Indigenous jobseekers build emergency housing for youths

Twelve young Indigenous people graduated today from an employment project that gave them 20 weeks paid work renovating a house that will form part of a Lions Youth Emergency Accommodation Centre in Lawnton.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Kurwongbah Linda Lavarch said the group had gained practical experience and developed skills that will help them find work in the construction industry.

“The State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative provided $234,180 to the Construction Training Centre to fund the participants paid work placements on this project,” Mr Mickel said.

“Under the supervision of qualified builders they have helped prepare the building for the move to its new location, replaced the internal and external walls and poured concrete slabs among many other tasks.

“The variety of work they have done will assist them in the workforce and the experience will serve them well as they continue to learn more about the construction industry.”

Member for Kurwongbah Linda Lavarch said the benefits of the project will be wide spread as the accommodation centre will be a valuable asset when it is completed.

“The centre will be a place for young people, including single mothers, to learn and expand their life skills,” Ms Lavarch said.

“These young people should be very proud that their work is contributing to such a worthwhile service as well as opening up more employment opportunities for themselves.

“With unemployment at a 30-year low of 3.8 per cent in Queensland, the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative will help people who aren’t part of our strong economy to get the skills they need to participate meaningfully in the workforce.”

Construction Training Centre CEO Phil Diver said the project has received a total of $1.16 million from the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services, Pine Rivers Shire Council, Lions International, the Lions Youth Emergency Accommodation Centre, Building and Construction Industry Training Centre, the Construction Training Centre, Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund, and the Community Gambling Benefit Fund.

“It is a fantastic example of government and non-government agencies working together to address a need in the community. CTC is delighted to be able to work with the Lions Youth Emergency Accommodation to bring this project to fruition,” Mr Diver said

“This project has been a great start for the centre and the 12 young people it employed.”

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.

Contact: Construction Training Centre Manager Programs Pam Anderson on
3272 7615 or pam.anderson@ctc.qld.edu.au

Member for Kurwongbah contact: 3205 6779

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


December 14, 2007