EQIP Gladstone Inc is an independent not for profit organisation that has been operating in the Gladstone Region since 2009. In this time, the organisation has played an important role collaborating with industry, business and schools to create opportunities for high school students to develop valuable employability skills, knowledge and experience.
EQIP employs an Operations Manager to enable schools to provide work experience with local businesses. We are also coordinating the 2023 Gladstone Careers Expo. EQIP is currently engaging with stakeholders to determine how its operations will evolve.
Students interested in work experience need to contact their senior school coordinator directly.
2008
In 2008, Education Queensland and Rio Tinto Alcan initiated the Clever Recruiting Gladstone Study to identify options that would create efficiencies in governance, management, and public interface of these various programs and allow for the introduction of new programs to align with changing needs. The outcomes of the Clever Recruiting Gladstone Study were:
- An overarching centre was created to represent all major providers and that this be managed by a central coordinator who oversees the new ‘one-stop-shop’.
- The partnership was designed to widen the reach of alternative education opportunities that are available to students from State high schools.
- The new model is led by industry representatives through a board and that long term funding commitments and risk sharing be integral to the operations and sustainability of the various programs.
- Through active participation on the board and individual program advisory committees, local schools, business and industry have input into the foundation programs and influence the skillset the students gain.
2009
EQIP was established in 2009 in response to the Clever Recruiting Study with combined industry and education funding. The programs were condensed to four including EQIP Engineering Skills Centre (EESC) onsite at NRG, EQIP Business and IT Skills Centre (EBITS) onsite at Boyne Smelters (now Business, Industry and Tourism), EQIP Doorways to Civil Construction (ED2CC) onsite at McCosker Contracting, and the EQIP Technical College Gladstone Region (ETCGR).
2012
In 2012, EQIP partnered with ConocoPhillips APLNG, QGC, and Santos GLNG to introduce two new programs: 1) EQIP Process Plant Operations onsite with CQUniversity and Queensland Alumina Limited; and 2) PREQIP program designed for year 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to build confidence and capability and provide a pathway into other EQIP programs
2015
In 2015 the EQIP Career Development Program was introduced to educate students on the employability skills important for success in the working world and how to demonstrate and develop these through work experience.
2016
In 2016, EQIP expanded its portfolio of programs to include Work Experience and the Gladstone Careers Expo accessible to students from all schools in the Gladstone region.
2017
In 2017, EQIP introduced a new authentic workplace learning in the Health Care and Social Services sector. Students complete a certificate qualification and gain entry-level skills, experience and knowledge with local host employers in the field.
2019
- EQIP formed a partnership with CQUniversity for the Engineering Skills Centre (EESC ) program.
- The PREQIP Indigenous Program was remodelled to an individualised Career Development and Case Management program for students to investigate and be counselled around potential career opportunities in the region.
- EQIP won the 2019 Queensland Training Award for Industry Collaboration, and was a top-3 finalist at the Australian Training Awards.
