GREEN THUMBS-UP FOR MILLION DOLLAR SKILLS BOOST

A State Government grant of over one million dollars from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative will help 80 Central Queensland jobseekers acquire vocational skills in horticulture and basic construction, and at the same time improve local community facilities.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the $1 035 460 grant to Jobs Queensland for eight individual projects would assist disadvantaged jobseekers wanting to re-enter the workforce.

“These projects will be undertaken over the next 12 months through local councils and community organisations,” Mr Mickel said.

“Participants will take on a variety of activities involving on-the-job training in paid work placements and accredited training in horticulture.

“The skills and knowledge they will gain will give them a good base from which to seek future sustainable employment.”

Jobs Queensland project manager Chamay Bauer said jobseekers would be offered paid work placements on local projects including the beachfront revegetation and restoration of Kemp Beach, construction of security fencing in Rockhampton’s gardens and zoo, improvements to community outdoor facilities in Yeppoon and Rockhampton, construction of pathways on Boyne Island and the beautification of greens at the Rockhampton Golf Club.

“Participants not only will gain skills in landscaping and horticulture but also, depending on the project, a range of other skills including basic construction, concreting, fencing, use of power tools and correct workplace health and safety procedures,” Ms Bauer said.

“They will also learn job search and career planning skills.”

Work placement projects include:
• Jobs Queensland - 10 participants will be paid to work in the Livingstone shire area on dune systems, beachfront vegetation, beach accesses and conserving the Capricorn Coastline, including Kemp Beach. The beach suffered major erosion in 2005 after rough seas and high tides washed away main beach accesses.
• Rockhampton City Council -10 paid work placements will be offered for work on suburban park irrigation, constructing stone walls for the North and South Rockhampton cemeteries, security fencing for the Botanic Gardens and Rockhampton Zoo, retaining walls, pathways, garden beds and restoration work.
• Queensland Baptist Care Central Queensland - 10 participants will be employed to construct concrete pathways, install new fences, landscape and do other general maintenance on Wahroonga Counselling Centre, Shalom Retirement Village and other community facilities in Yeppoon.
• Calliope Shire Council - Five local jobseekers will be paid to construct a concrete pathway to connect the Boyne Island Kindergarten, State Primary School and shopping plaza. The pathway will add to the Turtle Way pathway network along the Boyne River.
• Rockhampton Golf Club – 10 people will be paid to resurface greens, install new signage at tees, remove and plant trees, trench greens, install irrigation, construct concrete paths and retaining walls, landscape the gardens and undertake general maintenance of the course.

Other projects to be covered under the funding are currently being developed.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work and its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 111 000 jobs across Queensland since October 1998.

Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784.

Jobs Queensland: Chamay Bauer on 4921 3024 or jobsqld@smartcity.net.au

October 9 2006