HITsa Newsletter April 2026

Skills that get jobs

New HITsa Coffee HIT, 2026 Harmony Week, Disability and Lifestyle Expo, Hope Christian College Open Day, Short Courses and Graduating Students

April Already?! Who Pressed Fast Forward…

Is it just us, or did someone hit the fast-forward button on 2026?

One minute we were setting New Year’s goals, feeling fresh, organised and full of “this is our year” energy… and the next—hello April! Seriously, where did the time go?

But before we spiral into “we blinked and missed it” mode, we did what any sensible team would do—we paused, looked back… and wow. Turns out, we haven’t just been busy—we’ve been really busy.

From rolling out training programs and welcoming new students, to building industry connections, supporting work placements, and keeping everything ticking behind the scenes—it’s been a whirlwind of activity (the good kind!). Every course delivered, every student supported, every opportunity created… it all adds up.

It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and feel like time is slipping through our fingers. But when we take a moment to reflect, it’s clear that a lot of meaningful work has already been packed into these first few months.

January

Hospitality Skills bespoke training program for At Work Australia
SIR30216 Certificate III Retail - Jobs Statewide Elizabeth
SIT30622 Certificate III Hospitality running from St George College
SIT20421 Certificate II Cookery commenced at Adelaide Botanic High School
SIT20421 Certificate II Cookery commenced at Roma Mitchell High School

February

SIR30216 Certificate III Retail - Jobs Statewide Oaklands Park
SIT30622 Certificate III Hospitality commences at Southern Vales Christian College
SIR30216 Certificate III Retail kicks off at Jobs Statewide - Melbourne CBD
SIT20421 Certificate II Cookery commences at Concordia College
CHC33021 Certificate III Early Childhood Education and Care commences at Whyalla Secondary College

March

Virtual classroom installation commences at HITsa Salisbury
SIR30216 Certificate III Retail commences at Workskil Mile End
Entry into Care pre-employment programs commence at Salisbury and Clarence Gardens for our partner ACA
Stackable VET - Retail commences at Springbank Secondary College
CHC33021 Cert III Early Childhood Education and Care commences at Unity College
Our first Cafe Skills short course commences at Mount Gambier
Provide Responsible Service of Alcohol training for Workskil
Headspace Murray Bridge are the first organisation to book our mobile Barista training course with Coffee HIT

So yes, April may have snuck up on us—but it’s also reminded us of something important: progress doesn’t always shout, sometimes it quietly stacks up in the background… until suddenly, you realise just how far you’ve come.

Here’s to keeping the momentum going (maybe with a slightly firmer grip on the calendar ).

Let’s see what the rest of the year has in store!

Our new HITsa Coffee HIT is out and about!

This month we travelled to Murray Bridge with our Mobile Barista Training Van to deliver on-site training to a cohort of students from Headspace Murray Bridge.

Last year when we ran this program, Headspace arranged transport for their participants from Murray Bridge to Mt Barker each day. This year we were all excited to be able to offer the full barista course on their premises in Murray Bridge. Not only does this reduce the logistics and travel time associated with transporting 10 people each day, it also allows the participants to learn new skills in a safe, familiar environment.

The van has proven a HIT, not just for the convenience, but also the professional quality of presentation and student experience. HITsa Trainer Carlo and the team from Headspace were in their element, and they invited local businesses, including the paper and radio station in to experience their prowess as Baristas!

If you are interested in offering barista training in your workplace, please contact us: info@hitsa.com.au

Certificate III in Individual Support Traineeship - Limited Subsidised Places – Filling Fast

Thinking about employing a trainee? Now is the time to act. Subsidised traineeship places are currently available—but they won’t last long.

This is a fantastic opportunity to grow your workforce with the right people, while taking advantage of government-subsidised training. Federal Government's Priority Hiring Incentive may provide up to $1500 for eligible employers to support the employment of a full time employee. Those undertaking a traineeship may also be eligible for up to support under the Australian Apprentice Training Support Payment. Pro-rata incentives are also available for eligible part time employment of trainees.

