Mackay gets a kick out of paid community work

Ten Mackay residents who have been without work for an extended period will get the opportunity to participate in paid work placements to upgrade the facilities of the Lions Soccer Club and Junior Rugby League Grounds.

The project, which has received $149,990 of Skilling Queenslanders for Work funding, will run over 16 weeks and once finished will enable the clubs to host state and premier league level games.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin said the Queensland Government funded project will recruit long-term unemployed workers to give them the opportunity to upgrade their skills and improve their job seeking abilities.

“It is this government’s desire to ensure a strong workforce through well-resourced industries and skilled employees, qualities projects like this aim to achieve,” Mr Mickel said.

“Although the unemployment rate is a low 3.7 per cent, there will always be people who need extra support to secure sustainable employment.”

Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin is excited about the prospect of skilling disadvantaged jobseekers and providing Mackay with the capacity to host high-standard games the whole community will enjoy both socially and economically.

“Participants will assist in the construction of Lions Club dressing rooms for match officials and visiting teams, enabling junior and senior teams to have separate facilities and bringing the grounds up to premier league standards for the staging of home games,” Mr Mulherin said.

“Tradespeople will support participants with the provision of mounds and shaded areas, installation of benches, erection of demountables and reconstruction of food and drink booths at the Junior Rugby League Grounds.

“The community will appreciate the improved facilities which will allow the Mackay Cutters, who have a large following in the region, to participate in the state-wide Rugby League competition.”

Skills Training Mackay General Manager Greg Sutherland said participants will develop personal skills and a sound work ethic throughout the project.

“Participants will gain a sense of cohesion and community spirit by working with other unemployed people from various cultural and social backgrounds,” Mr Sutherland said.

“I expect they will graduate from the project with personal satisfaction, mutual respect and a skills set that will see them locally employed shortly after the project completion.”

In addition to state funding, the project will also receive $100,000 from the Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation.

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 Skills Training Mackay General Manager Greg Sutherland on 4963 2700 or gm@skillstm.com.au

Member for Mackay contact: 4957 8422

Ministerial contact: Nathan Moir 3235 4060

February 8, 2008