Published Monday, 12 February, 2007 at 10:33 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
$10.3M GIVES EARLY SCHOOL LEAVERS A SECOND CHANCE
More than 1900 ‘at risk’ Queensland youths will get a second chance at learning or earning under an expanded $10.3 million State Government, Get Set For Work program in 2007-08.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, John Mickel said the program which began as a trial in 2003-04 as a ‘safety net’ for early school leavers would now be available in more locations across Queensland.
“Get Set For Work projects give youth an alternative pathway into employment through practical activities to develop their work and social skills and assisting with literacy and numeracy when required,” Mr Mickel said.
“Young people aged 15-17 are helped to build a career to avoid drifting away from learning and into chronic unemployment.
“An independent report in 2005 found the Get Set For Work program was in fact achieving outcomes above expectations.
“This report has provided hard, independent evidence of the program’s success, so we have been steadily improving and expanding it,” Mr Mickel said.
“I am extremely pleased we will be continuing to help many more young people throughout Queensland under the new initiative, Skilling Queenslanders for Work.”
The 12-month projects will be delivered by local organisations to provide young people with access to training within their own community.
In the 2007-08 financial year, Get Set For Work funding will be distributed throughout Queensland with:
• $910 000 in North Queensland for more than 190 places;
• $1 million in Central Queensland for more than 210 places;
• $1.72 million in Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast to assist more than 300 youths;
• $1.36 million in the South West to provide some 270 places;
• $1.94 million in Brisbane North to assist more than 360 youths; and
• $3 million in Brisbane South and Gold Coast to assist 580 youths.
Get Set For Work is part of the Queensland Government’s Education and Training Reforms for the Future, which came into effect in 2006.
The reforms require young people to stay at school until age 16, or completion of Year 10.
They are then required to participate in a further compulsory period of education or training until they gain a senior certificate, a certificate III level vocational qualification, turn 17 years old, or find work of more than 25 hours per week.
Get Set For Work is funded under the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, which together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 116 000 jobs for Queenslanders since 1998.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work 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.
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7359 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
12 February, 2007
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, John Mickel said the program which began as a trial in 2003-04 as a ‘safety net’ for early school leavers would now be available in more locations across Queensland.
“Get Set For Work projects give youth an alternative pathway into employment through practical activities to develop their work and social skills and assisting with literacy and numeracy when required,” Mr Mickel said.
“Young people aged 15-17 are helped to build a career to avoid drifting away from learning and into chronic unemployment.
“An independent report in 2005 found the Get Set For Work program was in fact achieving outcomes above expectations.
“This report has provided hard, independent evidence of the program’s success, so we have been steadily improving and expanding it,” Mr Mickel said.
“I am extremely pleased we will be continuing to help many more young people throughout Queensland under the new initiative, Skilling Queenslanders for Work.”
The 12-month projects will be delivered by local organisations to provide young people with access to training within their own community.
In the 2007-08 financial year, Get Set For Work funding will be distributed throughout Queensland with:
• $910 000 in North Queensland for more than 190 places;
• $1 million in Central Queensland for more than 210 places;
• $1.72 million in Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast to assist more than 300 youths;
• $1.36 million in the South West to provide some 270 places;
• $1.94 million in Brisbane North to assist more than 360 youths; and
• $3 million in Brisbane South and Gold Coast to assist 580 youths.
Get Set For Work is part of the Queensland Government’s Education and Training Reforms for the Future, which came into effect in 2006.
The reforms require young people to stay at school until age 16, or completion of Year 10.
They are then required to participate in a further compulsory period of education or training until they gain a senior certificate, a certificate III level vocational qualification, turn 17 years old, or find work of more than 25 hours per week.
Get Set For Work is funded under the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, which together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 116 000 jobs for Queenslanders since 1998.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work 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.
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7359 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
12 February, 2007