Woodridge women celebrate graduation from Workways English language course 

On Friday 28 August 2026, a group of women in Woodridge stood in front of family, friends, and their State MP and did something many hadn’t imagined possible a year earlier: they held conversations entirely in English. They role-played real-life situations, from a casual conversation to an appointment with an employment coach at an employment services provider. Then they came together to sing a song they’d learned in English, just for the joy of it. 

The graduation marked the end of a Workways English language course for the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Women’s Group, a group of Woodridge participants who choose to attend extra English classes on top of their studies at TAFE. Woodridge is home to one of Queensland’s most culturally diverse communities, with residents born in countries including Afghanistan, Somalia and Myanmar. For many Workways participants in the Woodridge community, confident English is one of the biggest steps toward finding work and building a life in Australia. It’s a need Workways identified in the community, and this course was shaped specifically to meet it. 

The course focuses on practical, everyday English: talking to a GP, dealing with community and employment services, understanding a job ad, making conversation at the shops. Participants also picked up practical digital skills, including how to use a smartphone, something many hadn’t owned or used before coming to Australia. Many of the women come from backgrounds with limited access to education, and they’ve relished the chance to learn a new language and new skills that will help them reach their goals. 

Melaans, a Workways Employment Coach who runs the course, says the graduates have grown in areas well beyond just English language skills. 

“The group have improved their communication skills and taken positive steps towards their personal and future goals,” she says. “They have shown great resilience, embraced new challenges, and continued to grow throughout the program.” 

Participants say they value the group’s supportive and respectful nature and the way it teaches practical skills relevant to everyday life. Many are continuing in the course beyond graduation, drawn back by the learning environment and the friendship of the group. 

State Member for Woodridge and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Cameron Dick attended the graduation to present certificates. He spoke about his pride in representing one of Queensland’s most diverse electorates and commended the group’s courage and dedication in learning a new language while contributing to their community.  

“If you see me at the shops, you’ve got to come up and say, ‘Hello Cameron, you were at my graduation,'” he told the group. “Then you use your conversational English to ask me a question, or just to say, ‘Hi Cameron, how’s your family?’ Come and practise your English on me.” 

“This achievement opens a door,” he said. “Maybe it’s a pathway to more study, or to being more confident and more active in your community. Maybe it’s a way to help your family and your children. Whatever it is, it’s an important day to stop and celebrate.” 

Also in attendance to congratulate the group were Workways Australia CEO Kary McCaskill, National Manager of Employment Beck Honey, and Christopher Dale, General Manager Strategy and Design at MEGT Group. 

For the women of the CALD Women’s Group, graduation day is just the beginning. Some are now moving into jobs or exploring further study, putting their English and their confidence to work. Others plan to continue with the course, still building on the English, the confidence and the connections they’ve made, one conversation at a time.