Published Thursday, 17 January, 2008 at 09:43 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Get Set for Work project for Gympie school leavers
The New Year is offering new opportunities for 25 early school leavers in Gympie thanks to a State Government funded employment project.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said Cooloola Youth Service will receive $142,410 from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to organise a year-long Get Set for Work project.
“Young people aged 15 to 17 who have left school early or are thinking about it need to have a plan for their futures,” Mr Mickel said.
“If a young person disengages from school and doesn’t move into a training course or the workforce are at risk of long-term unemployment at a time when Queensland’s economy needs all the workers it can get.
“Businesses and industries throughout Queensland are facing labour and skills shortages but young people need to understand they need education, qualifications and experience to get the most out of the current situation which will also put them in a strong position for the future.
“Get Set for Work projects like this one develops the skills needed to return to school, find a TAFE course or get a job so participants can make an informed decision about their future.
“This project will also offer eight participants a part-time paid work placement with local community organisations so they can receive paid while putting their skills to use and building up some experience.”
“While Queensland’s unemployment rate is at a low 3.9 per cent, for our young people that figure is more than three times higher. Through projects like this the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative will help get more young people learning or earning,” Mr Mickel said.
Cooloola Youth Service Manager Judy Brauer said there is a variety of training available so any participant will be able to find something that interests them.
“We can offer some accredited training in areas like engineering, hairdressing, business administration and hospitality. As well as assisting participants to earn a Construction Blue Card or complete the Year 10 Access course,” Ms Brauer said.
“Young people lack life experience which can be a big hurdle for them so we also offer training in areas like writing resumes and job applications, conducting mock job interviews and developing their knowledge on health and safety.
“It’s not all work and study either, we will take the participants out for some adventure-based learning and the Road Craft driver training course so they can have some fun while doing something different.
“After participants complete the course we will stay in touch with them to help them address any other problems they come up against and to monitor their progress.”
In 2008 over 2000 young Queenslanders who leave school early or are ‘at risk’ of not completing Year 12 will benefit from the $10.6 million statewide Get Set for Work program.
In the most recent survey of participants three months after leaving the program more than 75% were in work or study.
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 21st Century.
For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925
Contact: Cooloola Youth Service Get Set For Work Coordinator Cynthia Lees-Smith on 54826188 or cysgsfw@bigpond.net.au
Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Shannon Mackay on 3237 1125
January 17, 2008
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said Cooloola Youth Service will receive $142,410 from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to organise a year-long Get Set for Work project.
“Young people aged 15 to 17 who have left school early or are thinking about it need to have a plan for their futures,” Mr Mickel said.
“If a young person disengages from school and doesn’t move into a training course or the workforce are at risk of long-term unemployment at a time when Queensland’s economy needs all the workers it can get.
“Businesses and industries throughout Queensland are facing labour and skills shortages but young people need to understand they need education, qualifications and experience to get the most out of the current situation which will also put them in a strong position for the future.
“Get Set for Work projects like this one develops the skills needed to return to school, find a TAFE course or get a job so participants can make an informed decision about their future.
“This project will also offer eight participants a part-time paid work placement with local community organisations so they can receive paid while putting their skills to use and building up some experience.”
“While Queensland’s unemployment rate is at a low 3.9 per cent, for our young people that figure is more than three times higher. Through projects like this the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative will help get more young people learning or earning,” Mr Mickel said.
Cooloola Youth Service Manager Judy Brauer said there is a variety of training available so any participant will be able to find something that interests them.
“We can offer some accredited training in areas like engineering, hairdressing, business administration and hospitality. As well as assisting participants to earn a Construction Blue Card or complete the Year 10 Access course,” Ms Brauer said.
“Young people lack life experience which can be a big hurdle for them so we also offer training in areas like writing resumes and job applications, conducting mock job interviews and developing their knowledge on health and safety.
“It’s not all work and study either, we will take the participants out for some adventure-based learning and the Road Craft driver training course so they can have some fun while doing something different.
“After participants complete the course we will stay in touch with them to help them address any other problems they come up against and to monitor their progress.”
In 2008 over 2000 young Queenslanders who leave school early or are ‘at risk’ of not completing Year 12 will benefit from the $10.6 million statewide Get Set for Work program.
In the most recent survey of participants three months after leaving the program more than 75% were in work or study.
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 21st Century.
For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925
Contact: Cooloola Youth Service Get Set For Work Coordinator Cynthia Lees-Smith on 54826188 or cysgsfw@bigpond.net.au
Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Shannon Mackay on 3237 1125
January 17, 2008