Breaking down barriers at bank

IPSWICH girl Courtney Short has found herself working with people's money since doing a traineeship at the National Australia Bank.

Courtney Short is a new customer adviser at NAB Riverlink after completing a school-based traineeship. . Picture: Sarah Harvey

MOST school-based trainees find themselves working in a factory or a mine.

But Ipswich girl Courtney Short has found herself working with people's money since doing a traineeship at the National Australia Bank.

After graduating from Ipswich High School, Ms Short began a three-month trial that has turned into a full-time job with the Riverlink NAB branch.

The role came about following her involvement in the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) run by NAB across the nation.

Ms Short said she became interested in a career in banking after gaining experience through her work training while in high school.

"Before I did my traineeship I don't think I'd ever even been in a bank before," she said.

"When I first went in for the interview I was so nervous. I didn't know what to expect or what it was going to be like working at a bank.

"But after a few times there I really started to enjoy it. It's really interesting work and the people here are great."

Ms Short said banking was far from her ideal job before she experienced it first-hand when she started the traineeship.

"The liaison officer said it'd be a great opportunity and so I went for it," she said.

"Before that I'd never even thought about working in banking; it was the last thing I was interested in doing.

"But now I just love working here."

The school-based traineeship mean she spent a day a week at the bank while still studying at Ipswich High.

Once she graduated from high school she took up a three-month full-time trial with the branch, before being given a permanent position.

Ms Short said traineeships at banks were becoming more common at Ipswich schools, with a number of her friends, and even her sister, considering one.

"There are loads of kids at school who are doing traineeships at banks now. My little sister even gave came here to give it a go. I'm not sure it was quite her thing though.

"But I'd definitely recommend doing it to anyone."

The NAB's Reconciliation Action Plan is designed to assist the indigenous community and build stronger ties between it and the bank.

The bank said the plan, founded in 2008, aimed to support economic and social development by working in partnership with indigenous groups.

Nationally, 72 high school students were undergoing school-based traineeships with the National Australia Bank as a part of the Reconciliation Action Plan in 2011.

Originally published as Breaking down barriers at bank