Aussie Broadband teams up with GEST to transform call centre education

For over four years, Aussie Broadband and Gippsland Employment Skills Training (GEST) have developed and delivered a life changing call centre training program for people in the Gippsland region.

The course, powered by GEST’s expertise and the experience of Aussie Broadband’s call centre operations, is designed to empower Gippslanders to gain the skills for a rewarding career in a local industry with a skill shortage. A similar course has been operating at Aussie’s Dandenong office, under the supervision of the Small Business Launching Pad with the support of Foundation Learning Centre and Hallam Community Learning Centre.

GEST, Foundation Learning and Hallam Community Learning Centre are part of a 250 strong Learn Local provider network in Victoria who are funded by the Adult Community Further Education Board.

“As a community organisation, we are very grateful that Aussie Broadband has opened their doors to our learners — providing real life experience that gives focus to what is possible [employment],” said GEST General Manager, Jennifer McCafferty.

“Aussie have assisted with the design of the course content that has benefited the community, provided opportunities to a cohort that would ordinarily not have a chance to sit in front of such an impressive employer, and has given hope, belief and worth in their community.”

The program and its training are structured over a four-week period which has run 10 times over the last four years. It has now gone on to become a skills uplift course, with TAFE Gippsland also getting involved.

“Aussie Broadband’s involvement with GEST’s ‘Kickstart Your Career in Customer Service; Call Centre Operations’ course has been a great opportunity to put our value of ‘be good to people’ into action. Since 2018, this course has supported dozens of Gippslanders to improve their employability skills and gain the confidence to take on paid employment,” said Aussie’s Recruitment Manager, Kristie Bodsworth.

“This course has introduced Aussie Broadband to a number of fantastic staff members with diverse or non-traditional backgrounds, many of whom have gone on to technical specialist and corporate roles within the organisation.”

The company has employed many people in its Morwell and Dandenong call centres through the program.

Chairperson of the Adult, Community and Further Education Board, Maria Peters, said it is great to hear how the development and delivery of the course by GEST and Aussie Broadband has positively impacted the lives of those who have completed it.

“I am really pleased to see the innovative ways that the Board’s funding is being used to address local skills shortages, especially in regional areas. The successful training-to-employment pathways that Gippsland Employment Skills Training has created by co-designing a pre-accredited ‘Kick-Start Your Career in Customer Service’ Learn Local course with Aussie Broadband is a great example of this,” said Maria.

“It is fantastic to hear the ways that this course has changed lives and given people the confidence and skills they needed to gain meaningful employment. Programs like this show the value of pre accredited training and how important tailored, local solutions are in addressing the needs of individuals, industry and the community. I congratulate all involved for this wonderful initiative.”

More information on the ‘Kickstart Your Career in Customer Service; Call Centre Operations’ course can be found on the GEST website here.