MILLION DOLLAR MENTAL HEALTH SKILLING GRANT
Published Thursday, 25 October, 2007 at 08:13 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
The State Government has committed $1 million to enable 100 people living with a mental illness training, support and paid work in a year long project being run by the Mental Health Association (Qld).
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the statewide project is being delivered under the National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011 which was developed to increase the ability of people with a mental illness to participate in the community, employment, education and training.
“Work adds meaning to our lives and lets us contribute tangibly to our local communities,” Mr Mickel said.
“For too long people living with mental health issues have been sidelined from the employment marketplace through a lack of training, recent work experience and community understanding.
“This project follows on from the success of last year’s Work Placement Program which resulted in 63% of participants finding sustainable work – a great result.”
Mr Mickel said the project would receive more than $1.1 million in in-kind support from more than 80 agencies throughout Queensland.
Mental Health Association’s Director Susan Stephenson said the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative funding will give 71 people across the state paid work with community organisations and a further 29 will benefit from nationally recognised training.
“Paid work in a real-world workplace provides a better springboard to employment than training in group or sheltered situations with high levels of support,” Ms Stephenson said.
“It also increases community and employers’ understanding that living with a mental illness isn’t a barrier to being an effective and valuable employee.
“In our experience a large number of participants are offered work in host organisations when the project ends.”
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 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: Mental Health Association (Qld) Director Susan Stephenson on
3271 5544 or susan@mentalhealth.org.au
Ministerial contact: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Elouise Campion on 3237 1125
October 25, 2007
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the statewide project is being delivered under the National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011 which was developed to increase the ability of people with a mental illness to participate in the community, employment, education and training.
“Work adds meaning to our lives and lets us contribute tangibly to our local communities,” Mr Mickel said.
“For too long people living with mental health issues have been sidelined from the employment marketplace through a lack of training, recent work experience and community understanding.
“This project follows on from the success of last year’s Work Placement Program which resulted in 63% of participants finding sustainable work – a great result.”
Mr Mickel said the project would receive more than $1.1 million in in-kind support from more than 80 agencies throughout Queensland.
Mental Health Association’s Director Susan Stephenson said the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative funding will give 71 people across the state paid work with community organisations and a further 29 will benefit from nationally recognised training.
“Paid work in a real-world workplace provides a better springboard to employment than training in group or sheltered situations with high levels of support,” Ms Stephenson said.
“It also increases community and employers’ understanding that living with a mental illness isn’t a barrier to being an effective and valuable employee.
“In our experience a large number of participants are offered work in host organisations when the project ends.”
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 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: Mental Health Association (Qld) Director Susan Stephenson on
3271 5544 or susan@mentalhealth.org.au
Ministerial contact: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Elouise Campion on 3237 1125
October 25, 2007