Published Friday, 22 August, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Assistance for parents and mature-aged to become new Noosa workers
With employers struggling to find suitable staff a Sunshine Coast employment project is aiming to assist 30 parents and mature-aged people back into the workforce.
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the Queensland Government is funding job preparation and accredited training so participants are confident and ready to find new jobs.
“Parents and carers and other mature-aged people have life skills and experience which can be extremely useful in the workplace as well as increasing the capacity of local businesses,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is providing $50,540 to United Synergies to organise the Positive Futures project.
“With unemployment at 3.8 per cent and Queensland’s economy booming we need to encourage and support any person who wants to work so they can share in and contribute to the current good times.
“The strength of the jobs market is very attractive to people who have retired early or are in a position to return to employment after raising their families but the transition isn’t always an easy one to make.”
United Synergies Program Manager Deb Purdon said Positive Futures will assist 15 parents and 15 mature-aged jobseekers who are aiming to return to work.
“It is easy for mature-aged people to become discouraged while looking for work because they think their skills are out of date or employers won’t take their applications seriously, but that doesn’t have to be the case,” Ms Purdon said.
“This project includes writing resumes and job applications, communication and teamwork skills, personal development and goal setting.
“With support from the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE Positive Futures also offers places for accredited training where participants will be able to complete some modules from the Certificate II in Retail or the Certificate III in Aged Care.”
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: United Synergies Program Manager Deb Purdon on 5449 1952 or dpurdon@unitedsynergies.com.au
Ministerial contact: Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
August 22, 2008
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the Queensland Government is funding job preparation and accredited training so participants are confident and ready to find new jobs.
“Parents and carers and other mature-aged people have life skills and experience which can be extremely useful in the workplace as well as increasing the capacity of local businesses,” Mr Mickel said.
“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is providing $50,540 to United Synergies to organise the Positive Futures project.
“With unemployment at 3.8 per cent and Queensland’s economy booming we need to encourage and support any person who wants to work so they can share in and contribute to the current good times.
“The strength of the jobs market is very attractive to people who have retired early or are in a position to return to employment after raising their families but the transition isn’t always an easy one to make.”
United Synergies Program Manager Deb Purdon said Positive Futures will assist 15 parents and 15 mature-aged jobseekers who are aiming to return to work.
“It is easy for mature-aged people to become discouraged while looking for work because they think their skills are out of date or employers won’t take their applications seriously, but that doesn’t have to be the case,” Ms Purdon said.
“This project includes writing resumes and job applications, communication and teamwork skills, personal development and goal setting.
“With support from the Sunshine Coast Institute of TAFE Positive Futures also offers places for accredited training where participants will be able to complete some modules from the Certificate II in Retail or the Certificate III in Aged Care.”
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: United Synergies Program Manager Deb Purdon on 5449 1952 or dpurdon@unitedsynergies.com.au
Ministerial contact: Nathan Moir on 3235 4060
August 22, 2008