Brisbane north jobseekers earn while they learn

Six long-term unemployed people are now prepared for jobs in administration thanks to a full-time paid work placement that has given them the skills and training to pursue positions in the field.

Parliamentary Secretary for Employment and Economic Development Jan Jarratt and Member for Ferny Grove Geoff Wilson said the State Government had granted $76,855 under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to Worklinks to run the 13-week Work Connections project.

"On-the-job experience gives people more opportunity to try a new career not only to see if it suits them but also it gives them the fulfilment of expanding their skills base," Ms Jarratt said.

"Most importantly this project has given the graduates new-found confidence and the skills to play an active role at work, secure in the knowledge that these administration skills will transfer across other organisations and industries."

Mr Wilson said that the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative focuses on job creation to maintain people's connection with the workforce and building skills to meet current and future industry needs.

"Being able to give local people the opportunity to work locally is a great way for them to build up their networks both at work and socially," Mr Wilson said.

Worklinks Manager Jan Robinson said that each person completed both the compulsory and elective work placement subjects which also included office technology and records handling.

"Thanks to must be extended to the organisations that have thrown their support behind this project including Palliative Care Qld Inc; Help Enterprises Nundah, Help Enterprises Mitchelton, Crime Stoppers Queensland, Aspley East C & K, Worklinks Inc and Queensland Aged and Disability Advocacy," Ms Robinson said.

The Graduation will be held on Monday 12 October at 10:00am at Worklinks 67- 69 Osborne Road, Mitchelton.

During 2009/10 the Queensland Government will invest $101 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to give more then 21,000 long-term unemployed and underemployed people job related assistance and skills training to maximise labour force participation and increase Queensland's prosperity.

Skilling Queenslanders for Work supports the Government's Toward Q2 vision of investing in skills and helping people to participate in the workforce.

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

Media Contacts: Treasurer's Office - (07) 3224 6361 or (07) 3224 5982
Member for Ferny Grove - (07) 3851 1570
Worklinks Manager Jan Robinson - (07) 3354 3946