Young Fraser Coast people prepare to achieve future goals

 
Thirty young participants of a Get Set for Work project in Maryborough will be congratulated by Member for Maryborough Chris Foley at their graduation today from a $174,000 Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative funded project.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the project encouraged participants to focus on developing viable career paths through theoretical and practical training.

“The project was managed by Fraser Coast TESS and has given these young people the confidence and motivation they need to enter the workforce,” Mr Mickel said.

“They received valuable training in Certificate I Engineering, Construction and Business – areas of industry identified by Fraser Coast TESS and local business as needing future staff.

“Unemployment may be only 3.8 per cent, but there are still many young people who lack the skills or confidence to find work and projects like this are necessary to address this issue.”

CEO of Fraser Coast TESS Lance Stone says the project has seen some promising results from the participants, with 21 of the young graduates already securing employment.

“One of the participants has done well to gain full-time work with a leading manufacturing company by utterly impressing his employer throughout his work experience term,” Mr Stone said.

“The participants have developed professional skills and personal values that will help them greatly in future activities.”

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 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: Fraser Coast Training Employment Support Service Inc. CEO Lance Stone on 4122 4444 or lance@tess.org.au

Member for Maryborough Chris Foley will attend the graduation at Fraser Coast TESS at 11:00 am on Monday, 10 December, 2007 to congratulate participants.

Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060

December 10, 2007