Warehousing works for young Brisbane South jobseekers

Eight young jobseekers from Brisbane South will get paid work, skills and the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from helping others on a new Queensland State Government funded project.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said participants would gain valuable skills in warehousing on the Boystown project which will be run in conjunction with Foodbank.

“Participants will get accredited training, personal support and paid work placements at real-world warehousing operations that collect and distribute food to people in need throughout the South-East,” Mr Mickel said.

“This is part of a wider $1,299,420 Skilling Queenslanders for Work project that aims to address disproportionately high levels of youth unemployment in Brisbane South.

Member for Bulimba Pat Purcell said the young enthusiastic workers are gaining practical work experience that puts them in an excellent position for future employment.

“Employers want staff who can hit the ground running and young people are sometimes overlooked in favour of older, more skilled applicants so this group is definitely coming out ahead of the pack,” Mr Purcell said.

“Given our ageing workforce it is vital that we get as many people into work as possible and we can do this by giving young people a head start with training and skills development.”

BoysTown Regional Manager Ann Chandra said participants will get paid work for sixteen weeks at welfare organisations that distribute food to disadvantaged people on behalf of Foodbank.

“Foodbank receives donated and surplus food from suppliers which they distribute to community and welfare organisations who then pass it on to 60,000 Queenslanders in need each week,” Ms Chandra said.

“Participants will work at the Foodbank warehouse at Colmslie and other charitable food distribution outlets.

“Warehousing is an important part of the supply chain and workers with the right skills and experience are in demand.

Ms Chandra said that at the end of the project participants will be ready to take up posts after their experience receiving, packaging, picking and distributing goods.

“As part of the project participants will also earn their forklift licences and complete four modules from Certificate II in Warehousing.”

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 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.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work also supports the Government’s Q2 vision for the state of a stronger, fairer Queensland with increased support for disadvantaged jobseekers.

For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au

Contact: Boystown Operations Manager Brendan Bourke Phone: 3368 3399or Email: bbourke@boystown.com.au

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

November 11, 2008