Published Monday, 27 November, 2006 at 04:01 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
BRISBANE NORTH/DECEPTION BAY JOBSEEKERS UPGRADE EMPLOYMENT CHOICES
One-hundred and forty jobseekers from Brisbane’s northside and Deception Bay will have the opportunity to upgrade their skills and enter the retail industry thanks to $165 180 in funding from the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the National Retail Association had received the funding to run two jobs projects to help long-term unemployed people return to the workforce.
“The Parents and Carers Entering Retail project will help 60 parents and carers from the Deception Bay region enter the retail, hospitality or aged care industries,” Mr Mickel said.
“The project will run for 12 months and participants will receive accredited training from the Brisbane North Institute of TAFE.
“Local employers will be providing opportunities for hands-on work experience and possible employment placement at the conclusion of the project,” he said.
“The Association will also be running the Chermside Employment Pathway project for jobseekers on Brisbane’s northside.
“This project has been timed to coincide with the increased demand for trained retail and hospitality staff as a result of the upgrade of Westfield Chermside Shopping Centre.
The participants will receive three weeks training in retail or hospitality followed by one week of work experience in their industry of choice.
“Participants in both projects will also receive career planning guidance, job search and interview skills training and post-project support.”
National Retail Association training and development general manager Paul Willis said the training projects were designed to suit participants’ individual needs and the needs of industry.
“The Parents and Carers in Retail project in Deception Bay will train people in the retail, hospitality and aged care industries to help fill the specific demand for employees in these industries,” Mr Willis said.
“This project will be run part-time in school hours to allow for greater flexibility for parents to attend around school hours.
“The new Chermside Westfield Shopping Centre upgrade has caused an immediate need for employees to be trained in retail and hospitality to fill currently available positions.
“The Chermside Employment Pathway project should go a long way towards alleviating the skills shortages currently being experienced by retailers,” he said.
“There are many genuine employment vacancies in the retail and hospitality industries and the National Retail Association will provide ongoing placement assistance for participants after their training has been completed.”
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
National Retail Association: General Manager – Training and Development Paul Willis on 3251 3000 or p.willis@nra.net.au
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the National Retail Association had received the funding to run two jobs projects to help long-term unemployed people return to the workforce.
“The Parents and Carers Entering Retail project will help 60 parents and carers from the Deception Bay region enter the retail, hospitality or aged care industries,” Mr Mickel said.
“The project will run for 12 months and participants will receive accredited training from the Brisbane North Institute of TAFE.
“Local employers will be providing opportunities for hands-on work experience and possible employment placement at the conclusion of the project,” he said.
“The Association will also be running the Chermside Employment Pathway project for jobseekers on Brisbane’s northside.
“This project has been timed to coincide with the increased demand for trained retail and hospitality staff as a result of the upgrade of Westfield Chermside Shopping Centre.
The participants will receive three weeks training in retail or hospitality followed by one week of work experience in their industry of choice.
“Participants in both projects will also receive career planning guidance, job search and interview skills training and post-project support.”
National Retail Association training and development general manager Paul Willis said the training projects were designed to suit participants’ individual needs and the needs of industry.
“The Parents and Carers in Retail project in Deception Bay will train people in the retail, hospitality and aged care industries to help fill the specific demand for employees in these industries,” Mr Willis said.
“This project will be run part-time in school hours to allow for greater flexibility for parents to attend around school hours.
“The new Chermside Westfield Shopping Centre upgrade has caused an immediate need for employees to be trained in retail and hospitality to fill currently available positions.
“The Chermside Employment Pathway project should go a long way towards alleviating the skills shortages currently being experienced by retailers,” he said.
“There are many genuine employment vacancies in the retail and hospitality industries and the National Retail Association will provide ongoing placement assistance for participants after their training has been completed.”
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
National Retail Association: General Manager – Training and Development Paul Willis on 3251 3000 or p.willis@nra.net.au