Kaija Finding Her Path with ArtsReady
Kaija Petersons (pronounced KA-I-YA) is an ArtsReady trainee completing a Business Support Traineeship with Creative Australia in Sydney, alongside her Certificate IV in Business. The new Financial Controller, Liz Chapman, initially assumed Kaija was already an employee, only later discovering she was part of the traineeship program, proof of how seamlessly Kaija had stepped into the role.
Kaija’s decision to take on a traineeship wasn’t new territory. She completed a school-based traineeship in hospitality during Year 12, alongside trade school and extended work placements. This earlier experience made the concept of a traineeship with AFL SportsReady easier to embrace.
The benefit of knowing what a traineeship entailed made the move easier to grasp.
Although her previous role and the arts industry are worlds apart, Kaija saw this opportunity as the next step toward a meaningful career.
Driven by her creativity, Kaija has always been interested in the arts.
I’m generally a very creative person.
Her free time is spent drawing, watercolour painting and exploring photography, supported by her Certificate III in Screen and Media. So, joining Creative Australia as a trainee felt like a natural progression.
Throughout her traineeship, Kaija has built new confidence and skills, particularly in problem-solving.
Before, I would have gone straight to asking for help!
But, now I try to figure it out on my own first.
She has strengthened her knowledge of Microsoft programs, especially Excel and developed new ways to manage tasks effectively, something she partly attributes to learning how she processes information with ADHD.
Her proudest moments often come from supporting events. For instance, staff assume the impressive food platters she prepares come from external caterers. It’s a little running joke now in the office.
She’s equally proud of:
the way I can keep everything I need in an organised [way] without feeling stressed.
Kaija’s confidence has grown significantly since starting.
Before my confidence was very low… I was very quiet, I’m naturally a very quiet introverted person.
With time, familiarity with the work environment and daily communication, she feels far more self-assured.
For anyone considering a traineeship, her advice is simple:
I would say, do it! Even if they don’t think they need to do it…
If you’re a very hands-on learner, I feel like a traineeship is the best way to learn!
And for Kaija, the answer to whether she’d make the same choice (choosing to do a traineeship again) is a resounding “YESSS!”
All AFL SportsReady graduates are welcome to become members of our exclusive alumni.
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