Kool Kids Training College new headquarters to be built at iconic Southport site after Covid ‘gut punch’

One of the city’s largest educators has made a surprise pivot by building its headquarters at an iconic Coast location. FIND OUT WHERE.

AN iconic Gold Coast site is being transformed into Kool Kids Training College new headquarters, with the educator saying it has confidence in the city’s vocational education and in Southport.

The total rebuild at 106 Queen Street is happening at the former site of International Interiors on the corner of Ferry and Queen streets. The college is diagonally opposite the $500 million Queens Street Village mega development at the old Gold Coast Hospital site.

College manager Sam Hendry said the vision of delivering the best training facility in early childhood education and care sector in Australia was taking shape and students would love it. “We are planning for a time in the not to distant future when we can welcome students back into our training rooms – both domestic and international,” he said.

An iconic Gold Coast site is being transformed into Kool Kids Training College new headquarters. Photo: Supplied

“Covid-19 has been a gut punch to our sector and has seen many educational institutions hit the wall. We have had to pivot across all states where we train, notably during lockdowns but thankfully we are a fully cloud-based RTO and have a resilient cohort of students who have continued to front up and progress with their training regardless of the troubled waters Covid-19 presents.”

“We remain positive about the future and this investment is reflective of that confidence.”

The headquarters, due to open in October, will feature a 153sq m training room and two hi-tech rooms equipped with presenter tracking cameras for enhanced interactivity for students learning offsite.

Kool Kids Training College new headquarters is being built at the former site of International Interiors on the corner of Ferry and Queen streets.

For those onsite, there will be a 51 sqm of collaborative meeting space for post lecture review sessions as well as an alfresco area and onsite gym.

Mr Hendry said the recent 2021 Muval Index showed more Aussies were moving to Southport than any other area in Queensland.

“With increased migration there is a natural growth in the demand for childcare and by association training in the sector,” he said.

“This is an eight-year journey to where we are today. From a start up RTO we have come a long way and we now support hundreds of centres and thousands of students from Melbourne to Cairns and in between.

“Our Mayor Tom Tate often talks about the Gold Coast as Australia’s favourite classroom and we firmly believe our state of the art classroom(s) will be a favourite for students wanting to embark on a career in early childhood education and care.

Study Gold Coast chief executive Alfred Slogrove said he felt fortunate to be working in such a resilient industry.

Kool Kids Training College headquarters is being built in Southport.

“In the face of such adversity the education sector always amazes me with the vast amounts of resilience, innovation and growth capacity,” he said.

“This is just one great example of an industry leading head office providing services to all of Australia and the world from the Gold Coast.

“Many of our home grown education providers are changing lives all over Australia and worldwide from right here on the beautiful Gold Coast.”

Cr Brooke Patterson said the Kool Kids Training College would be a “terrific addition to the education and training base here on the Gold Coast, training teachers in the early childhood space”.

“And it’s great to see them setting up here in Southport too,” she said.

“I know its been a trying time for the sector with the pandemic, and it’s a real shot of confidence to see them building for the future at this time.”

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