$80 million program helps up to 15,000 job seekers

• First $40 million of an $80 million jobs creating initiative will soon start rolling out the door.
• The $80 million program, which has a focus on young people, will help up to 15,000 disadvantaged Queensland jobseekers over the next 12 months.
• Round 1 delivers 162 projects, by 100 organisations, supporting more than 5,300 jobs.

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The first 5,300 job opportunities of up to 15,000 over the next 12 months for unemployed, disengaged, at risk or disadvantaged Queenslanders will soon begin to flow.

The Palaszczuk Government has approved the first $40 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative. Applications are now open for the second round of $40 million.

The program’s focus is on young people (including those in and transitioned from out-of-home care), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, at risk youth, people with disability, mature-age job seekers, women re-entering the workforce, recently released prisoners, veterans and ex-service personnel, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Round 1 funding is supporting a number projects, engaging youth known to Youth Justice Services, Queensland Corrective Services, Queensland Police Service or are deemed at-risk of offending.

By ensuring young people at-risk of offending are provided with skills training, there are more opportunities to keep them diverted from crime and from the youth-justice system.

Round 1 successful project providers include: yourtown, Reclink Australia, Carers Queensland Energy Skills Queensland and Career Employment Australia.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development and Minister for Youth Justice Di Farmer

“This is a flagship Palaszczuk Government training and employment initiative changing people’s lives.

“Skilling Queenslanders for Work has already helped more than 50,000 Queenslanders find jobs.

"We know this initiative is helping Queenslanders as 76 per cent of participants are in work or further training 12 months after exiting a Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.

“This jobs initiative funds skills development, training and job opportunities that help at risk young people, the unemployed, disengaged, or disadvantaged Queenslanders.

“Giving young people access to important skills training like this helps ensure they can be productive members of communities.

“The first $40 million round one funding for 2023-24 will support a variety of projects – equipping participants with skills for everything from conservation and crocodile management, to rail safety, aged care, trade training in construction and hospitality.

“This includes more than $1 million funding for Career Employment Australia for five construction and community services projects across South East Queensland.

“Career Employment Australia has a proven track record in the program allowing it to continue to build on that and deliver great projects like the upgrade to the Morningside Scout Den it is undertaking right now.

“I encourage organisations to get online to apply now for the $40 million Round 2 funding at www.qld.gov.au/skillingqueenslanders”

Quotes attributable to Career Employment Australia CEO Jason Gardiner

“Our partnership with the Skilling Queenslanders for Work program has enabled us to witness firsthand the life-changing impact of community-driven training initiatives.”

“By equipping unemployed and disadvantaged individuals with valuable skills, we're not only fostering economic growth but also empowering communities to thrive."

“The Morningside Scout Den upgrade employs 14 trainees over 19 weeks to refurbish one of Queensland’s first Scout Dens and the last remaining of the original Dens, that offer opportunities to boys and girls from 6 to 18 years old.”

Other Round 1 funding projects include:

• Everything Suarve Inc for Big Brother Programs in Ormeau supported by $403,000 in funding and supporting up to 60 at risk Queenslanders.
• Movement Twentytwo Inc supported by $548,600 in funding for projects in Slacks Creek and Deception Bay that support up to 150 Queenslanders.
• Impact Community Services Limited supported by $693,200 in funding for projects in Bundaberg East supporting 90 Queenslanders.
• Twin Rivers Community Care’s Go For It 2023 project in Logan – supported by $927,000 in funding and supporting up to 54 Queenslanders
• CatholicCare Social Services’ Step Up To Work project in Toowoomba – supported by $692,000 in funding and supporting up to 25 Queenslanders
• The Youth Development Foundation’s Building Better Foundations project in Moreton Bay – supported by $767,200 in funding and supporting up 30 Queenslanders

Further information:

Skilling Queenslanders for Work supports the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032, which aims to attract, connect and educate a thriving workforce to set our state up for success now and into the future.

Last year Skilling Queenslanders for Work helped almost 14,000 Queenslanders.

The Skilling Queenslanders for Work program was cut by the Newman Government in 2012 despite an independent report highlighting its benefits to the community.

The Palaszczuk Government reinstated it in 2015.

www.qld.gov.au/skillingqueenslanders”

Media contact – Gary Shipway 0458 090 906

SKILLING QUEENSLANDERS FOR WORK (SQW)

The top six industry areas that SQW participants are gaining qualifications, skills and work experience in are:

• Construction
• Primary Industries – Agriculture, Horticulture and Conservation and Land Management
• Business Services
• Foundation Skills and General Education
• Tourism, Travel and Hospitality
• Community Services

The Queensland Government Statistician’s Office conducts destination surveys of all SQW participants – 76% of participants are in work or further training 12 months after exiting a program. According to the latest survey report, former SQW participants are working in the following industries (ANZSIC):

• Health Care and Social Assistance 28.6%
• Accommodation and Food Services 12.2%
• Construction 10.6%
• Retail Trade 9.5%
• Manufacturing 6.1%
• Public Administration and Safety 5.3%
• Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.4%
• Administrative and Support Services 4.2%
• Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 3.9%
• Education and Training 3.2%
• Other Services 2.6%
• Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 2.2%
• Arts and Recreation Services 2.1%
• Mining 1.4%
• Range of industries less than 1.0%

Programs 

SQW funds the not-for-profit community-based sector who have the capacity to manage projects and deliver employment and training support services to marginalised or disadvantaged job seekers. Funded organisations are responsible for the recruitment of participants – they must be able to demonstrate past experience, evidence of recruitment strategies and support mechanisms to assist participants and encourage completion of training. Participants are interviewed (face-to-face) and recruited in accordance with the specified program eligibility criteria. Many organisations will keep wait lists as intakes on projects can be oversubscribed.

Funded organisations must have a strong local presence including well-established community and employer relationships. Funded organisations will promote and advertise SQW projects through a range of marketing and engagement strategies including social media, community newsletters, radio, local libraries, local skating parks, church groups etc

Participants:

• percentage of young people (aged 15-24): 58%. Of the 58% young people, 41% are aged 15-19
• percentage of Indigenous: 20% - highest participation rate is 43% in Far North Queensland and 41% in North Queensland
• per centage of long term jobless: 48%
• percentage of federal clients (on income support or accessing Workforce Australia or Disability Employment Services): 33%