Published Wednesday, 15 November, 2006 at 10:15 AM

Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel

ROCKY JOBSEEKERS COMPLETE PATHWAY TO SUCCESS

Fourteen long-term unemployed Rockhampton jobseekers will today graduate from a State Government Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative employment support and training pilot project aimed at maximising their job prospects.

Representing the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel, Member for Keppel Paul Hoolihan said Jobs Queensland had received a $238,850 grant to run the Pathways to Success project which provided 16-weeks paid work placements in horticultural and administrative positions.

“I would like to congratulate all of the graduates and wish them all the best in their future careers,” Mr Hoolihan said.

“This project has combined a comprehensive intensive employment support program with accredited training and hands-on industry work experience to enable the participants to overcome a number of barriers to entering the workforce.

“A number of graduates have already secured full-time jobs in administration and that number is expected to rise in the coming weeks.

“These jobseekers are now well placed to take advantage of the variety of opportunities available in the booming Queensland economy.”

Accredited training in business and horticultural studies was provided through Smart City Vocational College on behalf of the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE.

Jobs Queensland’s Project Manager, Chamay Bauer said the aim of the project was to increase the participants’ skills and confidence to enable them to secure full-time employment.

“At the moment more than 35 per cent of the graduating participants have found full-time work and we are expecting that to rise dramatically in the next few weeks,” Ms Bauer said.

“Jobsearch support for participants will also be provided once the project has finished.”

The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle, has helped create more than 113 000 jobs for Queenslanders since October 1998.


The initiative is part of the $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan, which aims to meet the skill needs of the Queensland economy into the future.
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Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784

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