NORTHSIDE JOBSEEKERS TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TO WORK
Published Friday, 10 November, 2006 at 11:32 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
A $90,000 State Government Skilling Queenslanders for Work grant is set to boost Northside language, literacy and numeracy skills for more than 50 disadvantaged jobseekers.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said Community Alliance Australia had been awarded the grant to deliver the 10-month First Steps project that will train eight participants as volunteer tutors and improve literacy and numeracy skills for 48 others.
“Limited language, literacy and numeracy skills are a big stumbling block for long-term unemployed people looking to re-enter the workforce,” Mr Mickel said.
“By training eight volunteer tutors, this project is helping members of the community help each other to overcome the barriers to re-entering the workforce.
“Through intensive training and personal support, this project can help grow the self-confidence of the participants and turn lives around in a meaningful way.
“By developing participants’ skills and self-esteem, the project will help them reach their full potential and go on to meaningful employment or further training.”
Community Alliance Australia director Patricia Rose said the project is being run from three different locations to allow easy access for people living near Chermside, Sandgate or Bracken Ridge.
“The training responds to the specific needs of these community areas and the different employment barriers they face,” Dr Rose said.
“The project will improve language and literacy skills, provide a basic understanding of computers and teach participants about the employment landscape and how to navigate through it.
“We will also work with participants to determine their long-term career goals and develop a personalised training plan.”
The training will be delivered through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative’s Training in Communities program which provides training and related assistance to those who are most marginalised in the labour market.
It is part of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative which together with its predecessor Breaking the Unemployment Cycle has helped create more than 113 000 jobs for Queensland since October 1998.
The initiative is part of the $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan, which aims to meet the skill needs of the booming Queensland economy into the future.
______________________________________
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
Community Alliance Australia: Patricia Rose on 3889 1740 or p.rose@wildwoodconsultants.com
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said Community Alliance Australia had been awarded the grant to deliver the 10-month First Steps project that will train eight participants as volunteer tutors and improve literacy and numeracy skills for 48 others.
“Limited language, literacy and numeracy skills are a big stumbling block for long-term unemployed people looking to re-enter the workforce,” Mr Mickel said.
“By training eight volunteer tutors, this project is helping members of the community help each other to overcome the barriers to re-entering the workforce.
“Through intensive training and personal support, this project can help grow the self-confidence of the participants and turn lives around in a meaningful way.
“By developing participants’ skills and self-esteem, the project will help them reach their full potential and go on to meaningful employment or further training.”
Community Alliance Australia director Patricia Rose said the project is being run from three different locations to allow easy access for people living near Chermside, Sandgate or Bracken Ridge.
“The training responds to the specific needs of these community areas and the different employment barriers they face,” Dr Rose said.
“The project will improve language and literacy skills, provide a basic understanding of computers and teach participants about the employment landscape and how to navigate through it.
“We will also work with participants to determine their long-term career goals and develop a personalised training plan.”
The training will be delivered through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative’s Training in Communities program which provides training and related assistance to those who are most marginalised in the labour market.
It is part of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative which together with its predecessor Breaking the Unemployment Cycle has helped create more than 113 000 jobs for Queensland since October 1998.
The initiative is part of the $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan, which aims to meet the skill needs of the booming Queensland economy into the future.
______________________________________
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
Community Alliance Australia: Patricia Rose on 3889 1740 or p.rose@wildwoodconsultants.com