Talk to the locals in Queensland's south-west, and you'll hear another perspective about the region's rapidly growing resource sector. All is not boom and bouquets.

Yes, there are lots of jobs on offer, but not a limitless source. Many businesses are looking for the right people, but can't always find them.
The growing resource activity and the influx of prospective workers to the townships presents many challenges for businesses and local communities alike.

One employment service that is directly addressing these challenges with real solutions is Sunshine Coast-based business Indigenous Workstars (www.workstars.com.au) an initiative of John Pearson Consulting.

Marion Loveday, Secretary of Chinchilla Community Commerce and Industry Inc (equivalent to the Chamber of Commerce) is a local with a passion for her community, and a hard-earned strategic view of the dynamics of local business and community. She said the services offered by Indigenous Workstars are quickly becoming a key link between the fast growing community and business sectors.

"I admire what the Indigenous Workstars team is doing in this region," said Marion.

"We identified at a recent skills symposium that there is in fact a skills shortage in our region, and then beyond that, we asked the question where we might find people to fill these skills gaps.

"One of the most underutilised workforces that was identified, apart from women, was the Indigenous workforce."

Due to the ongoing promotion of career opportunities in the region, Marion said that many local families, including Indigenous, found relatives coming to the area in search of work. When new to an area, identifying employment opportunities and establishing networks is often difficult.

On the other hand, she said that many resource sector companies are searching for Indigenous people to employ, but sometimes found it difficult to contact them.

"What we need in the middle – between all of this – is someone like Indigenous Workstars who can put the two together," Marion said.

"Obviously whoever tries to do that successfully needs to have an understanding of the Indigenous culture, and Indigenous Workstars has that."

Deena Dodd, Flood Recovery and Indigenous Employment Coordinator with Lifeline Toowoomba, said that over 20 people she had referred through Indigenous Workstars had found employment. In her quest of providing the best service to her clients, she considered Indigenous Workstars an important partner.

"Maree (Indigenous Workstars' Business Development Coordinator) and Lesley (Training and Employment Coordinator) do a fantastic job. They've spent a lot of time working in the communities.

"I receive a lot of resumes and I try and get the best result of the client. I send them to who can give them the best service, and at the moment that's Indigenous Workstars."

Kate Miguel is Business Development Manager for registered training organisation Workskills, with a territory spanning multiple country towns and centres west of Toowoomba. Through a partnership with Indigenous Workstars, a number of employment opportunities have been created for Indigenous jobseekers in towns such as Roma and Chinchilla.

"A lot of the resource sector companies have busy schedules and foremen and supervisors need help with mentoring new employees," said Kate.

"Workskills provides the training for the jobseekers we place, but some jobseekers need that additional support to settle into the workplace, and that's where our relationship with Maree and the Indigenous Workstars team is extremely valuable.

"We've found that when we combine training with mentoring, employers are enjoying better success with their new workers, and they have more time to dedicate to the actually running of their business or facilities."

Kate said she had received positive feedback regarding two young women placed in administration roles who were currently being trained in Certificate III in Business Administration.