Literacy training helps Sunshine Coast jobseekers

Six Sunshine Coast jobseekers will be ready to take on fresh opportunities in the New Year after they graduate tomorrow from a State Government funded literacy and numeracy project.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said the group completed the Words, Meanings and Other Things project which provided training specific to the needs and goals of each individual.

“The Caloundra Community Centre organised this project with the help of an $8,680 grant from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative,” Mr Mickel said.

“Helping people improve their reading, writing and numeracy gives them the confidence to take the next step toward entering the workforce or continuing their education.

“Without these skills jobseekers face a very difficult time trying to find stable, meaningful employment.”

The graduation will be held at the Caloundra Community Centre’s Literacy Classroom, Beerburrum Street, Currumundi at 10:00am on Friday December 12.

Caloundra Community Centre Manager Carolyn Nolan said offering appropriate support for each person kept them engaged with the project and demonstrated the value of learning.

“Completing the Words, Meanings and Other Things project will help these people read job advertisements, write a resume or application, fill in forms or learn new skills in a classroom,” Ms Nolan said.

“This group have all done extremely well and we will help them take the next step whether it is into the workforce or further studies.”

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 21^st Century.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work supports the Government’s Toward Q2 vision for 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.

Contact: Caloundra Community Centre Manager Carolyn Nolan on 5491 4511 or carolyn@calcomm.org.au

Ministerial contact: David Robertson on 3235 4060

December 11, 2008