265 JOBSEEKERS RECEIVE THANKS FOR CLEANING UP AFTER LARRY

State Government funded Tropical Cyclone Larry clean up operations at around 60 community sites in Innisfail and Tully were celebrated today at Warrina Lakes, Innisfail.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said
Choice Australia Management was granted $3 913 210 under the Cyclone Larry Employment Assistance Project to give paid work to displaced workers and local unemployed jobseekers to assist in rebuilding devastated Innisfail and Tully community facilities in the wake of Cyclone Larry.

“Those who were rendered jobless as a result of the cyclone faced uncertain futures and the community risked losing potential employees to areas with more job opportunities,” Mr Mickel said.

“By giving jobseekers paid work and equipping them with valuable skills we now have an able workforce to support local business as job opportunities increase.”

Organisation Chief Executive Todd Hartley said the 24 week project involved clearing debris, maintenance, cleaning and repairing damage caused by the cyclone.

“265 participants pitched in at over 60 community sites including Innisfail TAFE campus, Innisfail Golf Club, Innisfail Rowing Club, Mena Creek State School, Babinda State School, Tully Scouts, Mission Beach Sailing Club, Shire Library and Cowley Beach Reserve,” Mr Hartley said.

“To increase participants’ chances of gaining secure long term employment we provided training to some that included first aid, Blue card , health and safety, traffic control, basic introduction to computers and chainsaw operation, while others also received forklift, bobcat and backhoe operation training.

“It would have been impossible to repair these important facilities in a reasonable timeframe without this project.”

The $18.5 M Cyclone Larry Employment Assistance Package is administered under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative which together with its predecessor Breaking the Unemployment Cycle has helped create over 113 000 jobs for Queenslanders since October 1998.

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

Choice Australia Management Contact: Todd Hartley (07) 4054 3667 or email ta@choices.org.au

November 2, 2006