Youth try on trades and work at experience in Toowoomba
Published Thursday, 29 November, 2007 at 03:40 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Fifteen early school leavers in Toowoomba haven’t so much had time on their hands recently, but tools in them, experiencing different trades as part of the employment program that they will graduate from tomorrow.
The Downs Industry Schools Corporation Inc (DISCO) has co-ordinated four Get Set for Work programs in 2007 across Warwick, Goondiwindi, Toowoomba and Dalby as part of the Queensland State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine said the $453,640 project has provided invaluable assistance to 82 early school-leavers across the region.
“In Toowoomba the program has been delivered by DISCO and assisted young people by combining accredited training, job preparation skills and work experience in participants’ chosen fields,” Mr Mickel said.
“A host of trade activities in areas such as tiling, bricklaying, plumbing, horticulture and painting have also featured, and a house rented by DISCO from the local church has benefited from the participants’ application of their new skills.
“Ten of the 15 young people graduating tomorrow have also gained a Certificate I in Retail, and are the second intake in a group of 30 who have participated in DISCO’s Toowoomba Get Set for Work program this year.”
Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine said despite the low unemployment rate of 3.8% in Queensland, it is still vital to ensure our youth can gain a foothold in the workforce.
“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative seeks to ensure people have the necessary skills to do so,” Mr Shine said.
DISCO Get Set for Work Program Manager Belinda Dahl said that the work experience element of this particular Get Set for Work program has been important for these young people.
“Six of the previous group of graduates have gone on to full-time employment in roles as diverse as a car detailer, charter boat deckhand, roofing apprentice and personal shopper,” Mrs Dahl said.
“These positions often come as a result of the hard work the participants put into their relevant job skills, but also because of connections forged during work experience.
“DISCO also has a strong support role to play post-graduation and we work with participants until they have a positive outcome for themselves, be it work or further training.
“One young man at tomorrow’s graduation, Gregory Buddle, has gained a place in the
Big W Young Managers Program,” she said.
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 be held at the Downs Club,15 Myle Street (Cnr Margaret) Toowoomba at 6:30pm on Friday, November 30.
Contact: DISCO Get Set for Work Program Manager Belinda Dahl on 4638 3088 or belinda@disco.org.au
Member for Toowoomba North contact: 4638 5755
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
November 29, 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 as part of the Queensland State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine said the $453,640 project has provided invaluable assistance to 82 early school-leavers across the region.
“In Toowoomba the program has been delivered by DISCO and assisted young people by combining accredited training, job preparation skills and work experience in participants’ chosen fields,” Mr Mickel said.
“A host of trade activities in areas such as tiling, bricklaying, plumbing, horticulture and painting have also featured, and a house rented by DISCO from the local church has benefited from the participants’ application of their new skills.
“Ten of the 15 young people graduating tomorrow have also gained a Certificate I in Retail, and are the second intake in a group of 30 who have participated in DISCO’s Toowoomba Get Set for Work program this year.”
Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine said despite the low unemployment rate of 3.8% in Queensland, it is still vital to ensure our youth can gain a foothold in the workforce.
“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative seeks to ensure people have the necessary skills to do so,” Mr Shine said.
DISCO Get Set for Work Program Manager Belinda Dahl said that the work experience element of this particular Get Set for Work program has been important for these young people.
“Six of the previous group of graduates have gone on to full-time employment in roles as diverse as a car detailer, charter boat deckhand, roofing apprentice and personal shopper,” Mrs Dahl said.
“These positions often come as a result of the hard work the participants put into their relevant job skills, but also because of connections forged during work experience.
“DISCO also has a strong support role to play post-graduation and we work with participants until they have a positive outcome for themselves, be it work or further training.
“One young man at tomorrow’s graduation, Gregory Buddle, has gained a place in the
Big W Young Managers Program,” she said.
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 be held at the Downs Club,15 Myle Street (Cnr Margaret) Toowoomba at 6:30pm on Friday, November 30.
Contact: DISCO Get Set for Work Program Manager Belinda Dahl on 4638 3088 or belinda@disco.org.au
Member for Toowoomba North contact: 4638 5755
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060
November 29, 2007