Published Tuesday, 23 September, 2008 at 10:00 AM
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Transport traineeships to assist indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians from the Inala area are being offered a pathway into public-sector jobs through a new traineeship program.
Queensland Transport, in partnership with the Department of Industrial Relations, the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Civic Solutions and Brisbane North Institute of TAFE are delivering two, eight week pre-employment programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
The project is part of Queensland Transport’s $778 465 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Transition to Sustained Employment pilot initiative.
Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the pre-employment programs would provide a pool of people to be considered for one of ten traineeships within Queensland Transport.
"The significant difference with this program is that all participants who successfully complete their traineeship will be permanently appointed within the department.
"Queensland Transport, in collaboration with our state and federal partners, is proud to be leading the way for other organisations in addressing the barriers our Indigenous community members face in seeking, gaining and retaining employment.
"Programs like this are not just about addressing the skills gaps that exist for some Indigenous people – it is about educating and engaging our workforce in realising the significant benefits we can gain by investing in our Indigenous community members," Mr Mickel said.
From the first intake of seven participants one local mother of seven has been offered a permanent role as an Administration Officer and a further four participants have been offered Traineeships within Queensland Transport.
Member for Inala, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said Queensland had one of the lowest unemployment rates in Australia at 3.8 per cent but there were still groups struggling to find work.
"Initiatives such as these are important as they engage our local Indigenous community in working with organisations such as Queensland Transport to achieve significant employment outcomes.
"Assisting Indigenous people in and around Inala to find regular, stable work, particularly with an employer like Queensland Transport, will help us build the workforce we need to meet the demands of Queensland’s population and economic growth."
Ms Palaszczuk said the program has already resulted in a large donation of office furniture, computer hardware and software to the Inala Elders Corporation for community use.
Minister for Communities Lindy Nelson-Carr said the program is designed to enable government to work in partnership with the indigenous community.
“The people of South East Queensland will greatly benefit from this program in assisting the indigenous Australians in overcoming the barriers they face in gaining and retaining employment.
“The first eight week program is already complete and a number of participants have been offered employment,” said Ms Palaszczuk.
The second pre-employment program in scheduled to conclude on the 24 October 2008. All ten traineeships are planned to be filled by no later than early December 2008.
Media contact: Nathan Moir 3237 4050
23 September, 2008
Queensland Transport, in partnership with the Department of Industrial Relations, the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Civic Solutions and Brisbane North Institute of TAFE are delivering two, eight week pre-employment programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
The project is part of Queensland Transport’s $778 465 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Transition to Sustained Employment pilot initiative.
Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the pre-employment programs would provide a pool of people to be considered for one of ten traineeships within Queensland Transport.
"The significant difference with this program is that all participants who successfully complete their traineeship will be permanently appointed within the department.
"Queensland Transport, in collaboration with our state and federal partners, is proud to be leading the way for other organisations in addressing the barriers our Indigenous community members face in seeking, gaining and retaining employment.
"Programs like this are not just about addressing the skills gaps that exist for some Indigenous people – it is about educating and engaging our workforce in realising the significant benefits we can gain by investing in our Indigenous community members," Mr Mickel said.
From the first intake of seven participants one local mother of seven has been offered a permanent role as an Administration Officer and a further four participants have been offered Traineeships within Queensland Transport.
Member for Inala, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said Queensland had one of the lowest unemployment rates in Australia at 3.8 per cent but there were still groups struggling to find work.
"Initiatives such as these are important as they engage our local Indigenous community in working with organisations such as Queensland Transport to achieve significant employment outcomes.
"Assisting Indigenous people in and around Inala to find regular, stable work, particularly with an employer like Queensland Transport, will help us build the workforce we need to meet the demands of Queensland’s population and economic growth."
Ms Palaszczuk said the program has already resulted in a large donation of office furniture, computer hardware and software to the Inala Elders Corporation for community use.
Minister for Communities Lindy Nelson-Carr said the program is designed to enable government to work in partnership with the indigenous community.
“The people of South East Queensland will greatly benefit from this program in assisting the indigenous Australians in overcoming the barriers they face in gaining and retaining employment.
“The first eight week program is already complete and a number of participants have been offered employment,” said Ms Palaszczuk.
The second pre-employment program in scheduled to conclude on the 24 October 2008. All ten traineeships are planned to be filled by no later than early December 2008.
Media contact: Nathan Moir 3237 4050
23 September, 2008