Published Tuesday, 05 February, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Grant gives Moranbah youths a gem of a job prospect
There’s a lot of coal in the ground around Moranbah, but now there’s talk of gems.
GEMS (Getting Employment Made Simple) is an $183,000 Skilling Queenslanders for Work project set to help 32 disengaged young people from Moranbah, Dysart and Clermont in 2008.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said Moranbah State High School’s Get Set for Work project will give 15 to17-year-old teenagers accredited training and practical work experience.
“Young people who successfully complete this project will gain Certificate I in Work Education and a hands-on structured work placement to give them an insight into the world of work.
“The project will complement other local youth programs and there will be an emphasis on raising the self-esteem of each participant.
“Despite unemployment being at a low 3.7% in Queensland it is still important we ensure our young people have the skills they need to participate meaningfully in the workforce,” said Mr Mickel.
Moranbah State High School Guidance Officer Melissa Westcott said projects like this are designed to ease the transition into the workforce or see the participants return to school or study which is vital for the region.
“The prospect of joining the coal industry workforce has drawn a lot of families to the area, but young people sometimes have trouble adjusting to their new surroundings and subsequently have trouble at school, or leave altogether,” she said.
“GEMS combines skills training and workplace experience to give these youths a better chance of continuing their studies or gaining a qualification,” said Mrs Westcott.
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 Get Set for Work participants conducted three months after leaving the program more than 75 per cent 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 under employed 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: Moranbah State High School Guidance Officer Melissa Westcott
on 4949 2111 or mfred11@eq.edu.au
Ministerial contacts: Nathan Moir
February 05, 2008
GEMS (Getting Employment Made Simple) is an $183,000 Skilling Queenslanders for Work project set to help 32 disengaged young people from Moranbah, Dysart and Clermont in 2008.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said Moranbah State High School’s Get Set for Work project will give 15 to17-year-old teenagers accredited training and practical work experience.
“Young people who successfully complete this project will gain Certificate I in Work Education and a hands-on structured work placement to give them an insight into the world of work.
“The project will complement other local youth programs and there will be an emphasis on raising the self-esteem of each participant.
“Despite unemployment being at a low 3.7% in Queensland it is still important we ensure our young people have the skills they need to participate meaningfully in the workforce,” said Mr Mickel.
Moranbah State High School Guidance Officer Melissa Westcott said projects like this are designed to ease the transition into the workforce or see the participants return to school or study which is vital for the region.
“The prospect of joining the coal industry workforce has drawn a lot of families to the area, but young people sometimes have trouble adjusting to their new surroundings and subsequently have trouble at school, or leave altogether,” she said.
“GEMS combines skills training and workplace experience to give these youths a better chance of continuing their studies or gaining a qualification,” said Mrs Westcott.
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 Get Set for Work participants conducted three months after leaving the program more than 75 per cent 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 under employed 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: Moranbah State High School Guidance Officer Melissa Westcott
on 4949 2111 or mfred11@eq.edu.au
Ministerial contacts: Nathan Moir
February 05, 2008