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Our Story
How It All Began
1994
In 1994 Tursa Employment & Training was founded as a not-for-profit for the express purpose of addressing unemployment and alleviating disadvantage suffered by people of the region.
94
1995
1995 the first contract was granted to TURSA under the New Work Opportunities Programme, commencing in Lismore, then a month later in Ballina and within months extended throughout the Northern Rivers. Mobile deployed field staff operated across the Northern Rivers footprint supported by the Head Office at Lismore. Rapid expansion to offices at Ballina followed by Grafton and Tweed Heads ensured we were able to provide increased services across the entire region. August 1995 was also the year that Debbie Fry joined the organisation who remains as the Company Secretary and Board Delegate supporting an independent Board of Directors and an experienced Chief Officers Group.
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1996 - 1997
1996 and into 1997 New Apprenticeship Centres, Youth Programmes and Work for the Dole were included into the services delivered by TURSA with new sites opened at Casino, Byron Bay and Murwillumbah. The same years saw the approval of TURSA as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and the subsequent awarding of key NSW training contracts.
96-97
1998
In 1998 and for the next two years TURSA was contracted to deliver the Flex 1 programme, sourcing job vacancies and engaging with other employment service providers to recruit labour across all industry sectors in the Northern Rivers – more than 7,000 places over the contract period – a challenging but successful programme.
Further contracts were awarded to the RTO including the training and supporting of Northern Rivers Business to migrate and integrate MYOB and QuickBooks into their operations. Adult jobseekers obtained training to achieve their International Computer Driving License (ICDL) as one of the first steps by the government to support the new digital age and use of technology emerging in the workplace.
Further contracts were awarded to the RTO including the training and supporting of Northern Rivers Business to migrate and integrate MYOB and QuickBooks into their operations. Adult jobseekers obtained training to achieve their International Computer Driving License (ICDL) as one of the first steps by the government to support the new digital age and use of technology emerging in the workplace.
98
2000
In 1998 and for the next two years TURSA was contracted to deliver the Flex 1 programme, sourcing job vacancies and engaging with other employment service providers to recruit labour across all industry sectors in the Northern Rivers – more than 7,000 places over the contract period – a challenging but successful programme.
Further contracts were awarded to the RTO including the training and supporting of Northern Rivers Business to migrate and integrate MYOB and QuickBooks into their operations. Adult jobseekers obtained training to achieve their International Computer Driving License (ICDL) as one of the first steps by the government to support the new digital age and use of technology emerging in the workplace.
Further contracts were awarded to the RTO including the training and supporting of Northern Rivers Business to migrate and integrate MYOB and QuickBooks into their operations. Adult jobseekers obtained training to achieve their International Computer Driving License (ICDL) as one of the first steps by the government to support the new digital age and use of technology emerging in the workplace.
2000
2003
2003 saw continued expansion into the Gold Coast with new offices initially at Southport and shortly afterwards Nerang, Coolangatta, and Kingscliff and by 2007 the additional sites of Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Woolgoolga and Yamba completed the footprint.
2003
2009
In 2009 Job Network was replaced by Job Services Australia and ran through to 2015 with additional new locations opened at Oxenford, Helensvale, Palm Beach, Robina, Mermaid Beach and Nambucca Heads.
2009
2015
From 2015, jobactive became the new branding for Employment Services from the Australian Government. Contracts awarded to TURSA under the new jobactive programme saw a significant increase in business through the Brisbane corridor to the Sunshine Coast and an expansion in the Mid North Coast of NSW, resulting in the opening of an additional 30 sites to support the increase in business.
2015
2018
In 2018 TURSA sourced an additional site at North Lakes to meet the needs of this emerging growth corridor. Later that year TURSA successfully secured a competitive license under the revised Disability Employment Services-Employment Support Services (DES-ESS) across 16 contracted Employment Service Areas which saw further expansion with an additional location at Toowoomba and Gatton.
2018
2019
In 2019 TURSA was invited to participate in the New Employment Service Trial (NEST) in the Mid North Coast Employment Region covering Coffs Harbour LGA through to Port Macquarie and Taree/ Forster.
2019
Into the Future
TURSA now operates as a leading jobactive, NEST, DES-ESS and RTO provider encompassing the significant lifestyle region from the Sunshine Coast, west to Toowoomba in Queensland, incorporating Brisbane metropolitan and Gold Coast areas and south in NSW to Forster, with a total number of sites to 58.
TURSA was awarded the TTW contract for Beenleigh, Woodridge and Capalaba.
In 2022, Tursa commenced a brand refresh.
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Tursa Employment & Training acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging. 
