Earning and learning: Brittany's traineeship

Brittany had already moved half the east coast: Wollongong to Far North Queensland in her school years, then Cairns to Wonga Beach. Along the way she picked up a Diploma of Higher Education and plenty of hospitality shifts. The diploma taught her something useful: what she didn't want. "The course was great, but a career in higher education wasn't something I wanted to pursue."

What she did want was clear. "I really wanted full-time work. Being able to earn an income and gain a qualification at the same time ticked a lot of boxes."

A traineeship offers exactly that. When she saw an ad for a Certificate III in Business Administration traineeship, she applied: full-time work, a wage, and a nationally recognised qualification building week by week, with a commute from Wonga Beach that beat the Cairns run comfortably.

"All the staff are helpful and supportive," she says of the training team around her.

The qualification isn't the end of Brittany's plan. Nursing is still in her sights, and business skills travel well: admin, records, communication and judgement matter in any field she picks.

Want paid work plus a qualification? The current version is the BSB30120 Certificate III in Business traineeship. Employers and jobseekers: how traineeships work, or call 07 4098 1228.