EMPLOYMENT PROJECT HELPS TAULIILI TO WELDING CAREER

Thomas Tauiliili, 15 from Gailes, has been studying hard on BoysTown’s Youth at Work project and his effort has been recognised with the Semester One high achiever award, a $350 welding helmet which will come in handy when he starts an apprenticeship.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller said recognising a young person’s achievement when they are just starting out is a great way to encourage them to pursue further studies and a rewarding career.

“Ernie Donnarumma from WIA welding products donated the prize and it’s great to see businesses getting involved with BoysTown’s Youth at Work project, which is funded through a $596,020 grant from the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative,” Mr Mickel said.

“Ensuring young people make a good transition from study to employment is always important but with skills and labour shortages, Queensland’s unemployment rate at 3.6 per cent and an ageing workforce we need to make sure they are getting the skills for a career which will keep them working now and in the future.

“BoysTown have excellent experience in delivering assistance like this and it is great to see young people taking to the challenge and opportunity of learning new skills which will make them more employable in the future.”

Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller said Thomas completed the Youth at Work manufacturing stream which included eight weeks’ training and up to three weeks’ vocational placement.

“The Bremer Institute of TAFE funded and delivered Thomas’ training and Boiler Maker Teacher Mark Ketter presented the prize,” Mrs Miller said.

“It’s great to see different organisations getting involved to assist young people like Thomas to keep them engaged with education and training and showing how it will help them in the workforce.

“The State Government’s Toward Q2 project endeavours to make Queensland a stronger fairer state by preparing young ambitious people like Thomas a head start during the transition into adulthood.”

BoysTown Employment Access Coordinator Simon Wadwell said Thomas’ commitment and initiative to his work on the project helped him stand out.

“He turned up every day ready to go and he got ahead of the group with his studies,” Mr Wadwell said.

“I think a strong positive attitude toward training will impress a lot of employers, who are looking for quality staff who are keen on getting the job done.

“It’s great young people can access a project like this, particularly for some who might be struggling in school or with some other aspects of their lives, which offers a different approach and some workplace training to help them stay connected with the community and on track for good jobs. It’s even better to see someone who has excelled in the project like Thomas getting some recognition.

“This Youth at Work project will be running into July next year and offers training in aged care as well as manufacturing because local skills shortages in these industries mean there are real opportunities for young people to find work.”

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.

The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and work ethic that will push Queensland toward the envisioned Q2.

For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925

Contact: BoysTown Operations Manager Brendan Bourke on 3368 3399 or bbourke@boystown.com.au

Photo available on request from Ministerial contacts.

Photo caption: Thomas Tauiliili receives his prize for his great work on BoysTown’s Youth at Work project from Bremer TAFE Boiler Maker Teacher Mark Ketter.

Member for Bundamba contact: 3288 3737

Ministerial contact: Jane Rowe 3237 1125 or David Robertson 3235 4060

November 14, 2008