Published Friday, 16 November, 2007 at 03:31 PM
Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
Queenslanders Urged to Participate in Prosperity
Premier Anna Bligh and Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel today launched a new strategy to help disadvantaged people join Queensland’s booming workforce.
Ms Bligh said Queensland had the lowest unemployment in more than thirty years but the Government still wanted to do better.
“We want everyone who wants a job to be able to get a job,” Ms Bligh said.
“Participate in Prosperity, part of our Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, is a four-year $18 million strategy,” Ms Bligh said.
“It is not only a first for Queensland, but the first strategy of its kind in Australia.
“It will help some of the most disadvantaged people in our state join the workforce so they can contribute to and share in Queensland’s prosperity.
“Traditional jobs programs help participants with job related skills, training and assistance.
“But for some people training is not enough,
“Through Participate in Prosperity case managers will work with participants to help them overcome challenges in other areas of their lives such as financial management, health and housing, which will hopefully help them along the path to employment.
“This is about catching those people who may normally fall through the gaps of standard jobs programs.
“We want to provide a helping hand to those people that need it most.”
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the program would be piloted in three areas – Logan/Beenleigh, Caboolture/Deception Bay and in the south west corridor covering Inala, Carole Park and Ipswich.
He said the Logan/Beenleigh Corridor pilot through Youth and Family Services had been granted $495,000 to employ a project coordinator and three dedicated case managers.
“We understand that reasons for not working can extend beyond a lack of skills – and indeed, are often as complex and individual as people themselves,” Mr Mickel said.
“As part of this new approach we will work with individual participants to identify barriers and design solutions, drawing on the strengths of local services.
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.
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative 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.
More information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925.
16 November, 2007
Media contacts: Premiers Office (07) 3224 4500
Minister’s Office (07) 3237 1945
Ms Bligh said Queensland had the lowest unemployment in more than thirty years but the Government still wanted to do better.
“We want everyone who wants a job to be able to get a job,” Ms Bligh said.
“Participate in Prosperity, part of our Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, is a four-year $18 million strategy,” Ms Bligh said.
“It is not only a first for Queensland, but the first strategy of its kind in Australia.
“It will help some of the most disadvantaged people in our state join the workforce so they can contribute to and share in Queensland’s prosperity.
“Traditional jobs programs help participants with job related skills, training and assistance.
“But for some people training is not enough,
“Through Participate in Prosperity case managers will work with participants to help them overcome challenges in other areas of their lives such as financial management, health and housing, which will hopefully help them along the path to employment.
“This is about catching those people who may normally fall through the gaps of standard jobs programs.
“We want to provide a helping hand to those people that need it most.”
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the program would be piloted in three areas – Logan/Beenleigh, Caboolture/Deception Bay and in the south west corridor covering Inala, Carole Park and Ipswich.
He said the Logan/Beenleigh Corridor pilot through Youth and Family Services had been granted $495,000 to employ a project coordinator and three dedicated case managers.
“We understand that reasons for not working can extend beyond a lack of skills – and indeed, are often as complex and individual as people themselves,” Mr Mickel said.
“As part of this new approach we will work with individual participants to identify barriers and design solutions, drawing on the strengths of local services.
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.
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative 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.
More information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925.
16 November, 2007
Media contacts: Premiers Office (07) 3224 4500
Minister’s Office (07) 3237 1945