Published Monday, 23 July, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
INDIGENOUS JOBS AT YARRABAH AQUATIC CENTRE
Ten local Indigenous Yarrabah residents are skilling up to prepare for jobs at the soon to be opened Yarrabah Aquatic Centre on a Skilling Queenslanders for Work employment project.
Acting Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations Desley Boyle and Member for Mulgrave Warren Pitt said the project is being run by the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council thanks to a $132,780 grant.
“Participants will get accredited training in pool operations and management – which includes the bronze lifeguard medallion, pool plant operator and retail kiosk units,” Ms Boyle said.
“The project participants will be able to hit the ground running when the centre opens later this year.”
Mr Pitt said it is important to help Indigenous people gain skills that will allow them to stay within their own communities to work.
“While unemployment is at a 30-year low of 3.4 per cent in Queensland, there are still people who are having difficulty finding work particularly Indigenous people,”
he said.
“Programs like this under our Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative are helping to give people the skills they need to participate meaningfully in the workforce.”
Yarrabah Council CEO Leon Yeatman said the Aquatic Centre will boast a 25 metre lap pool, water play area, amenities, spa and kiosk.
“At the moment, participants are getting excellent experience helping with the construction of drainage, fencing, landscaping, concreting and pathway construction around the Centre,” Mr Yeatman said.
“When this work is done they will do paid work at some of the Cairns City Council pools to prepare them to take on the management of the Aquatic Centre when it opens.
“They will be involved in the day to day running of a council pool, including working in a kiosk, pool plant operation and lifesaving duties.”
“The Yarrabah Council will be contributing $237,527 to the project for training, staff, administration and materials,” he said.
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 124,000 jobs for Queenslanders since 1998.
Since the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle began in October 1998, more than $69.7 million has been invested in the Northern electorates of Barron River, Cairns, Cook, Mulgrave and the Tablelands.
More than 10,646 people have been assisted, including more than 7,170 into jobs.
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.
More information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925.
Contact: Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Leon Yeatman on 4056 9120 or CEO@yarrabah.qld.gov.au
Member for Mulgrave contact: (07) 4056 3175
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
July 23, 2007
Acting Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations Desley Boyle and Member for Mulgrave Warren Pitt said the project is being run by the Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council thanks to a $132,780 grant.
“Participants will get accredited training in pool operations and management – which includes the bronze lifeguard medallion, pool plant operator and retail kiosk units,” Ms Boyle said.
“The project participants will be able to hit the ground running when the centre opens later this year.”
Mr Pitt said it is important to help Indigenous people gain skills that will allow them to stay within their own communities to work.
“While unemployment is at a 30-year low of 3.4 per cent in Queensland, there are still people who are having difficulty finding work particularly Indigenous people,”
he said.
“Programs like this under our Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative are helping to give people the skills they need to participate meaningfully in the workforce.”
Yarrabah Council CEO Leon Yeatman said the Aquatic Centre will boast a 25 metre lap pool, water play area, amenities, spa and kiosk.
“At the moment, participants are getting excellent experience helping with the construction of drainage, fencing, landscaping, concreting and pathway construction around the Centre,” Mr Yeatman said.
“When this work is done they will do paid work at some of the Cairns City Council pools to prepare them to take on the management of the Aquatic Centre when it opens.
“They will be involved in the day to day running of a council pool, including working in a kiosk, pool plant operation and lifesaving duties.”
“The Yarrabah Council will be contributing $237,527 to the project for training, staff, administration and materials,” he said.
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative together with its predecessor the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative have helped create more than 124,000 jobs for Queenslanders since 1998.
Since the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle began in October 1998, more than $69.7 million has been invested in the Northern electorates of Barron River, Cairns, Cook, Mulgrave and the Tablelands.
More than 10,646 people have been assisted, including more than 7,170 into jobs.
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.
More information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925.
Contact: Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council CEO Leon Yeatman on 4056 9120 or CEO@yarrabah.qld.gov.au
Member for Mulgrave contact: (07) 4056 3175
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
July 23, 2007