EST delivers outcomes, says first program graduate

When Sherly Agustina signed up for the Employability Skills Training (EST) program with Navitas Skilled Futures (NSF) she did not realise the significance of the move – not only did it help her get a job and set her on course for a new career, but it earned her the title of NSF’s first ever EST graduate.

Sherly said she was hoping the EST would help her create a good resume and assist her with skills to find a job. But by the end of the three-week course she had also learned so much about Australia’s current employment landscape, laws and policies, job and study opportunities, as well as personal growth, development and wellbeing.

“I did learn how to make a proper resume and cover letter, and also to equip myself with skills and training to be job ready to find employment for myself,” Sherly said.

“But I also received much information from the facilitator about the employment pathways, knowledge about Work, Health & Safety, codes of conduct, ethics in the workplace, working in NSW rights and responsibilities … and workplace culture.

“Although the course was only three weeks I can say that I had a great experience, I learned more than I thought and it boosted my confidence that I will get a job because of the training skills that I had through Navitas Skilled Futures.”

EST Program Employment Facilitator Sipho Khoza said he was delighted to see Sherly’s skills and confidence grow, and to see her finish the program with a job and a new career direction.

“I wish every student could be like Sherly,” Sipho said. “She just picked up everything. And she is now on track for a better future.

“People might think this course is just about writing a resume and cover letter. But it is so much more. And Sherly is proof of that.”

Having migrated to Australia from Indonesia in 2010, Sherly worked in a variety of jobs, such as administration, hospitality and customer service, until she had her son, now aged six.

Looking for work that fit in with school hours, and not confident speaking and writing English, she tried applying for jobs “but couldn’t get anywhere”, especially without a good resume or any job seeking and preparation skills.

Sherly studied English before embarking on the EST program and said it changed her mindset about her future. While she was happy to get a job as a cleaner at a school, she now wanted to work as a teacher’s aide, and has enrolled in a one-year Education Cert III Teacher’s Aide course, which she can study online to fit in with her lifestyle.

“I am very happy,” Sherly said.

“I want to do this and I always wanted to be a teacher anyway. Obviously uni is going to be a long time for me and I have to improve my English. It’s a big job, but who knows?

“I would like to say thank you for all the advice and support from facilitator and staff of the EST course. They helped me to find direction and to make the right decisions to start a new career in life.”

Navitas Skilled Futures runs the EST program at a number of locations in NSW, Queensland and SA.

Comprehensive, wholistic and personalised, the EST program at Navitas Skilled Futures has been created to help people understand the expectations of employers in both the recruitment process and as a new employee in the workplace.

The face-to-face courses, across either three or five weeks, focus on building specific skill-sets within specific industries and help participants build the skills to put them in a strong position to secure a job. 

Delivered in two training blocks, Training Block 1 focuses on workplace skills and knowledge, and developing IT, problem solving and communication skills to meet the expectations of employers; Training Block 2 helps develop resumes and improve interview techniques, focusing on job preparation and job-hunting skills.

For more information see EST at NSF.