Published Wednesday, 02 July, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
‘MATES’ help unemployed find work in Bundaberg
The Salvation Army’s Motivation, Accreditation, Training and Employment Skills (MATES) project has helped 25 long-term unemployed people find work in Bundaberg.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel congratulated all 46 graduates, part of a $634,770 Skilling Queenslanders for Work project which has assisted 110 people over 12 months.
“Once again the Salvation Army has helped the people who need it the most,” he said.
“This project has given young people and mature-aged jobseekers the skills to find work where there are local skill shortages – hospitality, retail, construction, furniture-making and horticulture.
“As a result, the participants now have a greater chance of entering the jobs market and with
71 per cent already finding work or moving into further training – the project is an outstanding success.”
Over 12 months, the participants completed accredited training in business, retail, horticulture or furniture making; developed job search techniques and personal skills in communication, team work and IT; and gained on-the-job experience through paid work placements with various Salvation Army commercial centres.
Salvation Army Community Services Manager Tom Osborne said it was wonderful to see the change in participants after completing the project.
“Many of the participants just need a helping to hand to learn where jobs are advertised and how to send their resume in,” he said.
“By teaching them this, the motivation, confidence and self-esteem they gain enables them to go out, find work and participate fully in our community.”
Mr Mickel said even though unemployment was at a low 3.8 per cent in Queensland, it was important to remember there are people who still have difficulty finding work.
“Programs like this under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative help give people the skills they need to participate meaningfully in the workforce,” he said.
“The reality is that as the workforce ages we need as many people as possible participating in the workforce and the key to that is to help people build the skills needed by employers and industry.”
The graduation will be held at 10am, 3 July, at the Tom Quinn Community Centre,
8 Killer Street, Bundaberg.
During 2008/09 the Queensland Government will invest $80 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to give an estimated 15,000 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 71 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.
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: Salvation Army Community Services Manager Tom Osborne on 4153 3557 or tom.osborne@aue.salvationarmy.org
Ministerial contact: Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
July 2, 2008
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel congratulated all 46 graduates, part of a $634,770 Skilling Queenslanders for Work project which has assisted 110 people over 12 months.
“Once again the Salvation Army has helped the people who need it the most,” he said.
“This project has given young people and mature-aged jobseekers the skills to find work where there are local skill shortages – hospitality, retail, construction, furniture-making and horticulture.
“As a result, the participants now have a greater chance of entering the jobs market and with
71 per cent already finding work or moving into further training – the project is an outstanding success.”
Over 12 months, the participants completed accredited training in business, retail, horticulture or furniture making; developed job search techniques and personal skills in communication, team work and IT; and gained on-the-job experience through paid work placements with various Salvation Army commercial centres.
Salvation Army Community Services Manager Tom Osborne said it was wonderful to see the change in participants after completing the project.
“Many of the participants just need a helping to hand to learn where jobs are advertised and how to send their resume in,” he said.
“By teaching them this, the motivation, confidence and self-esteem they gain enables them to go out, find work and participate fully in our community.”
Mr Mickel said even though unemployment was at a low 3.8 per cent in Queensland, it was important to remember there are people who still have difficulty finding work.
“Programs like this under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative help give people the skills they need to participate meaningfully in the workforce,” he said.
“The reality is that as the workforce ages we need as many people as possible participating in the workforce and the key to that is to help people build the skills needed by employers and industry.”
The graduation will be held at 10am, 3 July, at the Tom Quinn Community Centre,
8 Killer Street, Bundaberg.
During 2008/09 the Queensland Government will invest $80 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to give an estimated 15,000 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 71 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.
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: Salvation Army Community Services Manager Tom Osborne on 4153 3557 or tom.osborne@aue.salvationarmy.org
Ministerial contact: Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
July 2, 2008