Cowboys builds futures through training and opportunity

Cowboys Leagues Club is celebrating a major achievement after taking out Large Employer of the Year at the 2026 Queensland Training Awards, recognising its outstanding commitment to training, workforce development and creating meaningful career pathways.

For almost three decades, Cowboys Leagues Club has been a much-loved part of the North Queensland community. The Townsville-based hospitality employer has more than 100 full-time equivalent staff across a diverse range of roles.

Training is at the heart of Cowboys Leagues Club’s approach to employment. The Club has a dedicated training function room and delivers around one formal training event each week, alongside extensive on-the-job learning, mentoring and professional development.

The Club supports school-based trainees, apprentices and existing employees to gain nationally recognised qualifications, with 23 staff expected to complete or commence qualifications in 2026 across hospitality, commercial cookery, business, leadership and work health and safety.

Training is also helping employees build long-term careers. In the past 12 months, six operational staff have progressed into supervisory roles, two supervisors have advanced into management positions, five school-based trainees have remained with the Club after completing their qualifications while 10 work experience students have transitioned into paid employment.

Cowboys Leagues Club is committed to creating pathways into employment for people who may face barriers to work.

Through its partnership with the Cowboys Community Foundation’s Dream Believe Achieve project, supported by the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work program, the Club provides disadvantaged North Queenslanders with work experience, training and mentoring. More than 100 participants have been supported through the partnership, with 10 per cent of the Club’s current workforce having started their careers through the program.

The Club also takes a personalised approach to supporting school-based trainees, adapting training to individual learning needs and providing additional supervision and training shifts. In 2026, all trainees who recently completed their qualifications expressed a desire to remain employed at the Club.

Cowboys Leagues Club Human Resources Manager Anita Poorta said winning the 2026 Queensland Training Award Large Employer of the Year was an honour.

“It’s an honour, absolutely amazing.

“We decided to take the approach of if we can’t hire them, we’re going to make them ourselves.

“So we really invest in our people, front of house staff, chefs, the whole works.

“It’s a club that you can come to with a dream and a really good attitude and we'll give you the rest… and that's what I love about it.

“It is a big investment at times. It’s a lot of time, it’s a lot of energy, it’s a lot of resources, and it’s a lot of money. But for us, it pays off.

“The better our staff are, the happier the staff are, the better service they give, and that’s what we’re known for so it’s pretty awesome,” she said.

Learn more about the Queensland Training Awards.

Learn more about Skilling Queenslanders for Work.