FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND OPERATION FARM CLEAR JOBSEEKERS GRADUATE INTO EMPLOYMENT

Twenty-one Far North Queensland jobseekers have today graduated from a training project within Operation Farm Clear and will be moving into the workforce.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said Skilling Queenslanders for Work allocated $2 589 290 to the project to keep unemployed people in the region and help with the clean up after Cyclone Larry.

“The 21 graduating today all have job offers from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries to continue the good work they have been doing and finish the job,” Mr Mickel said.

“These people have developed new skills in chainsaw operation, basic construction, re-vegetation and career planning that will make them more employable while also helping the Innisfail, South Johnson, Mareeba, Atherton & Ravenshoe communities.

“Operation Farm Clear serves a number of purposes,” he said. “It has allowed workers who lost their jobs after the cyclone to have paid work and thus stay in the area while also assisting local employers to get back on their feet.”

Operation Farm Clear Manager Jim Turnour from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries said the participants graduating today were the first ones inducted into the 26-week Community Jobs Plan project.

“Six of the people graduating today have completed an excavator course which is a sought after skill and will boost their job prospects further,” Mr Turnour said.

“In consultation with the local horticulture industry another five people received accredited training at Mareeba Agriculture College to help fill a need for workers with pruning, irrigation and related skills.

“Operation Farm Clear has been very successful. Our call centre has logged over 900 jobs and the 192 people who joined the project, represented by the 21 graduating today, have completed around 70% of the work.

“We aim to finish the remaining jobs before Christmas.”

Skilling Queenslanders for Work with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative has helped create over 113 000 jobs and is an important part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide a skilled workforce for the State’s booming economy.

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

Operation Farm Clear: Senior Media Officer David Anthony on 4044 1676