Hospitality training for Indigenous people in Mount Isa

A new start in the New Year is in the mix for 10 Indigenous jobseekers who will benefit from a State Government employment project to be run in Mount Isa.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan said the group will complete accredited training and paid work placements to assist them into jobs in the hospitality industry.

“The North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services is organising the ‘Mixin’ it Up’ project thanks to a $107,990 grant from the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative,” Mr Mickel said.

“The jobseekers will complete four weeks of job preparation and initial training with the organisation before being placed with a host employer for nine weeks’ on-the-job training.”

Member for Mount Isa Betty Kiernan said participants could earn a Certificate II in Hospitality through the project which will help them find and hold a job in the industry.

“Building up the skills of unemployed and underemployed people to help them find meaningful jobs is important if Queensland is to continue to grow,” Mrs Kiernan said.

“With the Council of Australian Governments committing to halving the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous unemployment rates, projects like this are a great way to attract Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders to jobs they might not have thought were an option for them.”

North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services Executive Director Terry Lees said three not-for-profit community organisations will host the paid work placements.

“The group will be preparing and serving food to disadvantaged and homeless people in Mount Isa,” Mr Lees said.

“It will be a great experience for the group and the training covers workplace health and safety and hygiene procedures so they will be ready to apply for jobs at the end of this 13 week project.”

The Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is contributing $46,000 towards the accredited training costs.

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 of a fairer, stronger Queensland.

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

Contacts:

North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services Executive Director Terry Lees: 4743 7671 or tlees@isagsp.centacare.com.au

Member for Mount Isa: 4743 5149

Ministerial contact: 3235 4060

January 13, 2009