Published Thursday, 15 November, 2007 at 01:15 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
GRANT GIVES LITERACY SKILLS TO IPSWICH RESIDENTS IN NEED
Forty-two Ipswich residents will benefit from literacy training thanks to a State Government Skilling Queenslanders for Work grant.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan announced Harvest Rain Christian Care Ltd had been awarded $48,550 to run the Harvest Rain Christian Care Adult Literacy project.
“This project will assist adults with low literacy and numeracy skills, as well as new immigrants and others for whom English is their second language,” said Mr Mickel.
“Programs like this under our Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative are helping people to develop the skills and confidence they need to participate meaningfully in the community and in the workforce,” said Mr Mickel.
Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan said students are individually assessed to establish current literacy levels, special learning requirements and any personal aspirations for the future.
“Participants develop a range of skills including reading, writing, speaking, numeracy, job search and computer skills,” said Ms Nolan.
“As they progress, they are offered support and assistance to either progress with further training or to seek and obtain employment,” said Ms Nolan.
Pastor Fred Muys said the Harvest Rain Literacy project provides them with the opportunity to learn important skills and build confidence in a non-threatening environment.
“At Harvest Rain, we see first hand how isolating a low level of literacy is for people and the extent to which it prevents people from actively participating in society,” said Pastor Muys.
“One of our former students did not leave his house except to come to Literacy because he was so lacking in confidence.
“Others are used to walking everywhere because they can’t read timetables or signs on public transport,” said Pastor Muys.
“As people learn to read and write they are empowered to more effectively take part in society by being able to read community notices, fill in forms, pay bills and even obtain employment or progress onto further training or formal education.”
The project caters to individual needs, enabling them to work at their own pace in small groups, receive individual tutoring or learn through computer based learning modules. Trained tutors are on hand to assist participants through the project.
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: Harvest Rain Christian Care
Pastor Fred Muys on 3812 0207 or fredmuys@riversoflife.com
Member for Ipswich contact: 3202 3452
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
November 15, 2007
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan announced Harvest Rain Christian Care Ltd had been awarded $48,550 to run the Harvest Rain Christian Care Adult Literacy project.
“This project will assist adults with low literacy and numeracy skills, as well as new immigrants and others for whom English is their second language,” said Mr Mickel.
“Programs like this under our Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative are helping people to develop the skills and confidence they need to participate meaningfully in the community and in the workforce,” said Mr Mickel.
Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan said students are individually assessed to establish current literacy levels, special learning requirements and any personal aspirations for the future.
“Participants develop a range of skills including reading, writing, speaking, numeracy, job search and computer skills,” said Ms Nolan.
“As they progress, they are offered support and assistance to either progress with further training or to seek and obtain employment,” said Ms Nolan.
Pastor Fred Muys said the Harvest Rain Literacy project provides them with the opportunity to learn important skills and build confidence in a non-threatening environment.
“At Harvest Rain, we see first hand how isolating a low level of literacy is for people and the extent to which it prevents people from actively participating in society,” said Pastor Muys.
“One of our former students did not leave his house except to come to Literacy because he was so lacking in confidence.
“Others are used to walking everywhere because they can’t read timetables or signs on public transport,” said Pastor Muys.
“As people learn to read and write they are empowered to more effectively take part in society by being able to read community notices, fill in forms, pay bills and even obtain employment or progress onto further training or formal education.”
The project caters to individual needs, enabling them to work at their own pace in small groups, receive individual tutoring or learn through computer based learning modules. Trained tutors are on hand to assist participants through the project.
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: Harvest Rain Christian Care
Pastor Fred Muys on 3812 0207 or fredmuys@riversoflife.com
Member for Ipswich contact: 3202 3452
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
November 15, 2007