Published Friday, 17 November, 2006 at 05:00 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
DISABLED TOWNSVILLE JOBSEEKERS ON WAY TO EMPLOYMENT
Nine Townsville residents with disabilities will today graduate from a $16,880 State Government Skilling Queenslanders for Work training project designed to help them overcome employability barriers and all nine have found jobs.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said under the Federal Government’s Welfare to Work policy, disabled people with a capacity to work 15 hours a week are now required to enter the workforce.
“The problem for many disabled people is that they often lack appropriate skills or experience to take advantage of the many opportunities available in the jobs market,” Mr Mickel said.
“The North Queensland Competitive Employment Service has run the Job Ready People with a Disability project for the past five months and the results have been outstanding.
“Six members of the group managed to secure jobs before the conclusion of the project with the remaining three starting jobs soon after today’s graduation.
“I wish all the graduates the best in their new careers.”
North Queensland’s Competitive Employment Services Manager Gene Geedrick said the project had been very successful in achieving its aims so far.
“The project was designed to provide the necessary basic skills to ensure the participants emerged job ready and able to move into rewarding and meaningful careers,” Mr Geedrick said.
“The participants have found employment in a variety of industries including horticulture, electronics, retail, construction and education.
“We have worked closely with employers on addressing workplace health and safety issues which has given employers more confidence in their new employees,” he said.
“We will also be providing extensive post-program support to help the participants carry on into further training in their chosen industries.”
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative and its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle have helped create more than 113 000 jobs across 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
North Queensland Competitive Employment Service: Manager Gene Geedrick on 4773 3988
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said under the Federal Government’s Welfare to Work policy, disabled people with a capacity to work 15 hours a week are now required to enter the workforce.
“The problem for many disabled people is that they often lack appropriate skills or experience to take advantage of the many opportunities available in the jobs market,” Mr Mickel said.
“The North Queensland Competitive Employment Service has run the Job Ready People with a Disability project for the past five months and the results have been outstanding.
“Six members of the group managed to secure jobs before the conclusion of the project with the remaining three starting jobs soon after today’s graduation.
“I wish all the graduates the best in their new careers.”
North Queensland’s Competitive Employment Services Manager Gene Geedrick said the project had been very successful in achieving its aims so far.
“The project was designed to provide the necessary basic skills to ensure the participants emerged job ready and able to move into rewarding and meaningful careers,” Mr Geedrick said.
“The participants have found employment in a variety of industries including horticulture, electronics, retail, construction and education.
“We have worked closely with employers on addressing workplace health and safety issues which has given employers more confidence in their new employees,” he said.
“We will also be providing extensive post-program support to help the participants carry on into further training in their chosen industries.”
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative and its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle have helped create more than 113 000 jobs across 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
North Queensland Competitive Employment Service: Manager Gene Geedrick on 4773 3988