Published Tuesday, 05 February, 2008 at 12:10 PM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Jobs project for youth in North Burnett
A State Government Get Set for Work project will assist 20 young people from the North Burnett area to help them reengage with school, move into further training or join the workforce.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said Community Employment Options is organising the project with a grant of $114,000 from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
“There are many young people aged between 15 and 17 who will think they would be better off leaving school early but they need to think about the options available to them now and where that will get them in the future,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Get Set for Work program assists young people to plan their careers so they can gain the experience or qualifications that will make them more employable in the future or develop the basic skills they need to find work now.
“Youth unemployment in Queensland fell considerably in 2007 but it is still well above the state’s low unemployment rate of 3.7 per cent.
“If young people aren’t learning or earning they are at risk of becoming long-term unemployed at a time when Queensland’s economy is growing strongly and needs all the workers it can get.
“As part of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative each Get Set for Work project provides valuable assistance to disadvantaged young people and the benefits will continue throughout their working lives.”
Community Employment Options Business Development Manager Jeannine Harrington said there are opportunities for young people to start careers in the retail, civil construction and citrus industries due to current staff shortages.
“Employers still have expectations when they are looking to hire a new worker so young people need to be able to demonstrate their communication, teamwork and organisational skills,” Ms Harrington said.
“The Get Set for Work project develops these skills while also helping them understand what school, TAFE or work can do for them now and into the future.
“This is a year-long project and a case manager will work with the young people who join the project. We will also endeavour to arrange work experience with different businesses so the participants can better understand what a job involves,” she said.
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 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: Community Employment Options Business Development Manager
Jeannine Harrington on 4922 6122 or jharrington@employment.org.au
Ministerial contact: Nathan Moir 3235 4060
February 05, 2008
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said Community Employment Options is organising the project with a grant of $114,000 from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
“There are many young people aged between 15 and 17 who will think they would be better off leaving school early but they need to think about the options available to them now and where that will get them in the future,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Get Set for Work program assists young people to plan their careers so they can gain the experience or qualifications that will make them more employable in the future or develop the basic skills they need to find work now.
“Youth unemployment in Queensland fell considerably in 2007 but it is still well above the state’s low unemployment rate of 3.7 per cent.
“If young people aren’t learning or earning they are at risk of becoming long-term unemployed at a time when Queensland’s economy is growing strongly and needs all the workers it can get.
“As part of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative each Get Set for Work project provides valuable assistance to disadvantaged young people and the benefits will continue throughout their working lives.”
Community Employment Options Business Development Manager Jeannine Harrington said there are opportunities for young people to start careers in the retail, civil construction and citrus industries due to current staff shortages.
“Employers still have expectations when they are looking to hire a new worker so young people need to be able to demonstrate their communication, teamwork and organisational skills,” Ms Harrington said.
“The Get Set for Work project develops these skills while also helping them understand what school, TAFE or work can do for them now and into the future.
“This is a year-long project and a case manager will work with the young people who join the project. We will also endeavour to arrange work experience with different businesses so the participants can better understand what a job involves,” she said.
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 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: Community Employment Options Business Development Manager
Jeannine Harrington on 4922 6122 or jharrington@employment.org.au
Ministerial contact: Nathan Moir 3235 4060
February 05, 2008