GOONDIWINDI YOUTH GET JOBSEARCH SKILLS BOOST
Published Tuesday, 06 November, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Working with local farmer and celebrity David Graham (of Big Brother and Dancing with the Stars fame) has been a highlight of recent months for 10 young people from Goondiwindi.
These 10 early school-leavers are graduating tomorrow from a Get Set for Work employment program, marking lambs and mustering sheep with a famous farmer has been part of imbuing confidence and new skills to help them gain a foothold in the workforce.
The Downs Industry Schools Corporation Inc (DISCO) has been co-ordinating four Get Set for Work programs in 2007 across Warwick, Goondiwindi, Toowoomba and Dalby as part of the Queensland State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the $453,640 project has provided invaluable assistance to 82 early school-leavers across the region.
“The Goondiwindi part of this program, delivered by Goondiwindi Training and Technology has provided 15-17 year-olds with the essential skills needed to gain employment - not always an easy task, despite Queensland’s unemployment rate being at a 30-year low of 3.6 per cent.
“Eight of the ten young people graduating tomorrow have gained a Certificate I in Rural Operations and seven of the group have completed a Senior First Aid Certificate.
“At the heart of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is helping people participate meaningfully in the workforce and three of these graduates have already secured full-time jobs, which is most pleasing.
“These graduates are the second intake in a group of 18 who have participated in DISCO’s Goondiwindi Get Set for Work program this year,” Mr Mickel said.
Goondiwindi Training and Technology Executive Officer Esme Cairns said that an extensive work readiness program has accompanied the accredited training these participants have received in agriculture, hospitality and first aid.
“It’s been a delight to see all participants increase their practical skills as well as gain confidence in their ability to achieve.
“The overwhelming support from the community and local industry has been a boon for these young people.
“For many this is the first time they have set and met goals and in most cases they have exceeded their own expectations,” said Mrs Cairns.
DISCO is a not-for-profit organisation which focuses on assisting young people aged 13-24 years in transitioning from school or unemployment, into the labour force.
During 2007/08 the Queensland Government will invest $80 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: DISCO Get Set for Work Program Manager Belinda Dahl on 4638 3088 or Belinda@disco.org.au
Media Contacts: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
November 6, 2007
These 10 early school-leavers are graduating tomorrow from a Get Set for Work employment program, marking lambs and mustering sheep with a famous farmer has been part of imbuing confidence and new skills to help them gain a foothold in the workforce.
The Downs Industry Schools Corporation Inc (DISCO) has been co-ordinating four Get Set for Work programs in 2007 across Warwick, Goondiwindi, Toowoomba and Dalby as part of the Queensland State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the $453,640 project has provided invaluable assistance to 82 early school-leavers across the region.
“The Goondiwindi part of this program, delivered by Goondiwindi Training and Technology has provided 15-17 year-olds with the essential skills needed to gain employment - not always an easy task, despite Queensland’s unemployment rate being at a 30-year low of 3.6 per cent.
“Eight of the ten young people graduating tomorrow have gained a Certificate I in Rural Operations and seven of the group have completed a Senior First Aid Certificate.
“At the heart of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is helping people participate meaningfully in the workforce and three of these graduates have already secured full-time jobs, which is most pleasing.
“These graduates are the second intake in a group of 18 who have participated in DISCO’s Goondiwindi Get Set for Work program this year,” Mr Mickel said.
Goondiwindi Training and Technology Executive Officer Esme Cairns said that an extensive work readiness program has accompanied the accredited training these participants have received in agriculture, hospitality and first aid.
“It’s been a delight to see all participants increase their practical skills as well as gain confidence in their ability to achieve.
“The overwhelming support from the community and local industry has been a boon for these young people.
“For many this is the first time they have set and met goals and in most cases they have exceeded their own expectations,” said Mrs Cairns.
DISCO is a not-for-profit organisation which focuses on assisting young people aged 13-24 years in transitioning from school or unemployment, into the labour force.
During 2007/08 the Queensland Government will invest $80 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: DISCO Get Set for Work Program Manager Belinda Dahl on 4638 3088 or Belinda@disco.org.au
Media Contacts: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
November 6, 2007