13 April 2012

Gold Coast receives$1.65 million

to help 300 unemployed youth

The State Government has allocated over $1.6million to seven Gold Coast based community organisations to help 300 unemployed young people find a job.

Provided through the State Government’s Get Set for Work (GSFW) program, the funding will assist young disadvantaged and disengaged people.

Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroeksaid the Queensland Government, through its $104million Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, will invest $13 million in the Get Set for Work program in 2012 to assist more than 3000 young people in 70 community-based projectsacross the state.

“The Gold Coast has a high number of young people who for whatever reason look like they might fall through the cracks and join the ranks of the long-term unemployed – these projects are about preventing that from happening,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Some enable young people to study courses with strong job outcome prospects, including a range of Certificate courses such as construction, engineering, retail skills, agri-farm operations and many other real job areas.

“These are great job preparation courses for kids who are having trouble with traditional schooling.

“The GSFW funding also ensures each participant receives individual job search and career counselling, welfare support and access to local industry experts.

“This case management approach is very helpful in breaking down employment barriers.

“We are talking about young people who often lack confidence and may have poor life skills and face multiple barriers to employment.

“The Get Set for Work program plays a significant role in turning around the lives of young people who have dropped out of the mainstream education system or are at risk of falling through the cracks,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Young people who don’t complete their education and don’t gain the skills or experience employers are looking for face a difficult time finding jobs. This only becomes more difficult the longer they are out of the workforce.

“This can often lead to problems for young people with the legal system and ultimately a loss of productivity for the state.”

Mr Langbroek said in the most recent survey of participants three months after leaving the program 65 per cent were in work or training, or had returned to school.

“Get Set for Work projects offer accredited and non-accredited training, job preparation and work placements,” Mr Langbroek said.

“Projects also help participants address issues that might be affecting their ability to work or study such as accommodation difficulties, family conflict and emotional and health concerns.”

During 2011/12 the $104 million Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative will give an estimated 24,000 long-term unemployed and underemployed people job related assistance and skills training.

For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, visit or call 1300 369 925.

Media contact:Danyelle Nolan 0408 410 930

Attachment:

List of Gold Coast organisations funded through GSFW, including media contact information.

‘Get Set for Work’ Projects 2012 - Gold Coast

Organisation / Organisation
media contacts / Project name / Description / Location / SQW funding / Clients
Community Support Agency Ltd (CSA) / David Short
(07) 5522 0802
/ Gold Coast Youth Get Set for Work Reedy Creek / CSA will support a minimum of 30 local jobseekers residing in the Gold Coast South area, primarily targeting young people aged 15-17 years who have disengaged from school or are at risk of disengaging. / Reedy Creek / $162,200 / 30
SCISCO Career Pathways / Andrea Lee
(07) 5538 6600 / SCISCO Get Set for Work / SCISCO will support a minimum of 90 Gold Coast jobseekers, with 30 places offered at each location. The project will primarily target 16-18 year olds who are disengaged from school or are at risk of disengaging, and participants will undertake a combination of job preparation and accredited training. / Palm Beach
Southport
Coomera / $540,000 / 90
Bridging The Gap - Job Help Gold Coast Inc / Ian Hall
(07) 5563 3954 / BTG - Get Set for Work 2012 / Bridging the Gap will have 60 funded places in total, with 30 to be offered at Miami and 30 at Oxenford though rolling starts. The project will target 15-19 year olds who have disengaged from school or have not been in the workforce since leaving school. Participants will be individually case managed. / Oxenford
Miami / $299,560 / 60
Bridging The Gap - Job Help Gold Coast Inc / Ian Hall
(07) 5563 3954 / BTG - Get Set For Work 2012 / Bridging the Gap will have rolling starts for 20 participants to undertake job preparation and accredited training at Arundel. Recruitment will be aimed at 15-19 year olds who have disengaged from school or have not been in the workforce since leaving school. Participants will be individually case managed. / Arundel / $100,200 / 20
Busy Inc / Maria Mallinson
(07) 5558 5871 / Get BUSY for Work - GC / Busy Inc will support a minimum of 30 local jobseekers from the northern Gold Coast area primarily targeting 17-19 year olds who have not gained employment since leaving school. Members of the target group have barriers that need to be addressed including low self-esteem, confidence and communication skills before being in a position to move forward and consider career options. Busy Inc will offer participants a combination of job preparation and accredited training five days a week at Southport, through four intakes over the year. / Southport / $147,620 / 30
Kalwun Development Corporation / Kieran Chilcott
(07) 5526 1112 / Kalwun Youth Options / Through this project the organisation will assist Indigenous and non-Indigenous youth aged 15-17 years who have disengaged or are at risk of disengaging from school. It will offer a combination of job preparation and accredited training. The project will be delivered through 2 intakes of 10 participants. All training will be delivered at Nerang, with the exception of Responsible Service of Alcohol which will be delivered at Currumbin RSL. / Nerang / $120,000 / 20
Wesley Mission Brisbane / Michelle Skinner
(07) 3621 4556 / Get Set for Work - Robina / Wesley Mission will support a minimum of 30 Gold Coast jobseekers to develop the skills and experience they need to compete in the labour market, through a combination of accredited and non-accredited training programs. The project will target 16 -17 year olds who have disengaged, or are at risk of disengaging, from school. Young people who are Indigenous or from a culturally and linguistically diverse background will be provided with additional support if needed. / Mudgeeraba / $175,940 / 30
Epic Employment Service Inc / Daniel Griffiths
(07) 3857 5085 / Youth for Success / The project will support a minimum of 20 local jobseekers from the Gold Coast area, and will primarily target 15-19 year olds with a disability who have disengaged from school during the compulsory participation stage, are at risk of disengaging or have been unemployed since leaving school. / Southport / $113,080 / 20
Totals / $1,658,600 / 300