Published Thursday, 15 November, 2007 at 12:00 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
GRANT GIVES WARWICK YOUTH SKILLS BOOST FOR JOBSEARCH
Ten young people will graduate in Warwick tomorrow from a Get Set for Work employment program which has equipped them with confidence and a host of new skills to help them gain a foothold in the workforce.
The Downs Industry Schools Corporation Inc (DISCO) has co-ordinated four Get Set for Work programs in 2007 across Warwick, Goondiwindi, Toowoomba and Dalby under 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.
“At the heart of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is helping people participate meaningfully in the workforce.
“The Get Set for Work program, run by the Southern Downs Industry Education Association Inc. in Warwick, has provided young people with the essential skills needed to gain employment, which is not always easy even though Queensland’s unemployment is at a 30-year low of 3.8 per cent.
“The 10 young people graduating tomorrow have gained a Certificate I in Work Education, and are the second intake in a group of 18 who have participated in DISCO’s Warwick Get Set for Work program this year,” Mr Mickel said.
Southern Downs Industry Education Association Get Set for Work Coordinator Grace Smith said it’s heartening to see participants gaining confidence as they learn and go on to gain work.
“Work readiness requires a good understanding of workplace culture, communication and team-building, but we also place an emphasis on personal development and the specifics of job-search requirements.
“Four of our Get Set for Work participants from earlier this year were nominated for individual awards in the annual Southern Downs Industry Education Association Awards, held recently, so these programs do make a difference,” said Miss Smith.
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
The graduation will take place on Friday, November 16 at the Southern Downs Industry Education Association at midday.
Contact: DISCO Get Set for Work Program Manager Belinda Dahl on 4638 3088 or Belinda@disco.org.au
Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown on (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
November 15, 2007
The Downs Industry Schools Corporation Inc (DISCO) has co-ordinated four Get Set for Work programs in 2007 across Warwick, Goondiwindi, Toowoomba and Dalby under 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.
“At the heart of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is helping people participate meaningfully in the workforce.
“The Get Set for Work program, run by the Southern Downs Industry Education Association Inc. in Warwick, has provided young people with the essential skills needed to gain employment, which is not always easy even though Queensland’s unemployment is at a 30-year low of 3.8 per cent.
“The 10 young people graduating tomorrow have gained a Certificate I in Work Education, and are the second intake in a group of 18 who have participated in DISCO’s Warwick Get Set for Work program this year,” Mr Mickel said.
Southern Downs Industry Education Association Get Set for Work Coordinator Grace Smith said it’s heartening to see participants gaining confidence as they learn and go on to gain work.
“Work readiness requires a good understanding of workplace culture, communication and team-building, but we also place an emphasis on personal development and the specifics of job-search requirements.
“Four of our Get Set for Work participants from earlier this year were nominated for individual awards in the annual Southern Downs Industry Education Association Awards, held recently, so these programs do make a difference,” said Miss Smith.
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
The graduation will take place on Friday, November 16 at the Southern Downs Industry Education Association at midday.
Contact: DISCO Get Set for Work Program Manager Belinda Dahl on 4638 3088 or Belinda@disco.org.au
Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown on (07) 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
November 15, 2007