Helping women into construction in Cairns and delivering a range of support through PCYCs across the state are just some of the 165 projects being funded under the second funding round of the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative in 2022-23.
Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said more than $31 million in projects through this funding round will assist 5,247 disadvantaged Queenslanders.
"More than 46,600 people in the state have been employed thanks to Skilling Queenslanders for Work and it's great to see support for even more people will kick off in 2023," Minister Farmer said.
"We know this initiative 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 initiative funds community-based organisations who tailor their programs to suit local conditions, understand where opportunities are and what local employers are looking for.
"Tailored, local community-based support is offered to young people, mature-age job seekers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, women re-entering the workforce, Australian Defence Force (ADF) veterans, recently released prisoners; and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds."
Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the Community Living Association based on Brisbane's northside will receive $679,500 for two projects to provide training in hospitality and conservation and ecosystem management.
"The Re-Gen Project will continue at the Hendra Pony Club and at other local operations such as the Nundah Co-op and the Northey Street City Farm, with 30 trainees undertaking land regeneration and landscaping.
Community Living Association (CLA Inc) Coordinator Morrie O'Connor said CLA was excited to be offered the opportunity to assist local job seekers from disadvantaged backgrounds through this program, which offers significant level of support to them and benefits local community organisations through valuable maintenance projects.
"Our trainees are primarily people with cognitive disabilities and people from refugee backgrounds who experience some of the most significant barriers to employment of any marginalised group, while some of our participants may have had connection with youth justice and benefit from the longer-term supportive program our traineeships provide.
"Approximately 70% of our trainees go on to secure employment in the open market or within a social enterprise.
"We also could not do this without generous support of community partners like the Hendra Pony Club, Nundah Community Enterprises Co-op (NCEC) and landcare groups like BC4 – the Bulimba Catchment Group - who host our trainees in their social enterprise workplaces and share their equipment and expertise," he said.
Minister Farmer said 21 projects will focus on assisting young people through the Youth Skills and Get Set for Work programs including $283,000 for Anglicare North Queensland's Get Set for Work project, which will train and support 42 participants to gain skills needed in hospitality and food processing.
"Assisting disadvantaged young people aged 15 to 19 years old and helping them towards joining the workforce, undertaking further education and training or returning to school, puts them on track for a brighter, more productive future that brings long-term benefits for them, our communities and workforce," Minister Farmer said.
"The initiative supports many focus areas from the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032, which aims to attract, connect and educate a thriving workforce to set our state up for success now and into the future."
Skilling Queenslanders for Work funds skills development, training and job opportunities for unemployed, disengaged or disadvantaged Queenslanders through a suite of targeted skills and training programs.
