Published Monday, 09 July, 2007 at 03:30 PM

Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel

SURF LIFESAVERS SIGN UP TO SKILL QUEENSLAND JOBSEEKERS

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel today announced funding for Surf Life Saving Queensland to employ 30 trainees and assist 100 unemployed jobseekers around the state.

Mr Mickel said $520,000 would be provided to Surf Life Saving Queensland for the innovative project.

He said First Start trainees would be employed on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Green Island.

“The 100 long-term unemployed or people at risk of long-term unemployment will link with the 59 surf lifesaving clubs around the state,” He said.

“The six-week program, which will be held in Beenleigh, Caboolture, Redcliffe and Townsville, will help jobseekers open up new employment opportunities in areas where public safety skills and training are important.

“These 100 people will receive a mix of job preparation and formal training in areas like aquatic search and rescue, powerboat and wave runner licensing and the many Surf Life Saving Queensland Awards.”

Mr Mickel said the 30 traineeships would cover a variety of qualifications like the Certificate II in Marine Operations or the Certificate III in Sport and Recreation.”

“We are delighted to be able to make this important project available in the Year of the Surf Lifesaver.”

Surf Life Saving Queensland Academy Manager Peter Gould said the project would give participants the chance to work as lifeguards at pools, water parks and beaches, or as wave runner operators.

“With the qualifications they complete through the Skills for Life Community Program they could also sign up as volunteer lifesavers,” Mr Gould said.

“We are looking for all different kinds of jobseekers to join this program because our work provides information and assistance to all different kinds of people throughout the state.

“Getting more people who speak languages other than English, for instance, can help us do the job better.

“Thanks to the First Start traineeships our clubs also have the chance to identify skills their local community needs and help a local jobseeker get the qualifications to fill that role.”

Surf Life Saving Queensland will provide $473,550 in-kind support for the Skills for Life Community Program to fund the participants’ training and other costs.

Anyone interested in joining the project can contact Surf Life Saving Queensland on 3846 8000.

The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 122,000 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.

For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925

Contact: Surf Lifesaving Queensland Academy Manager Peter Gould
on 3846 8026 or pgould@lifesaving.com.au

July 9, 2007