State Government skilling Rockhampton’s unemployed

A group of 35 unemployed people will graduate Monday February 9 from a State Government funded project with new work skills and the motivation to start new jobs in Rockhampton.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten congratulated the group for completing the Skilling Central Queenslanders for Work project organised by Oasis Community Services.

“The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative committed $265,000 towards this project to assist 64 unemployed people from around Rockhampton,” Mr Mickel said.

“During these difficult economic times the State Government is continuing to create employment opportunities for Queenslanders through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

“This graduation includes nine people who have completed paid work placements with community organisations and the others have completed a mix of job preparation courses and accredited training.

“Already 11 of these people have found new jobs and another two have chosen to sign up for further training, which is a great sign for the whole group as they finish their time on this project.”

Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten said assisting unemployed and disadvantaged people to improve their work skills and experience was becoming increasingly important.

“While times seem tough there are still businesses and industries looking for more workers and a project like this can give unemployed people the skills and confidence to pursue these jobs,” Mr Schwarten said.

“Getting an opportunity to refresh some old skills and learn some new ones through a project like this, at no cost to the participants, is priceless for these individuals and for the State’s economy.

“The assistance the staff at Oasis Community Services and the Skilling Central Queenslanders for Work project can offer has already produced some great results and I wish the people graduating all the best for their working futures.”

The graduation will be held on Monday February 9 at the Oasis Community Centre, Shop 3, George Street, Rockhampton at 6:30pm.

Oasis Community Services Chief Executive Officer John Rewald said the project aimed to assist mature aged people but other unemployed and underemployed people also joined.

“Skilling Central Queenslanders for Work offered a variety of assistance to help people who have been out of the workforce for some time to update their skills and restore their confidence,” Mr Rewald said.

“The accredited training included three competencies on using computers while the non-accredited training covered writing resumes and responding to selection criteria.

“The participants selected for paid work placements completed 15 weeks of work in reception and administration roles as well as training in workplace health and safety and personal development.”

Shalom Care Services, ASSI Rockhampton, Blue Care-Gracemere, Central Queensland Indigenous Development Ltd., Capricorn Tourist Organisation Inc., Blue Care-Rockhampton, Rockhampton Heritage Village and Capricorn Tourism hosted the paid work placements.

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:

Oasis Community Services Chief Executive Officer John Rewald: 4927 1477 or oasis@onlc.org.au

Member for Rockhampton contact: 4927 5299

Ministerial contact: David Robertson on 3235 4060

6 February, 2009