Teen gains start as part of jobs push - City News, 23/06/10

AMELIA Welk has started work as a receptionist at Auchenflower Medical Centre as a result of Sarina Russo Job Access's $1 million worth of jobs campaign.

 

Ms Welk, 17, started at the centre two weeks ago, and is already looking forward to a traineeship in business administration.

 

"It's a job that can take you somewhere," she said. "When I graduated from school I didn't know what I wanted to do.

 

"Six months ago I moved from Tasmania, didn't have much of a support network here.

 

"Sarina Russo went out of their way to take a personal interest in what I was doing and how I was going.

 

"They even went shopping with me for office outfits so that I could look professional.

 

"They really help you grow and they are focused on not letting anything hold you back."

 

Nadia Daly, of Sarina Russo Job Access at Toowong, said the campaign had already encouraged a lot of employers to contact the office.

 

The aim is to find $1 million worth of local jobs in the Westside News area in June.

 

This is done by engaging the business community and encouraging employers to give a local person a local job.

 

The agency adds the annual salaries of all candidates placed into work in June to calculate the success of the project.

 

So far the campaign has found $828,000 worth of jobs.

 

Ms Daly said: "When employers realise we can upskill their employees and help with the traineeship they are very pleased.

 

"Dr Ratnam approached us because he had heard about the campaign and wanted to be involved.

 

"He needed a receptionist and Amelia was already registered with us."