- Wounded Heroes Australia will deliver the 'Food4Heroes' project with $820,400 through Skilling Queenslanders for Work, the biggest single funding injection in the metropolitan region.
- Project will employ up to 30 job seekers, primarily ex-Australian Defence Force members and their families to complete a Certificate I in Hospitality.
- 520 vulnerable job seekers in the Ipswich region will benefit from over $5.4 million in coal royalty funding for 15 projects in priority areas.
The Miles Labor Government is putting cost of living relief for Ipswich's veterans front and centre by funding a new project that will provide paid employment and sponsored skills opportunities while helping give back to those who have served their country.
Through an $820,400 injection in the latest State Budget, Wounded Heroes Australia will deliver their 'Food4Heroes' project through Skilling Queenslanders for Work.
The project will provide 30 participants with 20 weeks paid employment in a program that will address barriers to finding a job and keeping a job, and to support them with work readiness skills so that upon completion they can gain long term sustainable employment outcomes.
The social enterprise project operates from the Ipswich Events & Entertainment Centre commercial kitchen, preparing free meals for veterans in financial crisis or homelessness and offering low-cost meals to the local community to raise funds for their crisis support arm.
The job seekers, primarily ex-Australian Defence Force members and their families will:
- earn a certificate I level qualification hospitality,
- gain practical experience in real work situations that align with their training,
- be supported to build confidence and general life skills,
- complete paid work that can be included in their resumes, and
- receive a mix of career advice, job preparation skills and foundation skills.
As stated by Minister for Training and Skills Development and Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum:
"Under national cost of living pressures, we're doing what matters for Ipswich, so the importance of this initiative cannot be overstated.
"This Food4Heroes project will not only provide essential support to help individuals to secure stable employment and improve their livelihoods, but it offers a beacon of hope and opportunity to the whole veteran community.
"Locals will never forget that Skilling Queenslanders for Work was brutally cut by the LNP and now by opposing our progressive coal royalties it's up on the LNP chopping block again.
"Through this project Wounded Heroes Australia is not just delivering on the promise of this initiative, they are transforming lives and strengthening our proud garrison city.
"This funding will enable them to extend their reach, helping more veterans and their families find jobs and build better futures.
As stated by Wounded Heroes Australia CEO Kim Shaw:
"Wounded Heroes provides a safe workplace for disadvantaged job seekers to build on their work readiness skills, including coming to work on time, communication in the workplace, along with building on their skillsets and completing a Certificate I in Hospitality.
"As a part of this project, participants will learn how to cook nutritious meals that will be provided for FREE to veterans in financial crisis, homeless or at risk of homelessness, or at a low cost to the local community that are struggling with the rise in cost of living.
"We love watching the participants grow both personally and professionally in their journey towards an employment outcome.
"For some participants this initiative provides them with increased self-confidence and self-esteem and creating a social network of like-minded people that will share in their journey of self-discovery. Self-belief changes their outlook on both how they feel about themselves and how they view employment.
"Wounded Heroes supports both the veteran and local community and initiatives such as Skilling Queenslanders for Work provides a platform where participants can make a difference not just for themselves but the broader community."
As stated by Prestige Staffing Solutions' Karen Doyle:
"We have had participants that have been in a really dark place – they feel they're worthless, they're on the verge of homelessness and that no one will ever give them a job – to be able to work with them to build their confidence and give them workplace skills is amazing.
"This program is so important to putting people back into employment – assisting people, getting employed, building a better life for themselves, also helping community.
"For the participants it means more than words can explain – we've put several participants through one of these programs over the past two years – it's wonderful to watch their growth, to watch their confidence build."
Further Skilling Queenslanders for Work information:
In the first round of SQW for 2024-25, $44.6 million will support 94 organisations to deliver 166 projects statewide, upskilling participants in priority industries and igniting pathways to prosperity.
The Ipswich region will benefit from over $5.4 million in funding for 15 projects with 11 community organisations under the latest SQW round, training more than 520 job seekers in areas such as construction, hospitality, and transport and distribution, including:
- yourtown's Community Work Skills 'JBS Food Australia' in Riverview – assisting up to 100 individuals aged 15-24 in Brisbane's Metro and South regions to complete accredited Hospitality training while gaining skills and experience for sustainable employment with partnering food manufacturer JBS Foods Australia or other employers in the food manufacturing industry.
- Karingal St Laurence Limited's Get Set for Work 'MatchWorks Get Set for Work' project in Ipswich – assisting up to 50 neurodivergent young people in gaining skills and experience to prepare for employment and supporting them in completing a Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways.
- Five Bridges' Community Work Skills 'Pathway to Driving - Brisbane Metropolitan' project across multiple areas in the Ipswich region – assisting up to 64 licensed drivers in gaining skills and experience for sustainable employment in the transport and distribution industry, while completing a Certificate III in Driving Operations and a Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways.
- Challenge Employment and Training Limited's Work Skills Traineeships Re-Greening Ipswich' project in Collingwood Park - employing up to 30 job seekers to complete a Certificate I in Conservation and Ecosystem Management while engaging in flood repair work, flood mitigation strategies, weed clearing, and upgrades to an Eco Hub outdoor learning space across the Redbank Plains, Collingwood Park, and Riverview areas.
The initiative supports the Good Jobs, Great Training: Queensland Skills Strategy 2024 – 2028 which outlines the Queensland Government's plan to provide an accessible training system and ensure our state has the skilled workers it needs now and into the future.
Please click the following link for a list of the successful SQW projects: https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/community-orgs/sqw/funded-projects
