The Queensland Government and Energy Skills Queensland (ESQ) are working together to prepare 100 jobseekers in South East Queensland for work on the National Broadband Network roll out and the Digital TV switch-over.

 

Minister for Employment, Skills and Mining Stirling Hinchliffe said the 12-month Queensland Telecommunications New Entrant Program would deliver nine-week courses combining job preparation and accredited training to help people into the workforce.

 

“We are right behind this strategy with our Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative committing $160,000 and the Department of Education and Training another $30,000 to support a project coordinator and to fund initial training and support to prepare ten intakes for the workplace,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

 

“After that, each intake will start an eight-week accredited training course to earn a Certificate II in Telecommunications Cabling or Electrotechnology. The Department of Education and Training has directed $324,750 from the Australian Government’s Productivity Places Program to fund the training.

 

“It will go a long way towards meeting the needs of unemployed people who want to find work, employers looking for staff with the right skills and communities who want a smooth roll-out of important telecommunications infrastructure.”

 

ESQ Industry Engagement Manager Rohan Anderson said the strategy had support from industry and local government bodies, and had engaged Mission Australia to conduct recruitment, screening and job preparation training.

 

“We’ll have two intakes each in Ipswich, Logan and Brisbane North and one from Brisbane South, Redland Bay, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast,” Mr Anderson said.

 

“The accredited training will focus on developing practical skills the industry needs and will include work experience so participants get a good feel for the job.

 

“Most participants will work towards the telecommunications cabling qualification while two intakes will take on the electrotechnology course.”

 

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

 

Twelve months after receiving assistance, 66 per cent of participants are in employment or further training.

 

The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is part of the State Government’s $1 billion Queensland Skills Plan which aims to provide individuals and industry with the skills and workforce for the 21st Century.

 

More information is at www.employment.qld.gov.au.