Groei Education

One of our founders just wrapped up two fabulous days as a participant in the Ignite+ commercialisation program with Advance Queensland and Advisory Board Centre Even as an educators in this space, it’s so important to take the time to refresh our own knowledge and walk the same path we encourage others to take. As Groei Education builds out our digital skills credentialling product and tests new markets, it’s been a great chance to have the space to apply the tools to our own business — not just teach them. Programs like Ignite+ are a great reminder to stay curious, stay open, and stay in learning mode. Shameless plug for our own program — if you know a young woman (18-25) who’s dreaming of taking her early stage start up to the next level our Launchpad program (funded by Advance Queensland) is taking applications check out the link here https://lnkd.in/gfwTcb5n #IgnitePlus #AdvanceQLD #FemaleFounders #StartUpJourney #InnovationEcosystem #MentorshipMatters #socialcapital

Tomorrow’s Hope website is now live! Created by our Knoei Colab OG students, Kit Keulemans and Michael Foote—“Tomorrow’s Hope is more than just an app; it’s a movement.” What started as a passionate idea during their Knoei Colab journey has grown into a platform providing essential mental health resources for young people and guardians. Check out their new site to discover more about this inspiring venture and join the movement! So proud of you, Kit and Michael!

We recently hosted one of our favorite events—Knoei Colab Labday at The Precinct in Brisbane, and it was an inspiring day of #innovation and #growth. During the event, all our cohorts came together to share their ideas and creative solutions. Highlights of the day included: • Design Thinking Workshop: Dr Natalie Wright FDIA, an expert in design thinking, challenged our students to think creatively and solve problems in new ways.  • Pitch perfect Session: Caroline Starecky Queen of Pitching, provided key insights into effective pitching—a critical skill for any entrepreneur.  • Social Media Marketing & TikTok Challenge: Koko Kasama, our social media marketer, hosted a TikTok challenge where students learned the importance of social media marketing and content creation as real-life marketers for Groei Education. Koko shared, "Some of the ideas were mind blowing—I've never even thought about it from that angle!"  • Final Pitch Presentations: Our graduating cohort delivered their final pitches and presentations to a panel of investors, receiving targeted feedback from Sam Ward Co-founder of Valor Esports to further refine their ideas. A special shoutout to Joelle McCully our main Groei Facilitator, who not only guided students throughout the day but also played a key role in their entrepreneurial journey. As the lead educator for all our cohorts, she is deeply involved in teaching, mentoring, and inspiring our students every step of the way. Her dedication to fostering growth and innovation truly embodies the spirit of Knoei Colab! A huge thank you to The Precinct for hosting us in such an amazing space, and to all our facilitators for their dedication and support throughout the day. It was incredibly rewarding to see students, who once hesitated to speak in public, now confidently presenting their visions. This event truly showcased the remarkable growth of our young talents. Check out our future leaders in action: https://lnkd.in/giG3pbfi #KnoeiColab #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #DesignThinking #Pitching #SocialMediaMarketing #FutureLeaders 

Happy International Women’s Day from Team Groei 🩷 Today, we celebrate the leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping a better future. From the classrooms to boardrooms, from startups to global movements—women are driving impact in every space!  At Groei Education, we’re proud to empower young people to embrace entrepreneurship, leadership, and future-focused thinking. Together, we can break barriers, challenge norms, and create opportunities for the next generation. Here’s to the women changing the world—today and every day! Tara Jacobsen Shannara Goddard Linda Moller Koko Kasama Joelle McCully Adele Pargeter 

As we approach International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the incredible achievements of women making a difference—and today, we have a special news to share - Our Co-Founder, Tara Jacobsen, is a finalist in the Women Changing the World Awards! Women Changing The World Awards supported by the Duchess of York and presented by Dr. Tererai Trent (Oprah Winfrey’s all-time favorite guest), recognise women driving change in education, leadership, innovation, sustainability, and beyond. At Groei Education, we’re all about empowering future leaders, and Tara’s dedication to shaping the future of entrepreneurship and education is truly inspiring. We couldn’t be prouder! The winners will be announced at the Women Changing the World Global Summit in London on 3 April, 2025—with online participation for finalists worldwide 🌏 #Education #leadership #innovation #wcwawards25 #globalsummit #womenchangingtheworld Check out the full list of inspiring finalists here: wcwawards.com/finalists Let’s take this moment to celebrate the women who are leading change and inspiring the next generation!  

