Building concrete foundations for Townsville unemployed
Published Monday, 26 May, 2008 at 09:36 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
A new Queensland Government funded project is developing the skills of 12 unemployed Indigenous people in Townsville to prepare them for work in the construction industry.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Townsville Mike Reynolds said the participants will complete 12-week paid work placements which will develop their concreting and construction skills.
“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is providing $125,710 to TORGAS to organise this project which will prepare Indigenous people to step into the construction industry, which is facing skills shortages,” Mr Mickel said.
“Local government agencies including NQ Water and non-government organisations will host participants who will be learning and working on projects in Townsville.
“After completing this project participants will have a Construction Industry Blue Card, recent experience and concreting skills which will help them get a job and be productive from their first day on a site.”
Member for Townsville Mike Reynolds said the amount of construction planned in the next few years means concreters will be in demand.
“This project is a great opportunity for unemployed people to get a head start in an important industry,” Mr Reynolds said.
“Indigenous people are over-represented amongst the 3.6 per cent of Queenslanders who are unemployed.
“The current economic good times gives us a great opportunity to turn that around by assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to develop the skills they need to find stable employment.”
TORGAS Field Office Chad Walker said after 13 weeks working with local government agencies the participants will do another two weeks of work placements with private sector employers.
“Pouring concrete for pathways, rest areas and other small projects early in the project will teach participants the basics that are scaled up in larger projects,” Mr Walker said.
“To prepare the participants for the workplace we will also look at their literacy and numeracy skills, teach them the best ways to find jobs and also look at their financial management and other personal skills.
“Carl Wyles is also part of this project as an Indigenous mentor who will help the participants get through the project.
“The Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council is also providing $50,000 in-kind support for the project.”
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 69 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.
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
Contact: TORGAS Field Officer Chad Walker on 4759 0000 or torgas@torgas.com.au
Member for Townsville contact: 4772 4711
Ministerial contact: Shannon Mackay on 3237 1125
May 26, 2008
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Townsville Mike Reynolds said the participants will complete 12-week paid work placements which will develop their concreting and construction skills.
“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is providing $125,710 to TORGAS to organise this project which will prepare Indigenous people to step into the construction industry, which is facing skills shortages,” Mr Mickel said.
“Local government agencies including NQ Water and non-government organisations will host participants who will be learning and working on projects in Townsville.
“After completing this project participants will have a Construction Industry Blue Card, recent experience and concreting skills which will help them get a job and be productive from their first day on a site.”
Member for Townsville Mike Reynolds said the amount of construction planned in the next few years means concreters will be in demand.
“This project is a great opportunity for unemployed people to get a head start in an important industry,” Mr Reynolds said.
“Indigenous people are over-represented amongst the 3.6 per cent of Queenslanders who are unemployed.
“The current economic good times gives us a great opportunity to turn that around by assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to develop the skills they need to find stable employment.”
TORGAS Field Office Chad Walker said after 13 weeks working with local government agencies the participants will do another two weeks of work placements with private sector employers.
“Pouring concrete for pathways, rest areas and other small projects early in the project will teach participants the basics that are scaled up in larger projects,” Mr Walker said.
“To prepare the participants for the workplace we will also look at their literacy and numeracy skills, teach them the best ways to find jobs and also look at their financial management and other personal skills.
“Carl Wyles is also part of this project as an Indigenous mentor who will help the participants get through the project.
“The Construction and Property Services Industry Skills Council is also providing $50,000 in-kind support for the project.”
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 69 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.
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
Contact: TORGAS Field Officer Chad Walker on 4759 0000 or torgas@torgas.com.au
Member for Townsville contact: 4772 4711
Ministerial contact: Shannon Mackay on 3237 1125
May 26, 2008