From a project to give Thursday Island jobseekers skills in construction to a project to train Gold Coast locals with hospitality skills while feeding the homeless, the 198 community-based programs funded under the latest round of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative are diverse and impactful.
Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said 6400 people across the state will gain work-ready skills with $41.1 million worth of projects funded.
“To date, more than 43,500 people have gained employment thanks to Skilling Queenslanders for Work and I’m excited to see how these newest projects help even more people,” Minister Farmer said.
“The strength of Skilling Queenslanders for Work is that it provides tailored support for people who face different barriers when they apply for work and targets the local businesses and industries that offer the best employment opportunities in their communities,” Minister Farmer said.
“We know this program is life changing because 76 per cent of participants find work or take on further training around 12 months after exiting a Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.”
“The benefits these projects produce reach beyond the individuals who are recruited. It flows through to support their families and improve communities as well as assist businesses in a range of industries which are looking for job-ready applicants.”
Following the widespread flooding Queensland experienced at the start of this year, several Skilling Queenslanders for Work projects switched their activities to support the clean-up and recovery efforts in their communities, which included preparing meals for displaced people and volunteers.
Minister Farmer announced the new projects today at the yourtown Ipswich office in Queens Park, where Work Skills Trainees and Get Set for Work participants were being trained.
“In this round of successful projects, yourtown will receive more than $1.5 million to deliver seven projects including $537,400 to employ 24 disadvantaged job seekers in an Ipswich-based Work Skills Traineeships project in Construction and Conservation and Ecosystem Management.
“The trainees will work at three different sites including Toowong State School, where recent flood damage to the school grounds will be repaired through the project.”
CEO of yourtown Tracy Adams thanked the Queensland Government for continuing to support yourtown to train and offer paid work experience and work preparation opportunities for long-term unemployed young people aged 15 to 24.
“This funding will help many young people look to the future and achieve economic security, and create the path they want for themselves,” says Ms Adams.
Minister Farmer said; “Skilling Queenslanders for Work is an important part of Queensland’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.
“In last month’s 2022-23 State Budget, we increased our investment in skills and training to more than $1.2 billion to continue delivering high quality training and creating exciting career pathways for Queenslanders.
“Providing opportunities for all Queenslanders to participate in the workforce will be a key focus of the Palaszczuk Government’s forthcoming workforce strategy.”
A second funding round for 2022-23 will be conducted later this year.
