More funding for community-based NFPs to drive job assisting projects

The popular Skilling Queenslanders for Work program has received an additional multi-million dollar funding round, with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk describing it as being a crucial part of her Government’s ongoing plan to recover from the worldwide economic impact of COVID-19.

“This is a program which has helped, and will continue to help, workers to gain job-ready skills on community projects, and enter the labour market with confidence,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

Applications for the second round of funding opened this morning, with community-based not-for-profit organisations, local councils and school P&Cs who have programs and initiatives which provide hands on skills eligible to apply.

As the Queensland economy works to reinvigorate, Ms Palaszczuk said, it is important that people looking for work can access local support and guidance to prepare them for new opportunities.

In the first round of funding, $42 million was directed towards more than 200 projects to assist around 5,000 Queenslanders to get training, which Queensland Minister for Training and Skills Development Shannon Fentiman said demonstrates Skilling Queenslanders for Work has “a proven track record” for achieving results, with more than 31,000 participants getting a job thanks to previous rounds of the program.

Qualifications in early childhood education and care are amongst the many options available to those who participate in the program. 

The Community Work Skills program, offered by PCYC Queensland, for example, has a wrap around service where disadvantaged Queensland job seekers can undertake formal training as well as having support with case management, resume preparation and writing, job interview skills, job search advice, networking opportunities and employability skills. 

PCYC Ipswich supports young people to obtain a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), which in turn boosts the number of job ready ECEC professionals in the region reducing the impact of workforce shortages.

More than 70 per cent of participants who engage with Skilling Queesnlanders for Work find work, take on further training or return to school around 12 months after exiting a Skilling Queenslanders for Work project.

The closing date for the second round of funding is 8 October 2020.

For further information visit  www.qld.gov.au/skillingqueenslanders or call 1300 369 935.