STATE GOVERNMENT AND NATIONAL RETAIL ASSOCIATION TEAM UP TO ASSIST MATURE-AGED JOBSEEKERS
Published Monday, 20 August, 2007 at 09:49 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
The National Retail Association (NRA) is teaming up with the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to train over 200 mature-aged jobseekers from around the state in skills suited to the retail industry.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the initiative is providing $317,810 to support the NRA’s Mature Aged Project.
“At a time when the State Government is encouraging employers to rethink the way they recruit, retrain and retain mature-age workers through the Experience Pays campaign, this project will improve the skills of 208 mature-aged jobseekers around Queensland,” Mr Mickel said.
“The NRA is contributing $388,350 and will organise 13 classes, which will be held in six locations, to help participants learn new skills and become ready for work.
“Five classes will be in Brisbane, two in Bundaberg, Townsville and Rockhampton and another class in Mackay and the Sunshine Coast.
“While unemployment is at a 30-year low of 3.5 per cent in Queensland, there are still people out there who are having difficulty finding work.
“As the workforce ages the economy will need to reconnect or strengthen its connections with groups marginalised from the workforce.
“The key to that is to help people build the skills needed by business and industry and to show employers they need to examine how they recruit and treat staff to ensure any qualified person can work for their organisation,” Mr Mickel said.
NRA General Manger - Training and Development Paul Willis said the Mature Aged Project provides participants with a variety of assistance.
“The project offers the chance for people to complete modules of accredited training from the Certificate II in Retail Operations and the Certificate I in Work Education,” Mr Willis said.
“This gives participants a start on a recognised qualification which they can complete on their own or through a traineeship. They will also complete one week’s industry placement which will be a valuable experience.
“The project also offers participants language, literacy and numeracy assessment, life and job search skills and also mentoring and coaching.
“This is a chance for mature-aged jobseekers to learn new skills to start a career in the retail industry and brush up on how to find, apply and start a new job.”
Anyone who would like to find out more about the Mature Aged Project can contact the NRA on 1800 738 245 or 3251 3000 if in the greater Brisbane area.
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.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work and the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy are 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 and for more information on the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy visit www.experiencepays.qld.gov.au or call 1800 630 647
Contact: National Retail Association General Manager - Training and Development Paul Willis on 3251 3000 or p.willis@nra.net.au
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
August 20, 2007
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the initiative is providing $317,810 to support the NRA’s Mature Aged Project.
“At a time when the State Government is encouraging employers to rethink the way they recruit, retrain and retain mature-age workers through the Experience Pays campaign, this project will improve the skills of 208 mature-aged jobseekers around Queensland,” Mr Mickel said.
“The NRA is contributing $388,350 and will organise 13 classes, which will be held in six locations, to help participants learn new skills and become ready for work.
“Five classes will be in Brisbane, two in Bundaberg, Townsville and Rockhampton and another class in Mackay and the Sunshine Coast.
“While unemployment is at a 30-year low of 3.5 per cent in Queensland, there are still people out there who are having difficulty finding work.
“As the workforce ages the economy will need to reconnect or strengthen its connections with groups marginalised from the workforce.
“The key to that is to help people build the skills needed by business and industry and to show employers they need to examine how they recruit and treat staff to ensure any qualified person can work for their organisation,” Mr Mickel said.
NRA General Manger - Training and Development Paul Willis said the Mature Aged Project provides participants with a variety of assistance.
“The project offers the chance for people to complete modules of accredited training from the Certificate II in Retail Operations and the Certificate I in Work Education,” Mr Willis said.
“This gives participants a start on a recognised qualification which they can complete on their own or through a traineeship. They will also complete one week’s industry placement which will be a valuable experience.
“The project also offers participants language, literacy and numeracy assessment, life and job search skills and also mentoring and coaching.
“This is a chance for mature-aged jobseekers to learn new skills to start a career in the retail industry and brush up on how to find, apply and start a new job.”
Anyone who would like to find out more about the Mature Aged Project can contact the NRA on 1800 738 245 or 3251 3000 if in the greater Brisbane area.
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.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work and the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy are 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 and for more information on the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy visit www.experiencepays.qld.gov.au or call 1800 630 647
Contact: National Retail Association General Manager - Training and Development Paul Willis on 3251 3000 or p.willis@nra.net.au
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
August 20, 2007