Published Monday, 27 November, 2006 at 03:57 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
SUNSHINE COAST MULTICULTURAL JOBSEEKERS GET A HEADSTART
Twenty multicultural jobseekers from the Sunshine Coast will emerge from a State Government Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative jobs project with new skills, hands-on work experience and a headstart on a new career.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre had received a $255,270 grant to run the 12-month EMERGE project which aims to provide training and paid work experience for jobseekers from a non-English speaking background.
“This is the second year the EMERGE project will be running at the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre and the results have been very positive,” Mr Mickel said.
“Ensuring migrants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are assisted to become competitive in the job market is a key part of the Queensland Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan.
“This project will help the participants overcome one of the major barriers migrants face when seeking employment, a lack of local work experience,” he said.
“Participants will come out of the project with a better understanding of the Australian workplace culture, current work experience and a network of contact that will benefit them throughout their careers.”
Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre manager Michael Henning said demand for tailored employment programs is growing as the multicultural population of the Sunshine Coast increases.
“There will be two intakes in this new project, each consisting of two weeks part-time training, followed by a combination of four weeks part-time training and part-time work placement, then twelve weeks in full-time work placement,” Mr Henning said.
“As part of the training, participants will learn about Australian workplace culture, managing change, communication skills, teamwork, conflict resolution, goal setting, and career planning.
“The training in administration will prepare participants for their paid work placements in community organisations and local and state government offices.”
The Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre provides multicultural support, family support, childcare, community development housing and legal services to the local community.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work and its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped to create more than 113 000 jobs across Queensland since October 1998.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre: Julie Lusk on 5443 6696 or maroochy@bigpond.net.au
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre had received a $255,270 grant to run the 12-month EMERGE project which aims to provide training and paid work experience for jobseekers from a non-English speaking background.
“This is the second year the EMERGE project will be running at the Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre and the results have been very positive,” Mr Mickel said.
“Ensuring migrants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are assisted to become competitive in the job market is a key part of the Queensland Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan.
“This project will help the participants overcome one of the major barriers migrants face when seeking employment, a lack of local work experience,” he said.
“Participants will come out of the project with a better understanding of the Australian workplace culture, current work experience and a network of contact that will benefit them throughout their careers.”
Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre manager Michael Henning said demand for tailored employment programs is growing as the multicultural population of the Sunshine Coast increases.
“There will be two intakes in this new project, each consisting of two weeks part-time training, followed by a combination of four weeks part-time training and part-time work placement, then twelve weeks in full-time work placement,” Mr Henning said.
“As part of the training, participants will learn about Australian workplace culture, managing change, communication skills, teamwork, conflict resolution, goal setting, and career planning.
“The training in administration will prepare participants for their paid work placements in community organisations and local and state government offices.”
The Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre provides multicultural support, family support, childcare, community development housing and legal services to the local community.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work and its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped to create more than 113 000 jobs across Queensland since October 1998.
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784
Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre: Julie Lusk on 5443 6696 or maroochy@bigpond.net.au