Three community based organisations on the Sunshine Coast have received a total of $370,500 as part of a jobs skills package to train long-term unemployed people.
One community service is training up to 30 people in aged care services and the other two are training 230 people in vocational literacy and numeracy.
Community Solutions has received $104,980 of the package to train 30 long-term unemployed people for the Aim to Train project under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) initiative to give them a better chance of finding and holding full-time work.
The Bokarina-based service is coordinating the delivery of Certificate III in Aged Care training to the 30 Sunshine Coast jobseekers.
Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek said the funding will ensure people who need jobs get the training they need to break out of the unemployment cycle.
“While the funding is provided through the State Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, the Aim to Train project has been funded under the Federal Government’s Productivity Places Program (PPP).”
“The Coast’s population is ageing and we need to think about the care of its elderly residents as they move into aged care facilities or are cared for at home.
Under the SQW Community Literacy Program, Sunshine Coast Regional Council has been allocated $100,000 to deliver accredited vocational literacy and numeracy training to 100 long-term unemployed. Church of Christ Nambour-Solutions Inc has received $165,520 to deliver vocational literacy and numeracy training, Certificate I in Financial Management and selected modules from Certificate I and Certificate II in Business for 130 unemployed people.
“The funding will help train people for a variety of roles – where there is a need for semi-skilled labour on the Coast these funding packages are helping to fill that gap,” he said.
“The funding response means community organisations that know and understand the special labour force dynamics on the Coast are resourced to help local people train for and find work.
“It targets people who without help could remain in the unemployment cycle for a very long time – it’s a tried and true system that gets people trained and up and working after not very long on a supported employment program.
“The other clear benefit of this approach is that the skills pool available to Sunshine Coast businesses and community services is increased and local people are filling these positions.
“For information on places available in the literacy and numeracy projects, people can call either Mignon Fanton, the Adult Literacy Coordinator for the Sunshine Coast Libraries Adult Literacy Program in Caloundra on 5499 5414, or Di Cummings with Church of Christ in Nambour on 5476 2511.
Twelve months after receiving assistance 67 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.
For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925.
SQW funded projects 2012 – Sunshine Coast
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<strong>Org contact (for media)</strong>
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<strong>Project name</strong>
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<strong>Description</strong>
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<strong>Location</strong>
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<strong>SQW funding</strong>
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<strong>Clients</strong>
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Ms Mignon Fanton (Adult Literacy Coordinator)ph (07) 5499 5414<br /> email <a href="mailto:mignon.fanton@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au">mignon.fanton@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au</a>
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Sunshine Coast Libraries Adult Literacy Program
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This project will deliver accredited vocational literacy and numeracy training to long-term unemployed, low skilled underemployed, people with a disability, Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse people from the Sunshine Coast. Participants will be assisted with language, literacy and numeracy skills to meet the requirements of current and future workplaces, enter further study and training etc.
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Caloundra
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$100,000(SQW)
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100
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Di Cummingsph (07) 5476 2511<br /> email <a href="mailto:solutions4learning@westnet.com.au">solutions4learning@westnet.com.au</a><br /> <br />
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Bridging the Gaps
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This project will deliver vocational literacy and numeracy training in centres across Nambour and Maroochydore. Plus participants will also be trained in oral and written communication, teamwork, computer skills, financial literacy and budgeting skills, problem solving, self management and learning strategies, with accredited training offered in: Adult Literacy and Numeracy, Course in Core Skills for Employment and Training, Certificate I in Financial Management and selected modules from Certificate I and Certificate II in Business.
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Nambour & M/dore
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$165,520(SQW)
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130
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David CurdManaging Director<br /> ph (07) 5413 1555<br /> email <a href="mailto:David.Curd@communitysolutions.org.au">David.Curd@communitysolutions.org.au</a><br />
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Aim to Train – Sunshine Coast
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This project aims to deliver accredited training to Sunshine Coast region jobseekers. Participants will undertake a fully accredited qualification in Certificate III in Aged Care. In addition, participants will also be assessed and provided with one-on-one support including numeracy and literacy training and a personal action plan to monitor their progress.
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Bokarina
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$104,980(PPP)
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30
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<strong>$370,500</strong>
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<strong>260</strong>
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Funding types
SQW – Skilling Queenslanders for Work
PPP – Productivity Places Program