Combined effort helps disadvantaged Ipswich residents to prosper
Published Friday, 11 April, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Sixty individuals and family groups from Ipswich will receive $381,090 Queensland
Government funded personalised support and assistance to address barriers hampering
access to employment.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Ipswich
Rachel Nolan said the Participate in Prosperity project will target participants at risk of or living in poverty.
“Participate in Prosperity is a four-year initiative with an initial commitment of up to $3 million in the first year and $5 million each year for the remaining period,” Mr Mickel said.
“The initiative focuses on using a whole-of-government approach to offer disadvantaged people services and support through a coordinated effort by government, non-government organisations and the community.
“In addition to the state government grant, Ipswich City Council will contribute $121,244 funding to the Steps to Success project to develop individualised strategies for overcoming employment barriers.
“The project will target people most in need of assistance including Indigenous, mature-aged, parents and carers, people with a disability and migrants to help them into the workforce and secure an economically independent lifestyle.”
Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan said a Participate in Prosperity Coordinator will be appointed to assist and support two case managers and negotiate with locally based government and non-government partners for assistance with psychosocial, health, education, training and employment issues.
“The case managers will assist up to 30 individuals each over 12 months, working one-on-one with participants to develop a work plan and address personal matters including housing, health concerns, money management and access to training,” Ms Nolan said.
“$1,000 of discretionary funding for each individual will be available to purchase essential items and services such as clothing and work equipment, transportation and child care.”
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said council was pleased to support the project.
“Case managers will refer participants to existing training projects so they can develop basic skills for entering employment,” Cr Pisasale said.
“Participants will get help with life skills, basic literacy and numeracy, computer skills, budgeting, self-esteem, confidence, interview skills, resume writing and understanding the Australian work culture.
“Personal work plans will be monitored throughout the project and modified where necessary to meet the changing needs of individuals.”
This Participate in Prosperity project is a Social Inclusion initiative funded by the Queensland Government under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
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 assistance 67 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative 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
Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan contact: 3202 3452
Contact: Ipswich City Council Mayor Paul Pisasale on 0418 743 089
Ministerial contact: Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
April 11, 2008
Government funded personalised support and assistance to address barriers hampering
access to employment.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Ipswich
Rachel Nolan said the Participate in Prosperity project will target participants at risk of or living in poverty.
“Participate in Prosperity is a four-year initiative with an initial commitment of up to $3 million in the first year and $5 million each year for the remaining period,” Mr Mickel said.
“The initiative focuses on using a whole-of-government approach to offer disadvantaged people services and support through a coordinated effort by government, non-government organisations and the community.
“In addition to the state government grant, Ipswich City Council will contribute $121,244 funding to the Steps to Success project to develop individualised strategies for overcoming employment barriers.
“The project will target people most in need of assistance including Indigenous, mature-aged, parents and carers, people with a disability and migrants to help them into the workforce and secure an economically independent lifestyle.”
Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan said a Participate in Prosperity Coordinator will be appointed to assist and support two case managers and negotiate with locally based government and non-government partners for assistance with psychosocial, health, education, training and employment issues.
“The case managers will assist up to 30 individuals each over 12 months, working one-on-one with participants to develop a work plan and address personal matters including housing, health concerns, money management and access to training,” Ms Nolan said.
“$1,000 of discretionary funding for each individual will be available to purchase essential items and services such as clothing and work equipment, transportation and child care.”
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said council was pleased to support the project.
“Case managers will refer participants to existing training projects so they can develop basic skills for entering employment,” Cr Pisasale said.
“Participants will get help with life skills, basic literacy and numeracy, computer skills, budgeting, self-esteem, confidence, interview skills, resume writing and understanding the Australian work culture.
“Personal work plans will be monitored throughout the project and modified where necessary to meet the changing needs of individuals.”
This Participate in Prosperity project is a Social Inclusion initiative funded by the Queensland Government under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
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 assistance 67 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative 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
Member for Ipswich Rachel Nolan contact: 3202 3452
Contact: Ipswich City Council Mayor Paul Pisasale on 0418 743 089
Ministerial contact: Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
April 11, 2008