Skills training for Townsville disabled

Eight Townsville adults living with disabilities will benefit from job skills training provided by Capabilities Employment Service Inc.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the project has been made possible thanks to a $17,860 grant provided under the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

“Queensland’s unemployment rate may be at a 30-year low of 3.8 per cent, but there will always be people in the community who face significant barriers to employment,” Mr Mickel said.

“Projects like this give disadvantaged jobseekers the skills and confidence to participate in the workforce and in their community, in a meaningful way.

“Effectively engaging people with a disability is an important step toward building more supportive communities,” he said.

Capabilities Employment Service Inc Manager Kylee Green said the project will give participants a range of skills that will help them find work.

“Job skills covered in the training program include teamwork, vocational awareness, personal presentation, job search skills, work ethics, workplace communication, interview techniques, money management and Workplace Health and Safety,” Ms Green said.

“The project also provides participants with work experience opportunities with a view to permanent employment.”

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: Capabilities Employment Service Inc Manager Kylie Green on 4771 5922 or support@capabilities.net.au

Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir 3235 4060

December 06, 2007