Published Thursday, 24 April, 2008 at 10:15 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Youth employment project based in Ingham
Queensland Youth Services are hosting a Get Set for Work project in Ingham to help keep
20 early school leavers on track to join the workforce.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is providing $100,000 of Get Set for Work funding for the project which offers participants a variety of activities, training and support.
“These participants have left school before completing Year 12 or are at risk of disengaging from their studies, putting them at a disadvantage if they don’t plan for their future,” Mr Mickel said.
“Young people aged between 15 and 17 can overestimate their labour market value and they need to understand the importance of finding a suitable and stable career.
“Through this year-long project Queensland Youth Services are offering accredited training, job preparation, personal development and activities to prepare participants to work out and follow their own career path.
“While unemployment is at a record low 3.5 per cent in Queensland, youth unemployment is an important and on-going issue.
“The Get Set for Work program and the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is helping young disengaged people into the workforce, further training or back to school each year.”
Queensland Youth Services Program Coordinator Fred Chong said gaining a mix of experiences through the project will help participants achieve their future goals.
“They will be making outdoor furniture, working as land care volunteers at a Lucinda Beach community project, and working at local festivals including NAIDOC and the Australian-Italian Festival,” Mr Chong said.
“The different activities and accredited training will help them pick a job or industry they would like to pursue and keep them engaged with the project.
“Participants will gain a variety of experience in the classroom and through the hands-on activities which will also develop their communication and team work skills as well as their self-confidence and motivation which are important in everyday life as well as in the workforce.”
In 2008 over 2000 young Queenslanders aged 15-17 years who have left school early or at risk of leaving prior to 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 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.
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: Queensland Youth Services Program Coordinator Fred Chong
on 4776 1994 or fred@qldyouthservices.org.au
Ministerial Contact: Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
April 24, 2008
20 early school leavers on track to join the workforce.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is providing $100,000 of Get Set for Work funding for the project which offers participants a variety of activities, training and support.
“These participants have left school before completing Year 12 or are at risk of disengaging from their studies, putting them at a disadvantage if they don’t plan for their future,” Mr Mickel said.
“Young people aged between 15 and 17 can overestimate their labour market value and they need to understand the importance of finding a suitable and stable career.
“Through this year-long project Queensland Youth Services are offering accredited training, job preparation, personal development and activities to prepare participants to work out and follow their own career path.
“While unemployment is at a record low 3.5 per cent in Queensland, youth unemployment is an important and on-going issue.
“The Get Set for Work program and the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is helping young disengaged people into the workforce, further training or back to school each year.”
Queensland Youth Services Program Coordinator Fred Chong said gaining a mix of experiences through the project will help participants achieve their future goals.
“They will be making outdoor furniture, working as land care volunteers at a Lucinda Beach community project, and working at local festivals including NAIDOC and the Australian-Italian Festival,” Mr Chong said.
“The different activities and accredited training will help them pick a job or industry they would like to pursue and keep them engaged with the project.
“Participants will gain a variety of experience in the classroom and through the hands-on activities which will also develop their communication and team work skills as well as their self-confidence and motivation which are important in everyday life as well as in the workforce.”
In 2008 over 2000 young Queenslanders aged 15-17 years who have left school early or at risk of leaving prior to 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 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.
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: Queensland Youth Services Program Coordinator Fred Chong
on 4776 1994 or fred@qldyouthservices.org.au
Ministerial Contact: Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
April 24, 2008