What’s on offer

Heavily subsidised course fee – only $460
Flexible training delivery to suit your workplace
Nationally recognised qualification aligned to industry needs

Even more value for employers
We also offer subsidised skill sets that can be used as part of pre-employment programs—helping you identify and prepare job-ready candidates before they even start.

Flexible employment options

Employ the trainee directly and build your team from within
Or HITsa can connect you with a GTO to manage employment, payroll and admin for you

Don’t miss out
With limited places available, now is the perfect time to secure your trainee and strengthen your workforce.

Contact Sarah Kleemann skleemann@hitsa.com.au or 0417853103 to discuss how you can access a subsidised traineeship and find the right fit for your organisation.

Celebrating Diversity During 2026 Harmony Week

This year’s 2026 Harmony Week was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the cultural diversity that makes HITsa so unique. While we kept things simple, our Interactive World Map Activity was a meaningful and engaging way to reflect on our shared heritage and aspirations.

The activity invited students and staff to place coloured pins on a world map, representing:

Green Pins: Their country of birth
Yellow Pins: The countries where their parents were born
Red Pins: The countries where their grandparents were born
Blue Pins: A country (other than Australia) where they would choose to live and work in the future

Our Diversity in Numbers

The results of the activity were both inspiring and insightful, showcasing the incredible variety of backgrounds within HITsa. Here’s a snapshot of the data:

Green Pins (Countries of Birth)

Australia accounts for 65% of the representation, followed by England at 8%, and other countries, represent between 2 or 3% each.

Yellow Pins (Parents’ Countries of Birth)

India leads with 41.7% representation, followed by Germany and England, each contributing 25.0%. Other countries, including the Philippines, China, New Zealand, and the Congo Region, account for between 8.3% and 12.5% of the total.

Red Pins (Grandparents’ Countries of Birth)

Ireland and New Zealand each contribute 26.9% to the representation, followed by England and Germany at 23.1% each. Other countries, including China, India, and the Philippines, account for between 7.7% and 19.2% of the total.

Blue Pins (Countries to Live and Work)

Australia and India each account for 34.5% of the representation, followed by New Zealand at 13.8%. Other countries, including Canada, Japan, America, and Brazil, contribute between 3.4% and 6.9% of the total.

This representation of our collective heritage highlighted not only where we come from but also where we dream of going, reinforcing the importance of diversity in everything we do.

An Insightful day at the Disability and Lifestyle Expo

What a fun and insightful day at the Disability and Lifestyle Expo in Mount Gambier!

We took along our students — Hugh, Hannah, and Alex, who are currently studying Individual Support (Disability or Ageing), to give them valuable exposure to the industries they’re preparing to enter.

Throughout the day, they made fantastic connections, meeting directors, managers, and employees from support organisations across the Limestone Coast. They also had the chance to explore areas that aren’t always front of mind, such as swim programs, art, and technology — all playing an important role in supporting individuals in this sector.

A big thank you to those who took the time to speak with our students — your support and willingness to share your knowledge made a real impact.

Not only did the event create meaningful connections, but it also opened doors. Students were encouraged to stay in touch with the people they met — and in less than two weeks, Alex has already secured a job in aged care!

A wonderful outcome and a great example of how real-world experiences can lead to real opportunities.

#LiveWellBeYou

Celebrating One Year!

This month marked my one year anniversary with HITsa. I have worked in Registered Training Organisations for many years there are always new challenges on the horizon.

HITsa has delivered me with those challenges and learning opportunities as well as a welcoming and fun environment.

Thank you to the entire team for all for support and welcoming me aboard. Look forward to the next adventures. - Frances

Hope Christian College Open Day!

This month, HITsa was invited to attend Hope Christian College’s open day. HITsa currently has a number of students who attend the Salisbury site to study CHC30121 Certificate III Early Childhood Education.

Matt Morten is the VET Coordinator and he was excited to share with me the expansion plans that are in the works for the school. He also gave me a tour of the school and it was lovely to see so many families attending the open day and the demonstrations that the school had put on for the visitors.

This was my first event representing HITsa at such an event. It was great to meet potential students and to have a chat with other RTO representatives about what it means to host VETRO students in adult learning environments and support them in their career pathways.