With Queensland’s resource sector experiencing severe staff shortages, MRAEL and Capricornia Training Company (CTC), part of the IntoWork Australia Group, will roll out targeted programs aimed at skilling local people into real work opportunities.
Recent findings from Australasian Mine Safety Journal* have revealed the resource sector has experienced severe staff shortages across North and Central Queensland operations, with one North Queensland mine struggling to fill 300 positions for the past 12 to 18 months.
MRAEL will deliver “Step into Resources and Infrastructure”, a program which will run in Rockhampton and Mackay and give participants an opportunity to complete a Certificate II in Resources and Infrastructure Work Preparation as well as tailored work readiness skills.
MRAEL and CTC CEO Christine Zechowski said Step into Resources and Infrastructure projects were created to address identified local skills needs, and specifically designed to meet industry requirements while also providing more broad employability skills and confidence to participants, “The program will ensure participants develop specific skills that will meet identified future demands for jobs, with our aim being to increase their capacity to join the workforce in the entry-level job roles within the Resources and Infrastructure sector.”
Step into Resources will be available to people aged 25 and over in Mackay and people in any age bracket in Rockhampton.
In Gladstone and Rockhampton, CTC will deliver “Ready for Work”, a targeted program for young people aged 15-24 from disadvantaged backgrounds including those at-risk of becoming homeless, recently transitioned from out-of-home care, and those at-risk of developing anti-social behavior. Ms Zechowski said the projects would boost participants’ work readiness skills, including constructive thinking, task planning and working in teams. “Something really unique about our program is the incorporation of our specialist ‘Brain Snap’ and ‘SCRATCH’ technology workshops, where participants work in teams to complete basic computer coding to build and operate an individualized Lego robot,” Ms Zechowski said.
The programs have been funded through the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative which assists up to 15,000 disadvantaged Queenslanders each year to gain skills, qualifications and experience to enter and stay in the workforce.
IntoWork Australia is a leading national not for profit provider of employment, skills and support services.
*https://www.amsj.com.au/mining-giant-struggles-to-fill-qld-job-openings/
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