Mature-aged unemployed training in Mount Gravatt

Mature-aged people looking for work on Brisbane’s southside can learn new skills through the Work Matters employment project.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Mansfield Phil Reeves said Job Futures SEQ was organising the project thanks to an $80,000 grant from Queenslanders Working Together, an Australian Government funded program administered through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

“Forty-four people will undertake accredited training at a Certificate I or II level in a variety of different industries,” Mr Mickel said.

“Through this project participants can also receive training in language, literacy and numeracy to help them with their studies.

“The Work Matters project is delivered from Job Futures SEQ’s offices at 21 Mount Gravatt Capalaba Road.”

Member for Mansfield Phil Reeves said the project was a great way to encourage older people to stay in the workforce.

“With unemployment at a low 3.9 per cent employers should appreciate the experience mature-aged people can bring to their staff,” Mr Reeves said.

“Through Work Matters parents who are thinking about returning to the workforce and others can earn a recognised qualification which will help them make the transition.

“The Queensland Government is encouraging employers to hire more mature-aged people through the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy so we also need to lift the labour force participation rate for this group.”

Job Futures SEQ Training Services Manager Gillian Ainscough said participants could pursue a variety of careers through the training on offer.

“Through Work Matters people can start a job in a modern office with a Certificate in Business Administration or work outdoors with a Certificate in Horticulture,” Ms Ainscough said.

“Completing some accredited training has been a great motivator and confidence builder for older jobseekers.

“We assisted 54 people in the last Work Matters project and 26 people found jobs and another 11 took on further training.”

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: Job Futures South East Queensland Training Services Manager Gillian Ainscough on 5575 8169 or tlcg@jobfutures-seq.com

Member for Mansfield contact: 3849 3488

Ministerial contact: Shannon Mackay 3237 1125

December 28, 2007