In an effort to further reduce Queensland’s unemployed demographic, the state government has announced a plan to create more than 8,000 jobs through its Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
The program makes use of an initial $26 million in funding to help provide wider access to training resources, such as apprenticeships and traineeships in Queensland. Over four years, this investment will increase to total $240 million in a bid to give people the skills they need to find rewarding work.
In a September 10 media release, the Queensland government said there are 32,000 unemployed, under-employed or disadvantaged people in the state, all of whom the program aims to help. By calling on more than 200 organisations across Queensland to make use of the funding and hire entry-level employees, Training and Skills Minister Yvette D’Ath said the state will in turn build a more rigid community.
“Under the program, people will be able to access the skills and training they need to get back into the workforce, to start a career, provide for their families and to build a stronger community,” she explained.
The government also noted in a separate announcement that around 372 jobseekers in the Cairns area will have fresh opportunities, as eight employers in the northern city receive almost $2 million of the funding allocation.
On the back of previous successes
The government pointed to findings by Deloitte Access Economics on the previous successes of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, which created almost $8 for every $1 that was invested.
With more people finding new job opportunities in Queensland, it’s hoped that this latest four-year program will make similar strides in lowering unemployment beyond the 6.3 per cent rate reckoned by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
“Skilling Queenslanders for Work puts communities in the driving seat through a partnership with government to grow local employment opportunities, encourage greater social inclusion and assist people needing extra support to enter the workforce,” Ms D’Ath continued.
Finally, the program aims to help a wide range of jobseekers, including helping young and older workers access their first jobs and mature-age apprenticeships respectively, as Minister D’Ath explained.
“This initiative is specifically tailored for local programs that support disadvantaged Queenslanders, including young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability, mature-aged job seekers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and long-term unemployed people to find a path into work.”
By Leanne Macnamara, Public Relations Coordinator
