Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel

Friday, April 18, 2008

Increased funding extends project to help Wide Bay jobseekers

Community Solutions has received an additional $213,550 Skilling Queenslanders for Work funding to extend its reach and provide training and work placements to an extra 34 participants from the Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast regions.

The Employment Pathways project has now been funded a total of $1,452,470 in 2007/08 to deliver training activities to 304 disadvantaged jobseekers that will help them develop skills and job search techniques to enter the workforce.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said Indigenous, mature-aged, underemployed and young people were amongst those who will be participating in the project.

“The variation will involve placing participants into three groups for activities tailored to each participant’s needs,” Mr Mickel said.

“Ten younger people looking to enter the workforce will get the opportunity to gain exposure and experience the workforce through paid work placements with local employers including Spiritus Residential Care, Wesley Uniting Employment, Community Solutions and Hervey Bay SITE.

“Another seven underemployed mature-aged participants from Hervey Bay will undertake accredited training in business administration and work experience modules to meet local employment demands.

“Job preparation activities, work placements and accredited training will put another 14 unemployed jobseekers in good stead for positions within government, education or the business sector with skills in basic keyboarding and computer awareness.

“Work placements will be provided by Kawunwooga, Community Employment Options, Maryborough RSL and others.

“These skills will also help participants gain an entry point into public sector traineeships,” Mr Mickel said.

Community Solutions General Manager David Curd said the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE and JobSmart in Hervey Bay will partly fund and deliver the accredited training.

“Training, work experience and job preparation activities will make participants competitive applicants in the jobs market,” Mr Curd said.

“Assistance with communication skills, team work, problem solving, self management, technology, confidence, initiative and job search motivation will also give participants personal qualities that attract employers and help secure sustainable work.”

During 2007/08 the Queensland Government will invest $80 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to give an estimated 17,000 long-term unemployed and underemployed people job related assistance and skills training to maximise labour force participation and increase Queensland's prosperity.

Twelve months after receiving assistance 67 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.

The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and workforce for the 21st Century.

For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925

Contact: Community Solutions General Manager David Curd on 5437 9499 or dcurd@community-solutions.com.au (Sunshine Coast)

Contact: Community Solutions Project Officer Wilena Nunan on 4128 3933 or wnunan@community-solutions.com.au (Hervey Bay)

Ministerial contacts: Nathan Moir on 3235 4060

April 18, 2008

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