NEW SKILLING SOLUTIONS QUEENSLAND CENTRES TO OPEN

Ten new centres are to open around Queensland to point people in the right direction to attain the skills and qualifications to help them improve their job prospects.

Education and Training Minister, Rod Welford, today announced the finalised locations of the 10 new Skilling Solutions Queensland customer service centres.

“Skilling Solutions Queensland is a key component of our Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan, a reform blueprint to address skills shortages,” Mr Welford said.

“We are investing a total of $12.3 million in these 10 new customer service centres.

“The first new site opens today (18 December) at HerveyBay, with the remaining centres set to open in the first half of 2007.”

Other customer service centres will open at Bundaberg, Caboolture, Cairns, Capalaba, Chermside, Gladstone, Ipswich, Southport and Toowoomba.

A temporary centre opened at Southport today (18 December) to serve the area until the permanent site is operational in 2007.

“By expanding the Skilling Solutions Queensland service, more residents will have access to information on jobs that better match their skills, which is a key strategy in combating skills shortages across the state,” Mr Welford said.

“Skilling Solutions Queensland is an innovative, face-to-face service that provides Queenslanders with information about training and career options available in their area.

“They offer information that is relevant to an individual’s interests, skills and experience and can help take the guess work out of training or career search.

“As well as this, Skilling Solutions Queensland can also help businesses and employers with information about up-skilling their workforce to remain competitive. The service now also offers a brokerage service for people interested in completing an apprenticeship.”

Existing centres operate in Townsville, Mackay, Logan Hyperdome, Loganlea, Woodridge, South Brisbane and Rockhampton.

For more information about Skilling Solutions Queensland visit www.skillingsolutions.qld.gov.au or call 1300 654 687 to make an appointment with a consultant.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985