Media Release

Chris Whiting MP, State Member for Murrumba

Mark Ryan MP, State Member for Morayfield
Rick Williams MP, State Member for Pumicestone

Up to 721 job seekers in the Caboolture Region will be supported with work skills training as the Queensland Labor Government rolls out its revamped Skilling Queenslanders for Work Initiative.

State Member for Murrumba, Chris Whiting MP, said 11 organisations would share in almost $2.1 million following the first round of funding allocations.

“The Queensland Government is committed to developing jobs now and jobs for the future,” Mr Whiting said.

“Labor’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work Program will help people into training so they can better access paid employment.

“Under the program, people in the Caboolture Region will be able to access skills and qualifications in a number of areas and industries such as hospitality, retail, construction, aged care and early childhood education and care.”

State Member for Morayfield, Mark Ryan MP, said the funding was part of a wider package of more than $26 million being allocated to 200 projects across Queensland to start delivering these important community skills projects.

“These are the first projects to be funded under the $240 million four-year initiative aimed at supporting up to 32,000 unemployed, disengaged or disadvantaged people to enter the paid workforce,” Mr Ryan said.

“We want to do what we can to support Queenslanders back into work.”

State Member for Pumicestone, Rick Williams MP, said Skilling Queenslanders for Work puts communities in the driving seat through a partnership with government to grow local employment opportunities, encourage greater social inclusion and assist people needing extra support to enter the workforce.

“The initiative is specifically tailored for local programs that support young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, mature-age jobseekers, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and long-term unemployed people to find a path into work,” Mr Williams said.

“This is all about giving people the right skills and getting them into jobs.”

An analysis by Deloitte Access found the previous Skilling Queenslanders for Work Program returned $8 to the economy for every $1 that was invested before it was cut by the then Newman LNP Government.

The second round of funding for Skilling Queenslanders for Work is now open and will close on Thursday 12 November 2015. Click here for more information.