If you’re a job seeker, returning to work, retrenched worker, apprentice, trainee or business looking for staff, our employment pathways hub, the South West Skills and Jobs Centre, has everything you need.

At our walk-in centres, we will help you with career management, resume and cover letter writing and identifying training and employment opportunities. Our staff can help you choose the right career or training option, get you started on your new path, show you what supports are available or help your business find the right apprentice or trainee. We work with individuals, industry, business and the local community, so if you are looking to train or reskill, the South West Skills and Jobs Centre should be your first stop.

The Pathfinders Skills and Jobs Centre is not a Job Service Australia organisation but will provide:

• Assistance with understanding your study options; TAFE study, university courses, apprenticeships, and traineeships.
• Personal career planning, including the training and qualifications you’ll need to make a start or make a change.
• Getting credit for your existing skills and experience through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
• Learning about jobs in demand and employment trends.
• Finding a job, including advice on preparing your resume and how to apply.
• Access to other support services including financial advice or welfare assistance.

Located in the historic Courthouse at South West TAFE’s Warrnambool campus, the Pathfinders Skills and Jobs Centre offers the following job seeker programs to help you gain the skills to make you more employable:                                                   

• Youth Jobs Path - Get Ready for Work and Find Your Thing (Employability Skills Training)
• Reconnect Program
• Skills for Education and Employment
• English as Second Language
• VCAL Pathways Program

Reconnect Program

Campus: Warrnambool, Portland and Hamilton
Length: Tailored course plan dependent on student
Commencement: Ongoing enrolments

Reconnect helps you find the right course to suit your skills, interest and career aspirations.

Reconnect is focused on supporting those:

• aged 17-19 years
• who left school without completing Year 12 or equivalent attainment (Senior Secondary Certificate or a Certificate II or higher qualification), and
• who are not currently enrolled in school or any education and training program, and
• are not employed full-time

OR

• aged 20-64 years
• who left school without completing Year 12 or equivalent attainment (Senior Secondary Certificate or a Certificate II or higher qualification), and
• are long-term unemployed (unemployment of 12 months or more)

You will receive ongoing support to assist in successful completion of studies to help gain employment or go onto further study.

Reconnect offers:

• Regular mentoring
• A plan tailored to help you achieve your goals
• Help getting you enrolled
• Assistance with completing accredited training
• Access to support services for up to 18 months

For further information or to find out if you are eligible please contact the Skills & Jobs Centre on 5564 8515 or email reconnect@swtafe.edu.au

Employability Skills Training

Block One: Build U
Block Two: Brand U

Campus: Warrnambool, Portland, Hamilton and Colac campus
Study mode: Full-time
Length: 3 weeks (each block)
Timetable: Four days a week
Commencement: Enrol any time

Free for registered job seekers.

These two blocks of three-week programs will help young, registered job seekers aged 15-24 years to increase their employability skills and become job-ready.

BUILD U is an engaging and hands-on program in a simulated workplace environment - the Innovation Hub 'The Hive'. BUILD U will help you learn all the skills employers want - communication, teamwork, time management and digital literacy skills by using technology including VR, 3D-printing & robotics. You will learn how to manage your career and work-life while engaging with people of diverse ages and backgrounds. JobSeekers will create, innovate & collaborate with local industry to identify and build their problem-solving skills through numerous activities.

In BRAND U, you will learn advanced job hunting skills, interview skills, cover letter & resume writing including video resumes as well as how to harness social media and networking for employment purposes. Industry awareness experiences will also be provided to help you explore which industry is right for you, meet employers and build your understanding of career entry-points and pathways. On completion of these programs, you may enter an internship or gain paid work within an organisation.

Skills for Education and Employment (SEE)

Campus: Warrnambool & Portland campus
Study mode: Full-time
Length: 26 weeks
Commencement: Enrol any time

Free for registered job seekers.

SWTAFE’s SEE program offers a pathway to employment or further training, with assistance in reading, writing, numeracy, oral communication and learning skills. SEE will develop your digital literacy and employability skills.

You can use this program as a stepping stone towards a career or further study. While building your language, literacy and numeracy skills, you will explore career path tasters in a range of study areas.

You will be able to focus on the areas that you are seeking to improve. Eligibility criteria applies as this program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.