EXPERIENCE PAYS FOR MACKAY UNEMPLOYED

Experience pays for Mackay unemployed

Experience will help 35 unemployed mature-aged Mackay residents return to work as the Queensland Government today announced a $177,490 jobs project.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin said Innovation Training will prepare mature-age unemployed people for entry into business careers.

“While unemployment is at a low 3.8 per cent in Queensland, it is important to remember there are still people who are having difficulty finding work and for many the lack of work experience is a major barrier,” said Mr Mickel.

“Employers often seek people who have experience but for those who have been out of the workforce for a long time, their skills and experience can be out-dated or non-existent.

“This project will deliver practical on-the-job experience in a business environment and other work-related training.

“It is projects like this under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative that help give people the skills they need to participate meaningfully in the workforce.”

The Return to Work project will provide 10 people with paid work placement in business administration and equip another 25 people with practical computer, resume and interview skills to help them break back into the workforce.

Member for Mackay Tim Mulherin said hiring older people was a viable solution to addressing the severe worker shortage in Mackay.

“At a time when the State Government is encouraging employers to rethink the way they recruit, retrain and retain mature-age workers through the Experience Pays campaign, this project will support that message on a local level helping to increase the profile and employability of older workers in the region,” he said.

“With a tight labour market and an ageing workforce, older workers are often an untapped resource, bringing to the workplace flexibility, reliability and invaluable life experience.”

Innovation Training Manager Trevor Tickle said the participants will work with a number of local not-for-profit organisations.

“This project will help unemployed people back into the workforce and also provide much needed assistance for community organisations such as Meals on Wheels, The Smith Family and RSL Home Care to expand their services.

“We will also work one-on-one with the participants to develop their career and personal goals and ways they can achieve them.”

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 and the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy are 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 and for more information on the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy visit www.experiencepays.qld.gov.au or call 1800 630 647.

Contact: Innovation Training Manager Trevor Tickle on 4953 2241 or trevor.t@innovate.org.au

Member for Mackay contact: 4957 8422

Ministerial contact: Nathan Moir on 3235 4060

September 1, 2008