading north with her boyfriend. When they arrived on the Gold Coast she immediately fell in love with the city.

“I really liked the vibe here. The weather was sunny and the water was warm. I couldn’t believe how beautiful the Gold Coast is – it was a lovely experience.

“Once I decided that I wanted to further my studies I was trying decide between Canberra and the Gold Coast and it was then that I reflected back on the fond memories of my holiday here last year. I knew then that there really was only one place that I wanted to be.”

High up in the hills above the Currumbin Valley sits some of the most beautiful and lush countryside of the Gold Coast hinterland. As you climb up Tomewin Mountain Road towards Freeman’s Organic Farm it feels as though you’re making your way to heaven and with the majestic views the property commands all the way back to the ocean, you could be forgiven for expecting to find the Pearly Gates perched there. Instead you’re greeted by the humble presence of a roadside fruit stand and the welcoming charm of the farm’s proprietor David Freeman.

David’s family has farmed this land for five generations, back to when it was established as Australia’s first banana plantation over one hundred years ago, a time when bananas were considered an exotic fruit consumed by the wealthy. Today Freeman’s Organic Farm has a diverse selection of produce – avocados, coffee, kale, peaches, plums, custard apples, sweet potatoes, broccoli, strawberries, mangoes and much, much more.