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Increased and improved access to broadband services in the bush has allowed employers and apprentices the opportunity to experience training 2008 style. Distance from services is of course one of the biggest disadvantages of living in the remote areas of Queensland but Blue Dog Training has reduced this disadvantage of distance with its cutting edge training delivery methods.

Traditional block release has always been a difficulty for the smaller employer particularly with the apprentice missing for weeks at a time sometimes during their busiest periods. This problem is compounded further for the employer in the country and remote areas of the State. The apprentice has the added disadvantage of having to travel to the institution offering block training and then finding suitable accommodation.

It is a major disruption, not only to working life, but also to the apprentice's personal and social life. In spite of government subsides, many apprentices find themselves out of pocket on these block release training sessions. There is also a ripple effect in country communities in simple things like sporting teams with members being absent for sports training and in some cases absent for that all important 'big game'. With September finals fast approaching the last thing the local team needs to hear is that their best player is off in Brisbane doing his apprentice training jeopardising their big shot at the finals.

It is no surprise then that Blue Dog Training is experiencing an ever increasing number of employers and apprentices in remote and country communities choosing to do their training when it suits them and the business. A quick look through the Blue Dog list of apprentices is like a trip around Queensland including the following locations

With close to 40% of all Blue Dog apprentices living and working outside the South East Corner it is good to know that those September finals around the State won't be disrupted by missing star players off on apprentice training.