Published Monday, 08 December, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
New industry partnership for Gladstone Indigenous unemployed
The Bligh Government is working in partnership with industry to help unemployed indigenous people in Gladstone find jobs.
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford today met 12 young people being trained to become mechanical trades assistants under a new industry TAFE partnership.
“The partnership, between the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE, project management company Bechtel and mining corporation Rio Tinto Alcan is helping to address a skill shortage in the region,“ Mr Welford said.
“Bechtel and Rio Tinto Alcan have worked with TAFE to create a customised course and unemployed Indigenous people were targeted through Centrelink.
“The 12 trainees, who were selected from a field of 45, are due to complete the 10-week course this week and graduate with a Certificate II in Engineering.(12 December)
“The course involved a tour of the Yarwun plant and classes in a simulated workshop at the Gladstone campus of Central Queensland TAFE.”
Visiting Gladstone as part of this week’s Community Cabinet meeting, Mr Welford said the cooperative venture was an excellent example of TAFE and industry working together to help address the local skills shortage in mechanical trades assistants.
“The Bligh Government has set an ambitious 2020 target of having three out of four Queenslanders having trade, training or technical qualifications,” Mr Welford said.
“But we can’t do this alone, and that’s why these partnerships with industry are vital.
“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.”
Media contact: Jo Crompton or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford today met 12 young people being trained to become mechanical trades assistants under a new industry TAFE partnership.
“The partnership, between the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE, project management company Bechtel and mining corporation Rio Tinto Alcan is helping to address a skill shortage in the region,“ Mr Welford said.
“Bechtel and Rio Tinto Alcan have worked with TAFE to create a customised course and unemployed Indigenous people were targeted through Centrelink.
“The 12 trainees, who were selected from a field of 45, are due to complete the 10-week course this week and graduate with a Certificate II in Engineering.(12 December)
“The course involved a tour of the Yarwun plant and classes in a simulated workshop at the Gladstone campus of Central Queensland TAFE.”
Visiting Gladstone as part of this week’s Community Cabinet meeting, Mr Welford said the cooperative venture was an excellent example of TAFE and industry working together to help address the local skills shortage in mechanical trades assistants.
“The Bligh Government has set an ambitious 2020 target of having three out of four Queenslanders having trade, training or technical qualifications,” Mr Welford said.
“But we can’t do this alone, and that’s why these partnerships with industry are vital.
“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.”
Media contact: Jo Crompton or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000