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Businesses in rural or regional areas can attract newly qualified staff by employing a university student on a short-term placement before they graduate.

The Brolga Project is designed to give university students an opportunity to experience life and work in the regions in the hope that they will return to the business to continue their career following graduation.

Over 100 mostly urban-based university students have expressed interest in undertaking a short-term work placement with a business in a rural or regional area. Placements can vary from a week to 4 months.

The project offers businesses the opportunity to

• tap into a pool of potential graduates who have expressed interest in working in their field in a rural or regional area

• see whether the student will fit into the workplace prior to formal recruitment

• expose urban students to the benefits of a regional or rural lifestyle

The Brolga Project is active in 8 Queensland and NSW universities including University of New England, New South Wales and Wollongong. 

Students from a broad range of fields may be available, including

The Brolga Project supports the work placement by

• identifying university students seeking work placement as part of their curriculum

• job matching

• facilitation of the placement

Businesses may be asked or need to provide either

• paid employment for 1-4 month placements as per normal industrial arrangements

• travel costs and accommodation costs / assistance in billeting the student for unpaid placements of less than a month (negotiated on a individual basis)

Employer support for the student's travel and accommodation costs is usually required for short-term placements because students usually need to maintain rental accommodation in the city during the placement.

A small administrative charge ($100-200) for a successful placement may be applicable in future.

For more information or to express interest in hosting a university student on work placement, go to  www.brolgaproject.com.au