Get Set for Work in the Whitsundays

 A one-week work experience stint with Whitsunday Gold Coffee was so successful for 16-year-old Conan Walker, he was asked to return for more.

 The Year 10 student from Proserpine State High School was placed with Whitsunday Gold Coffee through the organisation ‘Get Set for Work’, whose co-ordinator is also Quota of Whitsunday president Kerrie McCallum-Coles. Ms McCallum-Coles says ‘get set for work’, which is funded by the Queensland government’s “skilling Queenslanders for work” initiative, is about helping young people who are “disengaged” and possibly won’t finish Year 12.

 “The key is finding the right mentor for them,” she said, adding that Whitsunday Gold Coffee had been particularly supportive in this role.

 Sales and Marketing Manager for Whitsunday Gold Coffee Ali Simpson said having Conan at the company and participating in the program had been an “honour”.

 “It’s a privilege to be a support to young people. To help them get back on track is our role, we believe.” 

 Ms Simpson also said the older generations could sometimes be a little harsh in judgement of today’s youth.

 “It’s funny how we’ve all forgotten what we were like between 15 and 18! We all have selective memory,” she said.

 Conan Walker said he had benefited greatly from his time at Whitsunday Gold Coffee.

 “I’ve learned a lot of new stuff. It’s been really good. I didn’t know much about Whitsunday Gold Coffee before this, but it’s such a beautiful place,” he said.

 Get set for work is seeking more local businesses to help make this program a success. For more information contact Kerrie McCallum-Coles on 0419 796 773.