Published Tuesday, 05 June, 2007 at 04:15 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
$81.75 MILLION FOR MOST DISADVANTAGED JOBSEEKERS
The Beattie Government will invest $81.75 million to assist disadvantaged unemployed and underemployed people in the 2007-08 State Budget.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the 2007-08 Budget would target mature-aged people who were having difficulty re-entering the labour market.
“The successful Experience Pays Participation Strategy will assist 1600 unemployed mature-age people over the age of 45 get back into the workforce,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Budget also provides $2 million for the ongoing Experience Pays Awareness Strategy to raise awareness and encourage recruitment, retraining and retention of older workers.”
Queensland spends more on labour market programs than every other state combined.
Since 1998 the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle has assisted 171,137 Queenslanders, including 121,203 people placed in jobs. The initiative will transition to Skilling Queenslanders for Work from July 2007.
Mr Mickel said funding in the first year of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative would assist an estimated 16,780 Queenslanders in 2007-08.
The initiative would see a flexible approach to the delivery of customised employment and training services for those most disadvantaged in the labour market.
He said that in spite of the state’s unemployment rate reaching a new low of 3.4 per cent, many people still needed assistance to build the skills to enable them to get a job.
“One of our major targets in the 2007-08 Budget will be young people aged 15 to 24,” he said.
“Under the Youth Works strategy, some 5300 young people will be assisted, including 2000 15 to 17-year-olds who are disengaged or at risk of disengaging from education and training through the Get Set for Work and Youth Justice programs.
“An additional 2100 young people will be able to take up school-based apprenticeships and traineeships in rural and remote areas under the Youth Training Incentive program.
“The program will also be available for young Indigenous people, in trades with skill shortages and in the public sector.”
Other highlights of the 2007-08 Budget include:
• 2850 Indigenous people will be assisted under Skilling Queenslanders for Work
• Some 1100 disadvantaged jobseekers will begin traineeships with Government agencies, councils and non-profit community organisations under the First Start program
• Assistance for 1000 unemployed parents and carers under the Parents and Carers Strategy
• Assistance for 990 people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds under the Multicultural Employment Strategy
• Assistance to 350 people with a disability under the WorkAbility Strategy
• Assistance for 2100 offenders prior to and following release under the Advance 2 Work Strategy
Mr Mickel said as part of its commitment to the $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan, the Department of Education and Training would contribute $13.6 million towards the delivery of 838,000 hours accredited training targeted at the most disadvantaged in the community.
He also revealed the department has been allocated $2.17 million to implement a renewable and photographic licensing system for high risk occupations, making it easier for Queensland businesses to operate across state and territory borders.
“From 1 July 2008, Queensland will issue new licenses, as part of a national scheme for high risk work administered by all states and territories. The licences will be renewed each five years and funds are secured for the ongoing operation of the program.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
June 5, 2007
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the 2007-08 Budget would target mature-aged people who were having difficulty re-entering the labour market.
“The successful Experience Pays Participation Strategy will assist 1600 unemployed mature-age people over the age of 45 get back into the workforce,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Budget also provides $2 million for the ongoing Experience Pays Awareness Strategy to raise awareness and encourage recruitment, retraining and retention of older workers.”
Queensland spends more on labour market programs than every other state combined.
Since 1998 the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle has assisted 171,137 Queenslanders, including 121,203 people placed in jobs. The initiative will transition to Skilling Queenslanders for Work from July 2007.
Mr Mickel said funding in the first year of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative would assist an estimated 16,780 Queenslanders in 2007-08.
The initiative would see a flexible approach to the delivery of customised employment and training services for those most disadvantaged in the labour market.
He said that in spite of the state’s unemployment rate reaching a new low of 3.4 per cent, many people still needed assistance to build the skills to enable them to get a job.
“One of our major targets in the 2007-08 Budget will be young people aged 15 to 24,” he said.
“Under the Youth Works strategy, some 5300 young people will be assisted, including 2000 15 to 17-year-olds who are disengaged or at risk of disengaging from education and training through the Get Set for Work and Youth Justice programs.
“An additional 2100 young people will be able to take up school-based apprenticeships and traineeships in rural and remote areas under the Youth Training Incentive program.
“The program will also be available for young Indigenous people, in trades with skill shortages and in the public sector.”
Other highlights of the 2007-08 Budget include:
• 2850 Indigenous people will be assisted under Skilling Queenslanders for Work
• Some 1100 disadvantaged jobseekers will begin traineeships with Government agencies, councils and non-profit community organisations under the First Start program
• Assistance for 1000 unemployed parents and carers under the Parents and Carers Strategy
• Assistance for 990 people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds under the Multicultural Employment Strategy
• Assistance to 350 people with a disability under the WorkAbility Strategy
• Assistance for 2100 offenders prior to and following release under the Advance 2 Work Strategy
Mr Mickel said as part of its commitment to the $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan, the Department of Education and Training would contribute $13.6 million towards the delivery of 838,000 hours accredited training targeted at the most disadvantaged in the community.
He also revealed the department has been allocated $2.17 million to implement a renewable and photographic licensing system for high risk occupations, making it easier for Queensland businesses to operate across state and territory borders.
“From 1 July 2008, Queensland will issue new licenses, as part of a national scheme for high risk work administered by all states and territories. The licences will be renewed each five years and funds are secured for the ongoing operation of the program.”
Media contact: Chris Brown 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion 3224 6784.
June 5, 2007