Brighton mum lands youth work traineeship

Brighton mother-of-three Jodie Biller is getting a foothold in her career of choice, thanks to a $14,000 grant from the Queensland Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.

Jodie, 31, said she'd already started studying Youth Work at TAFE when she saw a traineeship in that industry advertised with Worklinks.

"I've always been interested in youth work, and now that my kids are in school, I jumped at the chance to get paid to study for my dream job," Jodie said.

"So now I'll have Certificate III-level qualifications, and am already helping kids find work or get back into school."

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations John Mickel said despite unemployment being at a low 3.8 per cent in Queensland, the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative remains important.

"Maintaining Queensland's prosperity in light of an ageing population calls for high workforce participation rates," Mr Mickel said.

"Traineeships such as this one provide recent, practical workplace experience and qualifications which ease the transition for people re-entering the workforce, or making a career change."

Worklinks Manager Jan Robinson said Jodie's progress is pleasing.

"She has good rapport with the young people with whom she works, and is keen to learn as much as she can about youth work," said Ms Robinson.

"After Jodie has settled in she will be working on a project linking young people to older members of the community in nursing homes and similar organisations, so she is looking forward to that.

"If an opportunity exists, we'll certainly keep Jodie on post-traineeship as we've retained all previous trainees."
Worklinks Inc is a not-for-profit organisation which provides employment skills development, training, work experience and career advice to benefit individuals and their community.
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 assistance 71 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work 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.

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

Contact: Worklinks Manager Jan Robinson on 3354 3946 or janrobinson@worklinks.com.au