YOUNG jobseekers in the Far North are now able to access Employability Skills Training to help improve their chances of finding and keeping a job, says Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch.
The Government has committed $188.3 million over four years to the Employability Skills Training program, which is the ‘Prepare’ element of the new Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare, Trial, Hire) initiative.
Eleven Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) will deliver the training locally to help young people aged 15-24 gain the skills that employers are looking for when hiring staff in entry-level positions.
Based across Cairns, Mossman, Port Douglas, Kuranda and Manunda, the organisations have experience in the civil construction, business, hospitality, cleaning, security, retail, engineering, automotive, construction, electrical, information technology, resources and infrastructure sectors.
Mr Entsch congratulated the training organisations on their new role and looked forward to the program getting underway this month.
“This is a great initiative to help our young people get the skills they need to take up a job in the region,” he said.
“The first block of training kicked off on May 2nd and participants will get an understanding of the core expectations from employers – from being on time, to dressing appropriately and working as part of a team to achieve a specific outcome. Participants will earn two units of competency towards a Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways.
“The second block starts on May 22nd and focuses on skills like writing a CV and cover letter, how to do well at a job interview and the importance of networking. It’ll also help participants to get a better understanding about current jobs and career pathways in specific industries and they’ll earn a further two units towards the Certificate II.”
One of the organisations which will deliver the training in Cairns is the Complex Institute of Education, which works closely with the Hospitality, Construction, Cleaning and Security Industries in Far North Queensland.
Barry Lea, Manager of the Far North Queensland (FNQ) Campus, said the Complex Institute of Education was excited to be a part of the Youth Jobs PaTH Employability Skills Training Initiative of the Federal Government.
“We have extensive experience in delivering effective programs to assist our youth to move forward and we are looking forward to partnering with the local Jobactive and Disability Employment Service Providers to provide meaningful outcomes for the 15-24 year olds in FNQ,” Mr Lea said.
Minister for Employment, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said businesses are keen to employ young people but sometimes find that applicants do not have core skills for the workplace.
“Through Employability Skills Training young people will gain that knowledge and be better prepared to take up job opportunities,” she said.
From April, in the second stage of PaTH, Trial, young people will be able to undertake a voluntary internship of 4-12 weeks to gain work experience and further boost their job prospects. Under the third stage of the PaTH program, Hire, employers are already able to hire young Australians by accessing a Youth Bonus wage subsidy of up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) per employee.
A full list of the successful organisations that accepted the opportunity to deliver Employability Skills Training can be found here: https://www.employment.gov.au/employability-skills-training-panel-applications
For more information on Employability Skills Training and other support available for young people under the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy, visit: www.employment.gov.au/youth