Unemployed stepping up in Townsville

The Queensland Government is funding an employment project to help 60 long-term unemployed people from the Townsville area.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Townsville

Mike Reynolds said Choice Australia Management had received $380,000 from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to organise the Choice Ladder Climbers project.

“The project is organised so participants first address basic issues like life skills and self confidence and then move on to accredited training,’’ Mr Mickel said.

“Twenty participants will also take on paid work placements which will give them workplace experience and put their skills to use.

“As participants climb each rung in the ladder they develop their skills and improve their chances of finding meaningful employment.”

Member for Townsville Mike Reynolds said the project would help disadvantaged people find jobs and provide employers with motivated applicants keen to work.

“Queensland’s growing economy has pushed unemployment to a low 3.9 per cent but the skills employers are looking for are changing,” Mr Reynolds said.

“People who are left out of the workforce during these good times are at risk of getting left behind but the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative funds projects like this one which help unemployed and underemployed people to take part meaningfully in the workforce.”

Choice Australia Management Townsville Manager Suzanne Highley said the 52-week project would run until September 2008.

“This project can help parents and carers who are looking to get back into the workforce, Indigenous people, mature-aged jobseekers and young people,” Ms Highley said.

“The work placement participants will be putting together a web site and booklet on the education, training and employment services available in and around Townsville. So the project will have long-term benefits for unemployed in our area.”

The Choice Ladder Climbers project has received extensive support. The Queensland Government’s Community Renewal program, coordinated by the Department of Housing, provided $80,660 to expand the project to cater for an additional 20 participants, including an additional 10 participants on paid work placements. Television broadcaster, Southern Cross Ten, is promoting Choice’s aims and objectives through airtime support.

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 21^st Century.

For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925

Contact: Choice Australia Management Townsville Manager Suzanne Highley on 4755 0033 or suzanne@choices.org.au

Member for Townsville contact: 4772 4711

Ministerial contact: Shannon Mackay 3237 1125

December 28, 2007