Published Friday, 14 December, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
INDIGENOUS SKILLING PARTICIPANTS PUT ON A FEAST FOR DISADVANTAGED YOUNG PEOPLE
Ten newly skilled Indigenous jobseekers will spread the Christmas cheer today when they put on an afternoon of food and entertainment for disadvantaged young people in Redcliffe.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said the participants took part in the $1.16 million Pathways to Success project run by Bridgeworks Employment and Training.
A total of 155 unemployed people will be assisted through the project and will not only include Indigenous people but also culturally and linguistically disadvantaged people including migrants and refugees, mature-aged and parents and carers.
“Participants took part in 13-week work placements with local organisations to develop a range of community focused projects, including today’s lunch,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work project gave them paid work and a foot in the door to careers in arts or event management.
“Over the last few months they have worked on, or contributed to, many community projects - the highlight will certainly be the luncheon for disadvantaged young people at Redcliffe Area Youth Space.
“Participants organised the whole thing from start to finish including finding sponsorship, planning the program, managing logistics and organising food and entertainment.”
Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said participants also gained accredited training and personal support in navigating the employment market place to help them turn their new skills and experience into work.
“With unemployment reaching historic lows and inflation starting to creep up it’s vital that we give everyone in our community the skills to contribute to and share in Queensland’s prosperity,” she said.
“Skilling Queenslanders for Work projects are all about giving in-demand skills to those who would traditionally be marginalised from work and this project is a fine example.
“Of the 10 participants graduating in this intake four have already successfully secured traineeships and another has moved into full-time work.”
Bridgeworks Employment and Training Client Service Coordinator Jane Williamson said participants worked at community and local organisations including Mereki, Murriajabree, Redcliffe Neighbourhood Centre, ROPE, Deception Bay Neighbourhood Centre, 99.7 FM Radio station (Redcliffe), PCYC and Cascade Place.
“Together they worked on projects as diverse as the Murriajabree Deadly Kid Challenge Day for Indigenous children, setting up the offices for Mereki Indigenous organisation, a games day for the disabled, the Young Women’s Indigenous Group and an Indigenous radio show for 99.7FM.
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: Bridgeworks Employment and Training Client Service Coordinator
Jane Williamson on 3350 6611 or j.williamson@bridgeworks.org.au
The graduation will take place at Redcliffe Area Youth Space, Cnr Anzac and Oxley Avenue, Redcliffe at 11:30 am on 14 December 2007.
Member for Redcliffe contact: 3284 2667
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
December 14, 2007
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said the participants took part in the $1.16 million Pathways to Success project run by Bridgeworks Employment and Training.
A total of 155 unemployed people will be assisted through the project and will not only include Indigenous people but also culturally and linguistically disadvantaged people including migrants and refugees, mature-aged and parents and carers.
“Participants took part in 13-week work placements with local organisations to develop a range of community focused projects, including today’s lunch,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work project gave them paid work and a foot in the door to careers in arts or event management.
“Over the last few months they have worked on, or contributed to, many community projects - the highlight will certainly be the luncheon for disadvantaged young people at Redcliffe Area Youth Space.
“Participants organised the whole thing from start to finish including finding sponsorship, planning the program, managing logistics and organising food and entertainment.”
Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said participants also gained accredited training and personal support in navigating the employment market place to help them turn their new skills and experience into work.
“With unemployment reaching historic lows and inflation starting to creep up it’s vital that we give everyone in our community the skills to contribute to and share in Queensland’s prosperity,” she said.
“Skilling Queenslanders for Work projects are all about giving in-demand skills to those who would traditionally be marginalised from work and this project is a fine example.
“Of the 10 participants graduating in this intake four have already successfully secured traineeships and another has moved into full-time work.”
Bridgeworks Employment and Training Client Service Coordinator Jane Williamson said participants worked at community and local organisations including Mereki, Murriajabree, Redcliffe Neighbourhood Centre, ROPE, Deception Bay Neighbourhood Centre, 99.7 FM Radio station (Redcliffe), PCYC and Cascade Place.
“Together they worked on projects as diverse as the Murriajabree Deadly Kid Challenge Day for Indigenous children, setting up the offices for Mereki Indigenous organisation, a games day for the disabled, the Young Women’s Indigenous Group and an Indigenous radio show for 99.7FM.
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: Bridgeworks Employment and Training Client Service Coordinator
Jane Williamson on 3350 6611 or j.williamson@bridgeworks.org.au
The graduation will take place at Redcliffe Area Youth Space, Cnr Anzac and Oxley Avenue, Redcliffe at 11:30 am on 14 December 2007.
Member for Redcliffe contact: 3284 2667
Ministerial Contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
December 14, 2007