Work in place for seven Gladstone jobseekers

Seven Gladstone people will graduate tomorrow after tackling multiple employment barriers through paid work placements under a State Government funded employment program.

The jobseekers will now look to be placed into steady employment or continue on with further training thanks to the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the Mental Health Association (QLD) was granted up to $1 million over five years under the initiative to help 100 people facing multiple barriers to employment.

“The paid work placements have helped these people, including three from non-English speaking backgrounds, to build their self-confidence so they can find sustainable employment,” he said.

“Projects like this give people the skills they need to contribute to the workforce in a positive way which provides them with a new level of independence.”

“The state-wide project delivered under the National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011 was developed to increase the abilities of people with mental illness and encourage them to participate in the community,” Mr Mickel said.

Mental Health Association Regional Coordinator Paul Trainor said the organisation envisages communities in which all people are provided with opportunities to optimise their mental health and participate as valued members of society.

“Graduates from this project are aged between 18 and 61 and have undertaken work placements within community organisations in areas like aged care, retail, landscaping and administration,” Mr Trainor said.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organisations who supported this project including St Vincent De Paul, Bindaree Lodge, Shalom Village (Rockhampton), PCYC Gladstone, Edenvale Nursing Home and Anglicare.

“Following the completion of this project everyone will be offered ongoing support through job search or assisted in undertaking further training.”

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 workforce for the 21st Century.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work supports the Government’s Toward Q2 vision toward a stronger and fairer Queensland.

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

The Work N Place graduation will be held tomorrow in Gladstone at the Mawarra Motel, 6 Scenery Drive on Wednesday 10 December at 2:00pm.

Contact: Mental Health Association Regional Coordinator Paul Trainor at paul@mentalhealth.org.au

Ministerial contact: David Robertson on 3235 4060

December 9, 2008