Published Monday, 21 January, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Redcliffe project prepares school leavers for work
Young Redcliffe people aged between 15 and 17 who exit from school before completing
Year 12 can be assisted into the workforce or further training thanks to a Queensland Government project.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said Redcliffe Area Youth Space (RAYS) will assist 50 people through the Get Set for Work project.
“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is providing $265,000 to fund this project because youth unemployment is an important issue that needs to be addressed,” Mr Mickel said.
“There are many factors that can lead a young person to disengage from high school and employment and this project will prepare the participants to take the next step in their lives.
“The project has been developed to build up participants’ education, work experience and life experience and these factors affect people’s employability.”
Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said it is important for young people to plan for the future.
“While unemployment is at a low 3.9 per cent in Queensland, it is important to remember the youth unemployment rate is over three times higher than that,” Ms van Litsenburg said.
“With our strong economy school leavers still need to think about what they will do in the short-term and where they want to be in the future.
“For many people finding a job and earning some money will be the next step but some might choose to return to school or sign up for further training and this project will help them decide which option they want to follow and get them on the right track to pursue it,” she said.
Redcliffe Area Youth Space Manager Jarryd Williams said participants who haven't completed Year 10 will have the opportunity to do so in the Access 10 course prior to moving into the employment stream.
“Brisbane North Institute of TAFE are delivering the accredited training in Access 10, literacy and numeracy and computers,” Mr Williams said.
“Through Skills Tech Australia we will also be offering ‘TAFE testers’ in skill shortage areas like boat building and construction.
“RAYS has a lot of experience dealing with young people and participants will also be able to meet with one of our youth workers as well as receive other support after they have completed the Get Set for Work project.”
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 conducted 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: Redcliffe Area Youth Space Manager Jarryd Williams on 3283 8767 or jarryd@redcliffeyouthspace.org
Member for Redcliffe contact: 3284 2667
Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Shannon Mackay on 3237 1125
January 21, 2008
Year 12 can be assisted into the workforce or further training thanks to a Queensland Government project.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said Redcliffe Area Youth Space (RAYS) will assist 50 people through the Get Set for Work project.
“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is providing $265,000 to fund this project because youth unemployment is an important issue that needs to be addressed,” Mr Mickel said.
“There are many factors that can lead a young person to disengage from high school and employment and this project will prepare the participants to take the next step in their lives.
“The project has been developed to build up participants’ education, work experience and life experience and these factors affect people’s employability.”
Member for Redcliffe Lillian van Litsenburg said it is important for young people to plan for the future.
“While unemployment is at a low 3.9 per cent in Queensland, it is important to remember the youth unemployment rate is over three times higher than that,” Ms van Litsenburg said.
“With our strong economy school leavers still need to think about what they will do in the short-term and where they want to be in the future.
“For many people finding a job and earning some money will be the next step but some might choose to return to school or sign up for further training and this project will help them decide which option they want to follow and get them on the right track to pursue it,” she said.
Redcliffe Area Youth Space Manager Jarryd Williams said participants who haven't completed Year 10 will have the opportunity to do so in the Access 10 course prior to moving into the employment stream.
“Brisbane North Institute of TAFE are delivering the accredited training in Access 10, literacy and numeracy and computers,” Mr Williams said.
“Through Skills Tech Australia we will also be offering ‘TAFE testers’ in skill shortage areas like boat building and construction.
“RAYS has a lot of experience dealing with young people and participants will also be able to meet with one of our youth workers as well as receive other support after they have completed the Get Set for Work project.”
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 conducted 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: Redcliffe Area Youth Space Manager Jarryd Williams on 3283 8767 or jarryd@redcliffeyouthspace.org
Member for Redcliffe contact: 3284 2667
Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Shannon Mackay on 3237 1125
January 21, 2008