Published Friday, 16 November, 2007 at 12:00 PM

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel

PROGRAM BREATHES NEW LIFE FOR MACKAY JOBSEEKERS

Mackay’s labour market will benefit from 50 locals being trained under New Life Community Services’ Returning to Work project.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin announced New Life Community Services had been awarded a grant of $86,590 to run the Skilling Queenslanders for Work project.

“The Returning to Work program focuses training on computer skills, numeracy and literacy and job search skills that will assist long-term unemployed people find sustainable employment,” Mr Mickel said.

“While Queensland is currently experiencing 30-year low unemployment rates, the challenge now is to get as many people working as possible to ensure our booming economy continues to thrive.”

Mr Mulherin said the program will have a positive impact, on the Mackay labour market by creating new skilled employees.

“As the workforce ages we are going to need all the people we can get participating in the workforce,” he said.

“The key to that is to help people build the skills needed by employers and industry.

New Life Community Services Program Coordinator Darron Crocker said there was demand in the local community for accredited training programs that give participants recognised qualifications.

“Training in the project will cover topics such as career planning, resume writing, interview techniques, how to address selection criteria and how to use basic computer packages,” he said.

“It is envisaged that by the end of the eight week program, participants will be competent in using the Windows XP computer program which is widely used in today’s job market.

“Participants will also receive up to six months on-going support at the completion of the project to assist them with transitioning into the workplace”.

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 customised 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: New Life Community Services Ltd Program Director Darron Crocker on
4953 2241 or darron.c@innovate.org.au

Member for Mackay: 4957 8422
Ministerial contact: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060


November 16 2007