If you know retail inside and out, and you love helping people build a future in it, this is where that expertise becomes something lasting.
Retail is one of the fastest growing areas of work for The Community College, and we're looking for a trainer who's spent real time in the industry and wants to bring that experience into the classroom. This isn't a role for someone who's dabbled. It's for someone who's worked the floor, run a team, managed stock, dealt with customers on a bad day and a good one, and knows what it actually takes to succeed in retail, not just what the textbook says.
What the role looks like
You'll be delivering accredited retail training and conducting assessment for adult learners across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands, working alongside our Program Specialists to make sure delivery lines up with learner needs, industry standards and ASQA requirements.
It's a community facing role as much as a classroom one. Many of your learners will be building confidence alongside new skills, so you'll need patience, warmth and the ability to meet people where they're at, especially those who are still finding their feet.
Day to day, that means running engaging sessions, giving feedback that actually helps people improve, keeping accurate records, and working closely with your team to keep raising the bar on quality. You'll also be someone learners can talk to when things outside the classroom are getting in the way of their progress, and know how to point them toward the right support.
Who you'll be working with
Many of our learners come to us facing real barriers, whether that's economic hardship, social isolation, disability, or the lasting effects of difficult life experiences. Some are rebuilding confidence after years away from study or work. Others are navigating retail as a completely new industry, often alongside challenges most workplaces don't make room for. This role calls for someone who can hold space for that. Not by lowering the bar on what you teach, but by bringing genuine patience, understanding and a trauma informed approach to how you teach it.
Who we're looking for
We want someone with real, current experience in retail, whether that's store operations, customer service, sales or merchandising, and the credentials to back it up. You don't need to have worked in an RTO before. If you're confident in your retail expertise but new to that side of things, we'd still love to talk to you. What matters most is that you know the industry, and you know how to work with people, particularly people who might be facing disadvantage of any kind.
What you'll bring
A Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE) or equivalent, current and relevant retail experience, and a genuine track record of delivering training or mentoring others in a retail setting. You'll also need the right to work in Australia and be able to obtain a Working with Children Check and National Police Check.
Why join WEA Co
WEA Co has been opening doors to education since 1913. As part of our team, you'll be backed by Program Specialists who are invested in helping you do your best work, and you'll have access to our Fitness Passport program along with the kind of purposeful work that's often the reason trainers get into this field in the first place.
How to apply
Send through your resume, a short cover letter telling us about your retail background, your training experience, and the kinds of learners or programs you'd be best placed to support, along with your responses to the selection criteria as requested throughout the application process.
Applications will be reviewed as they're received, so don't wait until the closing date to get in touch.
For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact:
Dannelle, Leader of The Community College Mobile: 0401 681 225 Email: [email protected]
WEA Co is committed to equity, inclusion and creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
WEA Co is a not-for-profit helping people of all ages access learning, build skills, and connect. In 1913, education was out of reach for many working adults in the Illawarra. WEA Co began to change that, offering workers’ education classes that built knowledge, skills, and a sense of possibility. It was the start of our mission to make learning accessible to everyone, no matter their circumstances. As our community changed, so did the needs of adult learners. Many people sought skills to adapt to new industries, grow in their careers, or connect socially. The Community College evolved to meet those needs, providing affordable, inclusive courses in workplace skills, digital literacy, and creative learning. For decades, it has been a place where adults can gain confidence, independence, and a stronger connection to their community. Some young people in our region find that mainstream schooling does not work for them, often because of life circumstances beyond their control. Novo Education was created to give these students in Years 9–12 a safe, understanding place to re-engage with learning. Small classes, one-on-one mentoring, and a trauma-informed approach help them rebuild confidence, set goals, and take steps toward a future they can see for themselves.
