VPG - Vocational Partnerships Group

01/09/2026

🌿 Meet our newest Tablelands Trail Builders - Jacob, Judane, Joseph & Saniesha!

It’s the start of a big 20 weeks for the crew, who have already hit the ground running alongside VPG Project Supervisor Chris at the Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park.

Over the coming months, they’ll be learning on the job, building practical skills and gaining hands-on industry experience while helping to maintain one of the Tablelands’ great outdoor assets.

We’re so pleased to have Jacob, Judane, Joseph & Saniesha on board and can’t wait to follow their progress. Welcome to the team! 👏

We’re proud to deliver VPG Work Skills Traineeships in partnership with Skills for Queensland, Tableland Cycle Sports, Tablelands Regional Council, and Civil Safety - Safety and Training RTO #32381.

28/08/2026

💜 Today, we wore purple.

Across VPG, our team came together for Wear it Purple Day to show our support for LGBTQIA+ young people and our commitment to creating inclusive spaces for everyone.

Alongside wearing our best purple, our teams took part in activities and conversations to learn more about inclusion, diversity and the experiences of LGBTQIA+ young people.

Because every young person deserves to feel safe, valued and proud of who they are. 💜🌈

27/08/2026

📣 SOCIAL WORKER? WE'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

VPG is expanding our youth services on the Tablelands and we're looking for a qualified Social Worker to join our team.

This is a hands-on role working directly with young people to navigate challenges, strengthen connections and move towards their goals. You'll provide case management, advocacy, referrals, support planning and practical assistance, working alongside young people, families and community services to help create positive outcomes.

Some days progress might come through a support plan, referral or coordinated response. Other days, it might start with the right conversation at the right time.

You'll join a supportive, experienced local team that believes in the potential of young people and takes a strengths-based approach to the work.

➡️ Full-time
➡️ Standard business hours
➡️ Atherton based
➡️ Approx. from $92,000 + super

If you're a Social Worker looking for meaningful, community-based work with young people, we'd love to hear from you.

👉 View the Youth Support Officer position description and apply: vpginc.com.au/work-with-us/

Applications will be reviewed as they're received.

27/08/2026

APPLY NOW & START NEXT WEEK: Spots available in VPG Work Skills, Cairns, Mareeba & Tablelands

For 16–24-year-olds looking to start careers in:
🏗 Construction | 🌾 Agriculture | 🌳 Land & Conservation | 🚜 Civil Construction & more

What’s included:
✅ Accredited training in Rural Operations
✅ White Card, Machine Ops, Working at Heights & Confined Spaces
✅ Employability skills
✅ Industry connections & work experience
✅ Support into apprenticeships, traineeships & jobs

12-week fully funded skilling program.
Apply now: https://vpginc.com.au/work-skills/

📞 Send us a DM, call 4032 1677 or request a callback via our website.

📸 Cairns brothers Joseph and Josiah completed the program and stepped straight into civil construction roles with iLEC.

Skills for Queensland

27/08/2026

WE'RE GROWING OUR TEAM
Some people are naturally good at working with young people. If that sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you.

We're expanding our youth and wellbeing services on the Tablelands and currently recruiting for:
➡️ Youth Support Officer – full-time
➡️ Youth Worker – full-time
➡️ Student Wellbeing Officer – part-time, school-based

We're looking for people from a range of backgrounds, including Social Work, Youth Work, Human Services and related fields. Qualifications and experience requirements vary by role.

You’ll build trust, communicate with empathy and support young people through challenges while keeping the focus on their strengths, opportunities and what’s possible.

Join a supportive local team that genuinely enjoys working together and believes in the potential of young people.

👉 View the opportunities and position descriptions at vpginc.com.au/work-with-us/

Applications will be reviewed as they're received.

Do you want to be a driving force behind real, tangible change in the lives of children, young people, and families throughout our local FNQ communities?

26/08/2026

Such a great day out with plenty to take away.

Our GS4W participants headed to Lake Barrine Teahouse, where the team gave them a warm welcome and shared insights into the hospitality industry, their own career journeys, and the family legacy behind the business - now in its fourth generation.

The group even scored an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the new pizzeria and ice creamery ahead of its opening! Afterwards, it was off to the park for a picnic and a chance to unpack the day, the conversations they'd had and what they'd learned.

A big thank you to the Lake Barrine Teahouse team for giving our young people such a welcoming and valuable experience.

Skills for Queensland

24/08/2026

How’s this for an office! 🌴

Daven, a Year 10 student from Trinity Bay State High School, spent his work experience week with Designer Garden Co, working in some pretty incredible locations across Cairns, including this one at Palm Cove.

A big thanks to The Designer Garden Company for having Daven and giving him the opportunity to learn on the job.

✨VPG. Creating work experience opportunities for over 25 years.

20/08/2026

Mareeba Family Fun Day is back - at a NEW location! 🎉

This year we're bringing the fun to Mareeba State School for an afternoon of free family activities, entertainment, food and plenty more as we celebrate Queensland Child Protection Week.

And everyone's invited! Mareeba Family Fun Day is a whole-community event, open to families from across Mareeba and surrounds.

📅 Thursday, 10 September 2026
⏰ 3:00pm – 5:30pm
📍 NEW LOCATION: Mareeba State School

Come along, bring the family and join us for a great afternoon!

Hosted by VPG - Vocational Partnerships Group, Every Family by VPG - Tablelands & Mareeba Community Centre. Proudly supported by Queensland Child Protection Week, Mareeba Shire Council, Mareeba State School.

20/08/2026

Two brothers. Industry-ready skills. Two new careers in civil construction.

Cairns brothers Joseph and Josiah have gone from VPG’s Work Skills straight into employment with i-LEC, equipped with accredited training, employability skills and industry connections to launch their careers in civil construction.

Through the program, the brothers built practical skills operating and maintaining machinery including excavators and skid steer loaders, while developing the communication, teamwork and workplace skills to put that training into practice.

Now they’re on the job with i-LEC, gaining experience across underground piping and cable infrastructure, and earning great feedback for their skills and contribution to the team.

For Josiah, who has a young baby at home, employment means being able to provide for his family. Both brothers are building their independence and working towards some big goals, including buying their own cars and, one day, owning their own homes.

We're proud of you, Joseph and Josiah - and we have a feeling Mum is too. 👏

Skills for Queensland

19/08/2026

Our RespectMe Educators Phoenix and Kayla spent last week taking part in Youth Health Week across Cairns. 💜

Youth Health Nurses based in local state high schools banded together to create a Youth Health & Wellbeing Expo, taking it from school to school and bringing local services along with them.

Our team visited Cairns State High School, Redlynch State College, Smithfield State High School Tropical North Learning Academy and Trinity Bay State High School.

Best part? Seeing students we've taught through RespectMe spot Phoenix and Kayla and run over excited to say hello. Plenty more stopped by for our red flags 🚩 vs green flags 💚 activity, opening up some honest conversations about respect and what healthy relationships actually look like.

Thanks to the Youth Health Nurses for bringing it all together, and to the schools for having us. We had a blast!