Engineering paves the way to jobs
Published Thursday, 15 March, 2018 at 01:30 PM
Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development
The Honourable Shannon Fentiman
All Fifteen participants in the last round of Challenge Employment and Training’s Pathways to Engineering graduates have secured employment with a leading manufacturing company.
Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman at Challenge’s training facility today met the current round of participants who are working towards earning a Certificate II in Engineering Pathways, thanks to $217,700 from the Palaszczuk Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
“Skilling Queenslanders for Work can open doors to some fantastic opportunities for people in Ipswich and across the state,” Ms Fentiman said.
“The 15 participants here today are the first to take part in the latest intake of the Pathways to Engineering project, which aims to assist an additional 49 Queenslanders to earn a qualification while receiving wrap around support to get the skills and training they need to get a job and build a career.”
“The results that we have seen from the program are fantastic with 100% of Challenge Employment’s last round of participants getting a job at Austral Monsoon once they completed the program.
“The Palaszczuk Government has invested almost $21 million in this successful program across 76 projects in Ipswich which has resulted in more than 1,100 people getting a job.”
“They are part of the more than 14,100 Queenslanders who have found jobs as a direct result of participating in a Skilling Queenslanders for Work project.”
Challenge Employment and Training General Manager Michael Krafft said participants will learn how to use different tools, earn their forklift licence and take on some work experience with local employers.
“We’ve found this training and support offers participants a great introduction to the engineering and manufacturing sector,” Mr Krafft said.
“The project can also support participants who need some extra support to ensure they will be ready to start work after completing the project. We will work with them to improve those foundation skills through the Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways.”
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.
Applications to deliver projects through Skilling Queenslanders for Work’s first funding round for 2018-19 are open now until 5pm Thursday 12 April. For further information visit www.training.qld.gov.au/sqw or call 1300 369 935.
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: Inga Williams 0410 769 711