The Queensland Government has allocated $69,950 to an employment training project in Innisfail to assist 20 people to earn new qualifications in aged care.
Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said Time 2 Focus FNQ Career Pathway Program would be extended.
“This grant from the Australian Government’s Productivity Places Program, which is administered through the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, is funding accredited training for long-term unemployed people,” Mr Pitt said.
“Participants will complete a Certificate III in Aged Care, which is an important qualification that will open more doors to working in this industry.”
Mr Pitt said 30 participants from Cairns had joined the project in August and September 2009 and were continuing their studies.
“There is a lot of demand for qualified workers in the aged care industry so a project like this is important for communities,” Mr Pitt said.
“As well as assisting unemployed people on to a pathway with good job prospects, employers and the wider community want to have a workforce that can deliver a good standard of care.”
Time 2 Focus President Cate Ashmore said the FNQ Career Pathway Program also offered general job preparation support to further assist participants into the workforce.
“Training for a whole new career on top of trying to enter the workforce is a big challenge but we aim to offer a supportive environment that can help each participant to get the most out of this project,” Ms Ashmore said.
“We have developed individual profiles for each person and even assisted with enrolment into nursing degrees.
“The 30 participants recruited in Cairns are currently completing their 100 hour work experience placement and will be work ready by July, so we’re looking forward to assisting more people through this next intake.”
Anyone interested in joining this project should contact Time 2 Focus on 4030 1133 or email president@time2focus.org.au.
In Queensland, the Department of Education and Training has the overall responsibility for managing the Productivity Places Program.
Funding and coordination of the projects involving jobseekers is administered by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
The five-year program will enable 46,000 eligible Queensland jobseekers to enrol for formal qualifications in much needed skills areas and 102,000 existing workers to gain or improve their qualifications.
For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925.
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