Jobs project making multimedia history of Bribie Island

Twenty Indigenous people are will get the opportunity to create a multimedia resource on the history of Bribie Island’s attractions and services as part of a Queensland Government funded jobs project.

A total of fifty Indigenous people in the Bribie Island and Caboolture region will get help in increasing skills and overcoming employment barriers and 20 of these will undertake paid work placements developing local multimedia resources on the project.

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel and Member for Pumicestone Carryn Sullivan said KYC Trust would run the project with the help of a $344,000 Skilling Queenslanders for Work grant.

“Through project such as this the Queensland Government is working to halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and projects like this are a great start,” Mr Mickel said.

“As well as creating a fairer employment environment this project strengthens Queensland’s economy by creating skilled workers.

“The accredited training on offer is in skill shortage areas that offer solid local employment opportunities in the retail, hospitality and tourism industries.

“The individuals involved have an opportunity to start a new career and also to contribute to their local economy in difficult economic times,” Mr Mickel said.

Work placement participants will do entry-level accredited training in information technology, multimedia and business administration to complement their placements.

Member for Pumicestone Carryn Sullivan said the first work placement will see 10 young Indigenous participants develop, create and distribute a multimedia resource on the history, attractions and services on Bribie Island.

“This could end up being a fantastic tourism resource for Bribie Island,” Ms Sullivan said.

“The second group of 10 young people will prepare an animated multimedia DVD on issues relating to young people’s lives including health, homelessness, legal issues, employment and substance abuse.

“Participants will create characters and storylines that genuinely relate to young Indigenous people and tell it in their own words.”

Ms Sullivan said the DVDs will be distributed to government and non-government organisations as well as other Indigenous communities as an educational tool for other young people to benefit from.

KYC Trust Executive Director Kim Reid said the project was established to respond to the unique needs of Indigenous people, in recognition of the multiple and complex factors they can face.

“The project is underpinned by intensive case management to determine all the issues and factors that may impact on participants’ capacity to find and keep work,” Ms Reid said.

“From here a case management plan will be developed to try to address all the relevant obstacles to the participants’ wellbeing – which may include legal, educational, personal, health or financial difficulties.

“All participants will benefit from job preparation assistance which includes life skills training; interview techniques; help with resume writing and specialist sessions on issues such as anger management, alcohol and drugs and self esteem.”

The Department of Education, Training and the Arts has contributed $29,250 worth of training for the project.

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 employment and training assistance 71 per cent of participants are in employment.

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 of a fairer, stronger Queensland where disadvantaged people can access assistance to overcome employment barriers.

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

Contact:

KYC Trust Executive Director Kim Reid: 5428 3589 or kyctrust@bigpond.com

Ministerial contact: 3235 4060

January 10, 2009