Support for Rockhampton job seekers

In Rockhampton today Minister for Training and Skills Yvette D’Ath announced 80 locals will undertake paid work learning new skills while helping cyclone recovery efforts, thanks to $1.51 million fast-tracked from the Palaszczuk Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.

The Jobs Queensland project is one of 10 projects funded through the Community Recovery Package, which will provide 267 Works Skills Traineeship places in Central and North Queensland.

“The Community Recovery Package is a way of giving back to the community in every way,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“We are providing new skills and training for Rockhampton locals who need help to enter the workforce, while helping the region recover from the effects of ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie.”

Participants in the Jobs Queensland project will complete 18-week paid work placements while studying a Certificate 1 in Construction. The first intake starts today; the remaining 65 will be recruited in the near future.

Mrs D’Ath made the announcement while visiting an existing Skilling Queenslanders for Work project at Archer Park Rail Museum.

Rockhampton locals are gaining construction skills and experience at the Museum while repairing, refurbishing and improving public spaces through the Building Foundations project, also run by Jobs Queensland.

“Our Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative committed $757,400 to Jobs Queensland to employ 40 participants as Work Skills Trainees, while they study to earn a Certificate I in Construction,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“It is wonderful to see participants who were very recently looking for jobs, now earning wages, learning new skills and completing a variety of tasks to improve their future employment prospects."

Member for Rockhampton Bill Byrne said: “Skilling Queenslanders for Work and Jobs Queensland have developed a great partnership that is delivering fantastic outcomes for Rockhampton job seekers".

“In Rockhampton council area alone, 284 people have jobs as a direct result of SQW, 101 have gone on to further training and 11 have returned to school.”

Member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga said community groups like Jobs Queensland were providing vital support for locals to develop the skills to get permanent work.

“I’d like to thank all the local community groups who’ve applied for funding to provide these training opportunities in our region,” Ms Lauga said.

“Jobs Queensland is also a Central Queensland regional finalist in the Queensland Training Awards for the Community Training Initiative of the Year category along with Energy Skills Queensland and Gladstone Engineering Alliance.

“I wish them and all the other finalists good luck ahead of the Central Queensland Regional Final, which will be held on July 15 at the Gladstone Entertainment Centre.”

Skilling Queenslanders for Workfunds skills development, training and job opportunities for unemployed, disengaged or disadvantaged Queenslanders through a suite of targeted skills and training programs.

For further information visit www.training.qld.gov.au/sqw or call 1300 369 935.

Media contact: 0417 675 917