Ambrose Treacy Academy (Indooroopilly, QLD), continued to strengthen its links with local employers throughout 2025, creating practical opportunities for academy members to gain exposure to the workplace and secure part-time employment.
Regular engagement with partner organisations formed a key part of the year. These interactions were often hosted within the academy through room tours and morning teas, giving academy members opportunities to practise public speaking, engage with visitors and build confidence in professional settings.
By the end of the year, three of the academy’s five Year 10 and 11 members were working part-time with Kmart at the Indooroopilly store, with another having previously held a role there. Kmart maintained strong involvement with the academy across the year, including attending awards evenings. One such event included the participation of Clontarf alumnus and Kmart Indigenous Employment Advisor for Queensland, Anthony Turner.
The relationship with Kmart also had a visible influence across year levels. Two additional academy members applied for part-time roles at the Indooroopilly store after seeing the pathway taken by their peers.
Broader employment exposure was also built through off-site opportunities. A group of middle-school academy members attended the BCF 20-Year Anniversary Conference on the Sunshine Coast, where they opened proceedings with an Acknowledgement of Country before taking part in a Q&A session. The event brought together more than 200 BCF employers, providing a large-scale professional setting for the young men to present and engage.
Camps during the year created further opportunities for academy members to visit partner worksites. These experiences included store visits, site tours and informal discussions with employers, providing insight into a range of industries and pathways. One such visit included a construction project delivered by BMD, offering practical exposure to the sector and reflecting the number of Ambrose Treacy alumni now employed with the company.
Entering 2026, the academy set a clear goal of supporting all senior school members to be engaged in some form of part-time employment. The depth and consistency of partner engagement throughout 2025 positioned the academy well to continue progressing this work.
