Age no barrier to entering Hervey Bay workforce

Eighty mature-age jobseekers and long-term unemployed residents of Hervey Bay are set to benefit from a State Government-funded Skilling Queenslanders for Work jobs program that will also help the local community.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Hervey Bay Andrew McNamara said Centacare Fraser Coast is coordinating the $356,530 Career Renovation and Employment Pathways project.

“This year-long project provides job preparation skills, paid work placements and accredited training for participants in a bid to address the acute shortage of aged care, disability and youth services in Maryborough and Hervey Bay,” said Mr Mickel.

“Local organisations such as Blue Care Fraser Coast, Hervey Bay Day Care and Respite Centre, Hervey Bay Youth Mentoring Program and Reconnect Fraser Coast will host 16-week paid work placements for 20 participants, allowing them to accrue invaluable experience.”

Member for Hervey Bay Andrew McNamara said while unemployment figures are at a low of 3.9%, neither government nor industry could afford to be complacent about job skilling and responding to community needs.

“In an ageing workforce, older workers are often an untapped resource, bringing to the workplace flexibility, reliability and invaluable life experience.”

Centacare Fraser Coast Manager Jo Chorny said accredited training from a variety of disciplines relevant to industry will be offered.

“Retail operations and business at Certificate II level comprise part of the training options, along with a Certificate III in Aged Care, Home and Community Care, Disability work and Business Administration.

“We also take a personalised approach to assisting each participant, tailoring job search skills and/or training to suit their own abilities and goals,” said Ms Chorny.

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, for details on the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy visit www.experiencepays.qld.gov.au or call 1800 630 647.

Contact: Centacare Fraser Coast Manager Jo Chorny on 4194 0172 or
c-carefc@bigpond.net.au

Member for Hervey Bay contact: 4124 1386

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

January 23, 2008