JOBSEEKERS LEAP FOR WORK AND BANDAID SKILLS SHORTAGES
Published Monday, 05 November, 2007 at 10:00 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Upgrading Mount Isa’s Community Development Association’s facilities to help expand a program providing medical living aids to the disadvantaged will see eight local people into work.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Mount Isa Betty Keirnan said $71,800 from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative will give the jobseekers valuable work skills that will end up helping others in the community.
“The 17-week LEAP for the Future project, coordinated by IsaSkills, will give the eight participants hands-on experience and skills to help alleviate the region’s skills shortages,” Mr Mickel said.
“Mount Isa’s mining boom has resulted in rapid growth within the area and like the rest of the state is suffering skills shortages in areas including construction and horticulture.
“Skilling Queenslanders for Work projects like this one will ensure that the state has skilled people in the locations and industries where they are needed.”
Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan said that project participants are indirectly helping other disadvantaged groups which are also expanding in line with Mount Isa’s growth.
“The number of older people and those with a disability is growing, and so is the need for their support services,” Mrs Kiernan said.
“This project will allow the Community Development Association to expand the Living Equipment and Medical Aids Program (LEAP) where they supply medical aids, including refurbished wheelchairs, to those community members who need them.
IsaSkills project manager Steve Rumens said the jobseekers will develop a wide range of practical skills during the project.
“Participants will landscape and irrigate the grounds and research how to transform a shipping container into workable office space.
“They will help construct and maintain wheelchairs and medical aids for distribution to those in need.
“We will also offer participants job search support and training, however by the end of the project participants will be armed with an array of skills that will have them literally jumping into a job.”
During 2007/08 the Queensland Government will invest $82 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to give an estimated 17,000 long-term unemployed and underemployed people job related assistance and skills training
to maximise labour force participation and increase Queensland's prosperity.
Twelve months after receiving employment and training assistance 67 per cent of participants are in employment.
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: IsaSkills project manager Steve Rumens on 4743 4595
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
November 5, 2007
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Mount Isa Betty Keirnan said $71,800 from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative will give the jobseekers valuable work skills that will end up helping others in the community.
“The 17-week LEAP for the Future project, coordinated by IsaSkills, will give the eight participants hands-on experience and skills to help alleviate the region’s skills shortages,” Mr Mickel said.
“Mount Isa’s mining boom has resulted in rapid growth within the area and like the rest of the state is suffering skills shortages in areas including construction and horticulture.
“Skilling Queenslanders for Work projects like this one will ensure that the state has skilled people in the locations and industries where they are needed.”
Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan said that project participants are indirectly helping other disadvantaged groups which are also expanding in line with Mount Isa’s growth.
“The number of older people and those with a disability is growing, and so is the need for their support services,” Mrs Kiernan said.
“This project will allow the Community Development Association to expand the Living Equipment and Medical Aids Program (LEAP) where they supply medical aids, including refurbished wheelchairs, to those community members who need them.
IsaSkills project manager Steve Rumens said the jobseekers will develop a wide range of practical skills during the project.
“Participants will landscape and irrigate the grounds and research how to transform a shipping container into workable office space.
“They will help construct and maintain wheelchairs and medical aids for distribution to those in need.
“We will also offer participants job search support and training, however by the end of the project participants will be armed with an array of skills that will have them literally jumping into a job.”
During 2007/08 the Queensland Government will invest $82 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to give an estimated 17,000 long-term unemployed and underemployed people job related assistance and skills training
to maximise labour force participation and increase Queensland's prosperity.
Twelve months after receiving employment and training assistance 67 per cent of participants are in employment.
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: IsaSkills project manager Steve Rumens on 4743 4595
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
November 5, 2007