Struggling to find and retain skilled talent who can keep pace with technological change—while also adding to your culture? We are looking for more Sunshine Coast businesses to participate in Groei’s pilot program. Groei’s federally funded Talent Accelerate Program (March 24 – April 18) is a unique opportunity for Sunshine Coast advanced manufacturing, tech, and engineering businesses to: ✅ Access high-potential emerging talent (ages 17-25) studying Engineering, Biomedical Science, CAD Design, Science, Business, and Marketing—upskilled in digital innovation, communication, collaborative intelligence, and problem-solving. ✅ De-risk hiring with a project-based model – Observe talent in action over flexible 6-week placements, assessing impact and alignment before making long-term commitments. ✅ Optimise your workforce for future growth with expert support to:  🔹Map workforce needs for growth, capabilities & sustainability  🔹 Redesign roles for greater impact, engagement & adaptability  🔹 Improve talent retention & performance through structured placements 💡 Zero cost. High return potential.  Limited places available! - Contact Program Manager Felicity Burns Felicity@groei.com.au to get involved. #TalentAccelerate #FutureReadyWorkforce #EmergingTalent #SunshineCoast #AdvancedManufacturing #Tech #Engineering #Innovation #Growth 

Are micro-credentials the future of education? As industries evolve, so do the ways we validate skills. This article explores how micro-credentials are shaping the workforce. What are your thoughts? https://lnkd.in/dGWzWwZR

We are lucky to have some great #SunshineCoast businesses in our Talent Accelerate program who are offering internship placements for young people, with potential job opportunities at the end. This program is a valuable chance for students to explore different industries and career paths. The Talent Accelerate Program works with companies in advanced manufacturing, tech, and engineering on the Sunshine Coast to offer 6-week internships that provide hands-on experience and real-world skills. Students also have the opportunity to build connections with industry leaders, and take a look into the various roles and skills they might need for their future career paths. If you know any young people aged 17-25 who are in university, high school or are deciding what to do in their gap year, feel free to reach out. Key dates: Rolling Intake: Open Now to start immediately 3rd Intake Start Date: Thursday 6th March 2025 – self paced virtual sessions In person sessions: March 12th, March 19th 2025 | 9am - 1pm Internship: 24th March 2025 – 6 weeks https://lnkd.in/gF3tjt_d #skillingyouth #innovationskills #groei #sunshinecoastworkforce

"If my experiences have taught me anything, it’s that innovation sits comfortably alongside uncertainty. Over time, you learn to embrace this uncertainty, but we only really get comfortable with its presence when we experience roadblocks or failures. These shape us and build resilience over time. When engaging with young people in our programs, we focus on fostering future-thinking skills, durability, and building their human capability to become what we call “#purplepeople”, equipped with the critical thinking, creativity, and real-world problem-solving skills needed to thrive not just in business, but in life," - Tara Jacobsen Read more about Groei Education's Co-Founder and Director, Tara Jacobsen, featured in https://lnkd.in/gUvZ3BKV  last week. She speaks openly about embracing failure and how this shapes us and builds resilience over time. Rudi (Rodolfo) Tartaglia

Talent Accelerate Mixer Event: Mixing Young Talent & Industry!  Last week, we hosted an incredible evening at our Talent Accelerate Mixer Event on the #SunshineCoast 🌟 Seeing passionate young people connect with industry professionals was truly inspiring. Over the past month, our students have stepped outside their comfort zones, developing essential skills like #communication, #criticalthinking, and #problemsolving - and at the event, it showed! Watching them confidently engage with industry leaders was a testament to their growth and the impact of future-focused learning. A huge thank you to the amazing businesses that are part of this program. Their commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent is shaping real opportunities for young people in advanced manufacturing. Your Mates Brewing Co. The Country Chef Bakery Co.Concept Labs RAIDER Targetry Lachie Smart ZONE RV Dominic Vrolijks The speed networking sessions were a highlight, sparking meaningful conversations and potential career pathways! This is what the future of work looks like—#collaboration, #innovation, and real-world connections. 💡 It’s not too late to get involved! We have one more cohort intake if you know a young person on the Sunshine Coast or Bundaberg who is keen to participate, check out the link below  https://lnkd.in/g23ukh7Z    Acknowledgment to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations for making this pilot possible.   #TalentAccelerate #FutureSkills #Innovation #STEM #Networking #NextGenTalent