Published Monday, 08 December, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
State Government partners with industry to help school-leavers
The Bligh Government is working in partnership with Rio Tinto Alcan to help Gladstone school-leavers find their ‘dream’ jobs.
Minister for Education and Training Rod Welford said Education Queensland would join with Rio Tinto Alcan to undertake a study into school-to-work pathways in the Gladstone region.
“The Clever Recruiting Gladstone Study will document programs currently available to school-aged students and detail recruitment and work-ready proposals,” Mr Welford said.
“The study aims to develop a world-class co-operative model involving industry, local businesses and schools that will build on the existing Gladstone Area State Secondary Schools Alliance.
“The study will identify long-term strategies to improve recruitment and training and strengthen the industry-school relationships in the Gladstone area.”
Mr Welford said the study would make a valuable contribution towards achieving the Bligh Government’s ambitious 2020 target of three out of four Queenslanders having trade, training or technical qualifications.
“We can’t achieve this target alone, and that’s why these partnerships with industry are vital,” Mr Welford said.
“By offering diverse programs that lead to real employment, we are not only addressing critical skills shortages, but providing jobs for people close to home, in strong industries.
“Programs like this one are helping to move us Towards Q2 - a smarter, stronger more highly skilled Queensland.”
Mr Welford, in Gladstone for a Community Cabinet meeting this week, said the study would give a clearer picture of industry and business recruitment requirements and what schools were currently doing to produce work-ready graduates.
The Rio Tinto Alcan Community Fund will sponsor the study, with initial findings are due in March 2009.
The Fund was established in 2002 and supports a range of programs including the Gladstone Schools Engineering Skills Centre, the Business and Information Technology Skills Centre and Gladstone Area Group Apprentices Limited’s Future Focus traineeships.
Rio Tinto Alcan Community Relations Manager Mat Ovenden said the Clever Recruiting Gladstone Study would provide industry and business with information on how best to strengthen their relationships with education providers in a sustainable way.
Media contact: Jo Crompton or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000
Minister for Education and Training Rod Welford said Education Queensland would join with Rio Tinto Alcan to undertake a study into school-to-work pathways in the Gladstone region.
“The Clever Recruiting Gladstone Study will document programs currently available to school-aged students and detail recruitment and work-ready proposals,” Mr Welford said.
“The study aims to develop a world-class co-operative model involving industry, local businesses and schools that will build on the existing Gladstone Area State Secondary Schools Alliance.
“The study will identify long-term strategies to improve recruitment and training and strengthen the industry-school relationships in the Gladstone area.”
Mr Welford said the study would make a valuable contribution towards achieving the Bligh Government’s ambitious 2020 target of three out of four Queenslanders having trade, training or technical qualifications.
“We can’t achieve this target alone, and that’s why these partnerships with industry are vital,” Mr Welford said.
“By offering diverse programs that lead to real employment, we are not only addressing critical skills shortages, but providing jobs for people close to home, in strong industries.
“Programs like this one are helping to move us Towards Q2 - a smarter, stronger more highly skilled Queensland.”
Mr Welford, in Gladstone for a Community Cabinet meeting this week, said the study would give a clearer picture of industry and business recruitment requirements and what schools were currently doing to produce work-ready graduates.
The Rio Tinto Alcan Community Fund will sponsor the study, with initial findings are due in March 2009.
The Fund was established in 2002 and supports a range of programs including the Gladstone Schools Engineering Skills Centre, the Business and Information Technology Skills Centre and Gladstone Area Group Apprentices Limited’s Future Focus traineeships.
Rio Tinto Alcan Community Relations Manager Mat Ovenden said the Clever Recruiting Gladstone Study would provide industry and business with information on how best to strengthen their relationships with education providers in a sustainable way.
Media contact: Jo Crompton or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000