A traineeship with Ipswich City Council has helped launch the career of a young woman who arrived in Australia just three years ago, turning uncertainty into confidence and community connection.
Naty Quive’s story comes into sharper focus following last week’s Harmony Week, which celebrates cultural diversity and promotes inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
Originally from Mozambique, the 19-year-old concierge and support officer moved to Ipswich with family seeking opportunity and a fresh start. That opportunity came in the form of a customer service traineeship with council.
“I wanted to work with council because I was new to Australia and thought it would help me connect with the community,” she said.
The business administration traineeship, delivered through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, is typically completed over 12 months.
Ms Quive, however, finished the program in just seven months, combining formal study with hands-on experience across multiple teams.
“It included studying as well as working with different teams and learning what they do,” she said.
Her strong performance led directly to ongoing employment, with Ms Quive stepping into a concierge and support officer role in December – a position she had not initially anticipated but has quickly embraced.
Fluent in Shangaan, Portuguese and English, she has been able to use her multilingual skills to assist residents from diverse backgrounds, particularly Portuguese-speaking customers navigating council services.
“I’ve helped Brazilian customers by speaking Portuguese, especially when explaining council processes. It makes things much easier for them,” she said.
Like many new arrivals, Ms Quive faced challenges building confidence in English, particularly in customer-facing situations.
Now part of a small concierge team, she values both the close working environment and the daily interaction with the community.
“It’s a good team and you get to know people better,” she said.
Beyond handling enquiries, Ms Quive said the role often involves meaningful conversations that help build connections with residents.
“You get to talk to people about all sorts of things and their life, not just council enquiries,” she said.
Her success also highlights the competitiveness of the program.
In 2025, council selected 12 trainees from 335 applicants, placing successful candidates in the top 3.38 per cent.
The traineeship is designed to support workforce and succession planning within council, creating clear pathways into ongoing employment – a pathway Ms Quive has successfully followed.
She is now continuing to build her skills while planning to pursue further study in business, with the long-term goal of running her own business.
Her journey comes as thousands of Queenslanders benefit from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, with a new round of funding now open to expand training and employment opportunities across the state.
More than 5000 Queenslanders benefited from the program last year, with 5443 pathways to employment created through 180 projects statewide.
Applications for the 2026-27 funding round close on May 7, with a further round expected to open later in the year.
Ms Quive encourages others, particularly those new to the workforce or to Australia, to consider a traineeship.
“It can be a bit scary at first, especially working with different teams, but just be open to learning and try everything,” she said.
