Far North mature-age volunteers rejoin the workforce

A new Queensland State Government funded project is giving 40 mature-age Queenslanders from the Far North renewed skill sets for work through volunteering.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said FNQ Volunteers has been granted $60,010 from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to coordinate the assistance.

“Volunteering has always been a great way to gain new skills and become actively involved in the local community,” Mr Mickel said.

“Participants will be matched with local community organisations where they will gain new skills through volunteering.

“This experience will increase their chances of returning to, or remaining in, the workforce in the long term.

“This project supports the aims of the government’s Experience Pays campaign which is encouraging employers to recognise the value of life experience that mature-age people bring to the workplace.”

Member for Cairns Desley Boyle said the organisation aims to engage the semi-retired and retired sector of the community as well as the growing population of ‘Grey Nomads’ in the area.

“This will have the end result of increasing participation in both volunteering and the paid workforce,” Ms Boyle said.

“Participants will have the chance to skill or reskill for new careers.”

FNQ Volunteers Acting CEO Ellen Barnes said the organisation has strong links with government, business and the community services sectors.

“These links will be used to match individual volunteers experience and skills with each employer’s requirements” Ms Barnes said.

“Experience has shown us that the majority of volunteers trained and mentored by FNQ Volunteers move on to paid work with their host employer.

“We will provide job search assistance to participants throughout the project including help with developing resumes, finding suitable jobs and doing well in interviews.

“We will stay in touch with, and support the progress of, participants for six months after the project ends to ensure the best possible employment outcomes.”

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 employment and training assistance 71 per cent of participants are in employment.

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.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work also supports the Government’s Toward Q2 vision for a stronger, fairer Queensland with increased employment opportunities.

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

FNQ Volunteers contact: Acting CEO Ellen Barnes on 40417400 or info@fnqvolunteers.org.

Member for Cairns contact: 4051 2868

Ministerial Contact: Jane Rowe on 3237 1125 or David Robertson 3235 4060

November 7, 2008