Published Monday, 12 November, 2007 at 04:51 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
RETAIL TRAINING BROADENS NORTHLAKES PARENTS’ SKILLS
Eight parents and carers from Northlakes will graduate tomorrow from an employment project which has equipped them with new skills and confidence to ease their transition into the workforce.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative provided $122,730 to fund the Parents and Carers Entering Employment project.
“This project is being co-ordinated by the National Retail Association helping parents and carers gain job-search skills and industry experience, which can be difficult for those who have been out of the workforce for some time.
“The eight graduates have gained the fundamental skills required in retail and will receive a partial completion of Certificate II in Retail Operations to complement their work experience in this area.
“It’s great to hear that during the course one participant impressed an employer enough to secure a job with them,“Mr Mickel said.
Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said that even in times of low unemployment, people such as parents and carers who lack recent experience, can have difficulty finding work.
“Projects like this help people build the skills needed by employers and industry,” said Ms van Litsenburg.
“While unemployment is at a 30-year low of 3.8 per cent in Queensland, it is important to remember there are still people out there who are having difficulty finding work.”
NRA Training and Development Solutions, General Manager Paul Willis said that
the practical experience gained on the project is valuable but earning a recognised qualification is also very important.
“Undergoing nationally-recognised training in retail, means that the participants and potential employers can be confident in the standard of skills they have,” Mr Willis said.
“Self-confidence is very important in retail as staff have to be ready to solve problems, handle complaints and all the other tasks that are part of customer service.
“This is the first group to complete this project. We also have a retail class in Caboolture and a group completing aged care training in Clontarf.”
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 the participants from NRA's previous Parents & Carer's program 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
The graduation will take place at the Pathways Centre, North Lakes at 10:30am tomorrow.
Contact: NRA Training and Development Solutions General Manager
Paul Willis on 3251 3000 or p.willis@nra.net.au
Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
November 12, 2007
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative provided $122,730 to fund the Parents and Carers Entering Employment project.
“This project is being co-ordinated by the National Retail Association helping parents and carers gain job-search skills and industry experience, which can be difficult for those who have been out of the workforce for some time.
“The eight graduates have gained the fundamental skills required in retail and will receive a partial completion of Certificate II in Retail Operations to complement their work experience in this area.
“It’s great to hear that during the course one participant impressed an employer enough to secure a job with them,“Mr Mickel said.
Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said that even in times of low unemployment, people such as parents and carers who lack recent experience, can have difficulty finding work.
“Projects like this help people build the skills needed by employers and industry,” said Ms van Litsenburg.
“While unemployment is at a 30-year low of 3.8 per cent in Queensland, it is important to remember there are still people out there who are having difficulty finding work.”
NRA Training and Development Solutions, General Manager Paul Willis said that
the practical experience gained on the project is valuable but earning a recognised qualification is also very important.
“Undergoing nationally-recognised training in retail, means that the participants and potential employers can be confident in the standard of skills they have,” Mr Willis said.
“Self-confidence is very important in retail as staff have to be ready to solve problems, handle complaints and all the other tasks that are part of customer service.
“This is the first group to complete this project. We also have a retail class in Caboolture and a group completing aged care training in Clontarf.”
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 the participants from NRA's previous Parents & Carer's program 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
The graduation will take place at the Pathways Centre, North Lakes at 10:30am tomorrow.
Contact: NRA Training and Development Solutions General Manager
Paul Willis on 3251 3000 or p.willis@nra.net.au
Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
November 12, 2007