CARINA Group’s rapid growth is being felt most strongly in the Redlands and Bayside, where Club Raby Bay has become one of the region’s most significant local employers and is set to expand even further.
As Community Club Awareness Week shines a spotlight on the role clubs play across Queensland, new figures show Carina Group has grown from 110 staff to more than 270 in just 18 months.
Much of that workforce is based in the Redlands and Bayside, with Club Raby Bay now a major hub for local jobs.
The group expects to pass 300 employees by the end of the year, and a proposed third venue, Bayside Pavilion in Wynnum, is forecast to add another 100 roles.
For a region where hospitality, tourism and community venues form a key part of the local economy, the growth is notable.
Community clubs statewide employ 34,000 Queenslanders, support 42,000 volunteers and generate more than $2.5 billion in annual economic activity.
Carina Leagues Club alone contributes more than $32 million in social and economic impact, including $2.2 million in community cash donations so far this year, a flow on effect that benefits Bayside communities.
Carina Group People Operations Manager Emma Munns said the strength of the organisation came from the diversity of its team, particularly at Club Raby Bay.
“We’re really proud of the diversity in our team and how we reflect the community we serve,” she said.
“We’ve got young team members taking their first steps into paid work, alongside others in their 60s who bring decades of hospitality knowledge to share.
“That mix is a real advantage, particularly as we continue to grow.”
Staff range from 15 to 68 years old, with high retention among full-time employees.
Most stay more than three years, and one team member with the group for 28 years.
The group also employs three team members in partnership with Down Syndrome Queensland.
Training and development are central to its model, with a Future Leaders Development Program, leadership workshops through Clubs Queensland, external coaching and specialist beverage training.
Young Bayside workers also enter the industry through traineeships and chef apprenticeships delivered with Page Institute.
Ms Munns said some of the strongest mentoring happened naturally.
“We put a lot of investment into staff training and development, but some of the best mentoring happens naturally thanks to the breadth of experience and background we have across our venues,” she said.
