It has certainly been a busy few months!
Since the program began in April, our trainees across Queensland have been involved in productions, gaining hands-on experience across lighting, audio, wardrobe, staging and venue operations.
Every production brings a new challenge, and it has been wonderful to watch the trainees embrace each opportunity. Whether it's working on bump-ins and bump-outs, assisting experienced operators, learning new technical skills or gradually taking on more responsibility, the confidence across the cohort continues to grow every week.
One of the greatest highlights of Tech Connect is watching the growing connection the trainees have with one another.
Although our trainees spend most of the week working across different departments, Fridays at QPAC bring the Brisbane cohort together for a weekly bookwork day. It's a chance to work through Certificate III coursework, ask questions, share stories from the week, and learn from each other's experiences. Far more than just study days, these collaborative bookwork days help foster a sense of community and provide a space to encourage one another, celebrate successes, and be reminded that they're all on this journey together.
That journey is made possible by the Ian Potter Foundation, Arts Queensland and Griffith University, and we are deeply grateful for their support that has ensured the continuation of this program for another three years.
As a Major Partner of Tech Connect Queensland, Griffith University continues to make a meaningful contribution to the trainee experience. Recently, trainees participated in health and wellbeing initiatives delivered by Griffith, with overwhelmingly positive feedback. Participants valued the practical focus of the sessions and the personal and professional guidance provided.
Across the state we've also loved seeing trainees settle into their venue teams, supported by supervisors who continue to generously share their knowledge, experience and time. We are immensely grateful to the Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation for their support of the program, helping us extend opportunities to trainees and venue partners across regional Queensland.