Bundamba hosts employment project for young people

The Bremer Institute of TAFE’s Bundamba campus will host a State Government-funded employment project assisting 55 young people who have difficulty with fitting in at school and need some help to plan their futures.

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

Jo-Ann Miller said Get Set for Work projects are aimed at people aged between 15 and 17 who are at risk of long-term unemployment.

“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is providing a $341,500 grant for this project and Bremer TAFE is contributing a further $317,200 in-kind support,” Mr Mickel said.

“People who have left school early or are thinking about it need to realise they might not have the skills or experience to walk straight into a job they want.

“Get Set for Work projects like this will develop participants’ confidence and basic skills like literacy and numeracy so they are better prepared to start a new job or another education or training program.

“Thirty-five participants will be recruited from the Ipswich and Bundamba region, with 10 from Laidley and Gatton and another 10 from Esk and Toogoolawah.”

Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller said there are challenges to addressing youth unemployment but the benefits will outweigh the costs.

“While there has been a strong improvement in the past year youth unemployment rate is significantly higher than the state’s low average of 3.9 per cent,” Ms Miller said.

“Getting a good start after leaving school is very important and the Get Set for Work program assists young people who could be headed into long-term unemployment because they don’t have a plan for the future.

“These projects have been very successful because the assistance participants receive can help them if they choose to return to school and complete their education, start a TAFE training course or join the workforce.”

The Bremer Institute of TAFE Director Kaylene Harth said each participant will be given an individual case manager who will help develop a learning plan.

“This will cover the young person’s career, personal development and provide information on other social support services that could assist them,’ Ms Harth said.

“Connecting and networking with the local community and employers is particularly important for someone just starting out so we will be encouraging participants to arrange to do work experience with businesses they are interested in.

“While we have a strong economy at the moment young people need to be planning for the future where demand for low and unskilled labour could fall.”

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 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: The Bremer Institute of TAFE Acting Manager - Key Accounts Suzanne Donovan on 3817 3217 or suzanne.donovan@deta.qld.gov.au

Member for Bundamba contact: 3288 3737

Ministerial contacts: Chris Brown on 3237 1944 or Shannon Mackay on 3237 1125

January 21, 2008