- 632 Queensland employers, 383 employees and 632 jobseekers will benefit from a further $1.7 million in Queensland Government funding.
- 10 industry and community groups are receiving grants of up to $200,000 through the Palaszczuk Government's Growing Workforce Participation Fund.
- In 2022-23, the Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training administered more than $135 million across various small business and skills pathways grants programs that are estimated to have provided support or assistance to more than 44,600 workers or jobseekers
Projects approved under the Growing Workforce Participation Fund to 10 industry and community groups will be delivered in Thursday Island, St George, Ipswich, Goondiwindi, Kingaroy and Townsville and parts of South East Queensland.
The successful projects will focus on supporting young people aged 15–24 years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, and the long-term unemployed to find meaningful, secure employment.
Part of the Queensland Government's successful Back to Work program, the Growing Workforce Participation Fund gives businesses the confidence to employ Queenslanders who have experienced a period of unemployment and helps jobseekers facing disadvantage in the workforce.
The Back to Work program has incentive payments and other supports available to employers who hire an eligible previously unemployed Queenslander from a targeted group who has experienced a minimum period of unemployment directly prior to commencing work with them."
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer:
"The Palaszczuk Government continues to back employers, their workers and jobseekers through a broad range of funding programs. Our Growing Workforce Participation Fund is just one of those.
"In 2022-23, the Department of Youth Justice, Employment, Small Business and Training administered more than $135 million across various small business and skills pathways grants programs to support Queenslanders into good jobs.
"The broad range of grant funding programs and initiatives are estimated to have provided support or assistance to more than 44,600 workers or jobseekers.
"Initiatives like the Growing Workforce Participation Fund help to connect business owners with workers.
"The funds will support the delivery and expansion of first round projects but also see new projects, like the collaboration between the Murgon and Wondai swimming pool managers and South Burnett Regional Council get underway.
"Council will receive $180,000 for its Sport and Recreation Mentoring Program which will help address the skill shortage in the Sport and Recreation Industry and Horticulture Industry in South Burnett by providing upskilling and employment opportunities for First Nations young people in the Wondai, Murgon and Cherbourg communities.
"The Growing Workforce Participation Fund is another example of how we are helping good people get set for good jobs so they can enjoy our great lifestyle."
Explainer/fast fact and or further information:
Projects approved under the second round of the Growing Workforce Participation Fund are:
- Torres Strait Kaziw Meta Inc for its Remote Indigenous Boarding Students Mentoring Employment Support project to be delivered on Thursday Island.
- Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland Inc for its Breaking Down Barriers – Uncovering Hidden Talent to be delivered in Townsville.
- Queensland Social Enterprise Council Ltd for its Navigating Workforce Diversity through Social Enterprise project to be delivered statewide.
- Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce to appoint a Workforce Development Champion to continue its Engage, Educate, Empower – Goondiwindi Workforce Development Champion project.
- South Burnett Regional Council for its Sport and Recreation Industry Mentoring Program to be delivered in Kingaroy.
- Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS) for its Community of Practice: Supporting Diverse Workforces project to be delivered statewide.
- Balonne Shire Council to extend its Workforce Development Officer (funded under round one) to implement the 2023-27 Balonne Shire Workforce Development Strategy.
- Spinal Life Australia to continue its Inclusive Futures: Empowering Diversity in Queensland's Workforce project (funded under round one) delivered in Ipswich.
- Energy Skills Queensland for its Integrated Skilling and Alert Centre Service to be delivered statewide.
- Aged and Community Care Providers Association for its Aged Care is the Place to Be project to be delivered statewide (eligible locations).
In the first round of the Growing Workforce Participation Fund, eight applicants shared in $1.3 million with 423 employers already engaged across these employment projects since the inaugural funding round.
