Skilling Queenslanders for Work supporting Gold Coast jobseekers

Communities on the Gold Coast will have access to training opportunities that boost their job prospects thanks to the second round of funding from the Palaszczuk Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.

Training and Skills Minister Yvette D’Ath said 439 people from the Gold Coast will be supported into training pathways through a total of $1,682,300 granted to community-based not-for-profit organisations in round two of the scheme.

Mrs D’Ath said the funding windfall will support job seekers to boost their skill set with quality training opportunities and improve their employment prospects.

“I am delighted to announce this funding on behalf of local groups and job seekers who live on the Gold Coast,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“The Palaszczuk Government reinstated this vital initiative last year after it was axed by the former LNP government.

“I am pleased that the people of the Gold Coast will share in this vital funding windfall to support disadvantaged job seekers to improve their skills and find pathways to full-time work.

“This fantastic scheme puts communities in partnership with government to grow local employment opportunities, encourage greater social inclusion and assist people who need extra support to enter the workforce.

“This is all about giving people the right skills and getting them into jobs”.

The recipients of funding on the Gold Coast in round two of Skilling Queenslanders for Work are:

• Energy Skills Queensland at Coolangatta will assist 20 people to deliver (Cert I in Conservation and Land Management, Cert I in Construction) $60,000
• Australian Training Company at Broadbeach will assist 10 people to deliver the Community Work Skills Stream 2: Work Skills Traineeships (Cert I in Construction) $126,500
• House With No Steps at Burleigh Heads will assist 30 people to deliver the Train 2 Work Project (Cert II in Community Services and Cert I in Information, Digital Media and Technology) $86,600
• NORTEC Employment and Training at Palm Beach will assist 30 people to deliver the Foundations for Work and Future program (Cert II Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways) $60,100
• Walk of Life Training at Burleigh Waters will assist 60 people to deliver the WOLTi Youth project (multiple certificate programs offered) $164,100
• EPIC Employment Service Inc. at Southport will assist 10 people to deliver the One Step Ahead program (Cert I in Business) $216,700
• Gold Coast Skill Centre at Southport will assist 15 people to deliver the Railway Street Kindergarten project (Cert I in Construction) $283,000
• Help Enterprises at Southport will assist 10 people to deliver the HELP2Retail Gold Coast project (Cert II in Retail Services, Cert I in Core Skills for Employment and Training – Communication) $25,600
• Help Enterprises at Southport will assist 24 people to deliver the HELP2Youth Success project (Cert II in Hospitality, Cert II in Business, Cert I in Core Skills for Employment and Training – Communication) $47,900
• National Retail Association Ltd at Southport will assist 20 people to deliver the Ready for Retail program (Cert II in Retail Services) $39,000
• The Migrant Centre Organisation at Southport will assist 25 people to deliver the Migrants Matter – Youth for Work Pilot Project $16,300
• Australian Training Company at Surfers Paradise will assist 30 people to deliver the Building Careers in Construction project (Cert I in Construction) $85,900
• Bridging the Gap Job Help Gold Coast Inc. at Surfers Paradise will assist 10 people to deliver the Working Towards 2018 project (Cert II in Tourism) $19,000
• FSG Australia at Surfers Paradise will assist 45 people to deliver the FLEXI Learn project (multiple certificates) $126,000
• Gold Coast Titans Community Foundation will assist 40 people to deliver the Gold Coast Civil and Business Futures project (Cert III in Business, Cert III in Surface Extraction) $138,000
• Hope of the Gold Coast will assist 30 people to deliver the Hope College Aged Care 2016 project (Cert III in Aged Care Competency) $90,000
• Queensland Police Citizens Youth Welfare Association will assist 20 people to deliver Project Booyah (Cert II in Hospitality) $68,200

Mrs D’Ath said more than 5900 people across Queensland would be supported by more than $30 million injected into community groups in round two to fund skill development, training and job opportunities for unemployed, disengaged or disadvantaged people.

She said Work Start incentives offer a one-off financial incentive of $2000 to private sector employers if they employ a Queenslander who has participated in a SQW project in a traineeship or apprenticeship.

Mrs D’Ath said the next SQW funding round is open for applications. Interested organisations are encouraged to visit www.training.qld.gov.au/sqw for further information or contact their local DET regional office. Applications will close on 7 April 2016.

Media contact: 3719 7400