STATE GOVERNMENT BOOST TO ATHERTON TABLELANDS WORKERS’ QUALIFICATIONS
Published Tuesday, 16 January, 2007 at 09:35 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Sixteen disability support workers from the Atherton Tablelands region are being given the opportunity to complete accredited training thanks to a Skilling Queenslanders for Work grant.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the Tableland Community Link Association had received $36 090 to run the Future Prospects project in Atherton.
“This project has targeted people without qualifications who are already working in the industry,” Mr Mickel said.
“This is an important opportunity for these people to earn a Certificate III in Disability Work, which will give them the skills and qualifications they need to ensure a good standard of care.
“With low state-wide unemployment, projects funded through Skilling Queenslanders for Work can also offer opportunities for underemployed and low skilled workers to boost their employment options and help them get and hold the jobs they want.”
Tableland Community Link Association Manager Lisa Cooper said the disability services industry is going through a process of reviewing standards that will see the Certificate III become the standard qualification for workers in the future.
“These new regulations are still in the future but we decided to be proactive so we can ensure we don’t lose workers when the changes do come in,” Ms Cooper said.
“Thanks to this project participants can meet other members of the group as well as the trainer instead of being taught through video linkups or travelling to Cairns.
“There are single mums and people from non-English speaking backgrounds working in the industry who could have been lost because of the costs, and other difficulties involved with further study.
“Completing this qualification will help these participants be more confident about their employment futures as well as boosting the standard of care their clients receive.”
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 116 000 jobs for Queenslanders since 1998.
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and workforce for the 21st Century.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7359 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
Tableland Community Link Association - Manager Lisa Cooper on 4091 7066
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the Tableland Community Link Association had received $36 090 to run the Future Prospects project in Atherton.
“This project has targeted people without qualifications who are already working in the industry,” Mr Mickel said.
“This is an important opportunity for these people to earn a Certificate III in Disability Work, which will give them the skills and qualifications they need to ensure a good standard of care.
“With low state-wide unemployment, projects funded through Skilling Queenslanders for Work can also offer opportunities for underemployed and low skilled workers to boost their employment options and help them get and hold the jobs they want.”
Tableland Community Link Association Manager Lisa Cooper said the disability services industry is going through a process of reviewing standards that will see the Certificate III become the standard qualification for workers in the future.
“These new regulations are still in the future but we decided to be proactive so we can ensure we don’t lose workers when the changes do come in,” Ms Cooper said.
“Thanks to this project participants can meet other members of the group as well as the trainer instead of being taught through video linkups or travelling to Cairns.
“There are single mums and people from non-English speaking backgrounds working in the industry who could have been lost because of the costs, and other difficulties involved with further study.
“Completing this qualification will help these participants be more confident about their employment futures as well as boosting the standard of care their clients receive.”
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 116 000 jobs for Queenslanders since 1998.
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and workforce for the 21st Century.
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7359 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
Tableland Community Link Association - Manager Lisa Cooper on 4091 7066