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Initiatives for:
Recommendation 16
Recommendation 17
Recommendation 18
Recommendation 19
Recommendation 20
Recommendation 21
Recommendation 22
Recommendation 23
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Initiatives targeting Recommendation 23

Queensland

Public Sector Employment Initiative
(also address rec 19)

Aims to increase the number of apprenticeships and traineeships in the public sector. It focuses on employing additional trainees and additional apprentices in public sector agencies, including local government agencies, state government departments, state statutory authorities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community councils .

This program has a high youth participation rate with approximately 70% of participants being aged between 15 and 24 years. Approximately 69% of participants have found employment or further education and training at the conclusion of this program

  • Target group: All job seekers are encouraged to apply and the following targets exist:
  • Women – 50%
  • People from a Non-English Speaking Background – 5%
  • People with a Disability – 5%
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People – 5%

Coverage: The program is available across the State with approximately 62% places filled outside the south east corner.

Timeframe: The program commenced in October 1998 and aims to generate 13, 400 additional trainees and 500 additional apprentices in public sector agencies over six financial years.

Responsible agency: Department of Employment and Training

Contact: Manager
             Employment Support Programs
             Ph: (07) 3406 2093

Website: www.employment.qld.gov.au/programs.htm

Public Sector School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships

The program supports the transition from school to work by allowing students (typically years 11 and 12) to achieve a senior certificate while they train in an industry area to achieve nationally recognised VET qualifications

Public Sector agencies receive up to $4,000 for each school based placement and the trainees and apprentices are required to work for the department for at least 96 days over the two-year period.

Initially the program was only available to State Government departments but was recently expanded to include local government agencies, state statutory authorities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community councils. This is expected to increase the geographical spread of school based opportunities, diversify the traineeship and apprenticeship models available and provide additional employment based learning opportunities for disadvantaged young people, including Indigenous youth in remote locations.

Target group: Years 11 and 12 students

Coverage: State wide

Timeframe: The program commenced in July 2001 and funding is available over a three-year period.

Responsible agency: Department of Employment and Training

Contact: Manager
             Employment Support Programs
             Ph: (07) 3406 2093

Website: www.employment.qld.gov.au/programs.htm

Youth for the Environment and Local Communities
(also address rec 21 and 22)

The program aims to create 1,200 additional traineeships in the areas of environmental protection, horticulture and waste management and targets young people aged between 15-24.

Agencies eligible for funding include local government agencies, state government departments, state statutory authorities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community councils and not-for profit community organisations.

Target group: young people aged between 15 – 24 years old and the following target exist:

  • Women – 50 per cent
  • People from a Non-English Speaking Background – 5 per cent
  • People with a Disability – 5 per cent
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People – 5 per cent

Coverage: State wide

Timeframe: 2001 – 2003

Responsible agency: Department of Employment and Training

Contact: Manager
             Employment Support Programs
             Ph: (07) 3406 2093

Website: www.employment.qld.gov.au/programs.htm

Indigenous Employment Policy

This Policy was introduced in May 2001 and requires State Government agencies to include a clause in building and construction tenders for identified Indigenous communities that ensures there will be an employment and training component in all construction over $250,000. Young Indigenous people in the communities will be provided with an opportunity to gain real employment and skills development.

Indigenous Employment and Training Support Officers are also located across Queensland to provide a mentoring and support role for Indigenous apprentices and trainees. These officers assist in better identifying training needs and preferred training delivery methods. The officers are based with community organisations in Bamaga, Greater Cooktown Area, Kowanyama/Pormpuraaw, Lockhart River, Palm Island, Woorabinda, Hervey Bay, Cunnamulla and the Beenleigh-Ipswich corridor. Their role is to work with the apprentice or trainee and employer to ensure that difficulties encountered during the employment program are resolved. These difficulties could be related to training programs, cultural expectations, health issues or other aspects of the employment program.

Target group: all Indigenous job seekers, apprentices and trainees

Coverage: Indigenous communities

Timeframe: 2001 – 2003

Responsible agency: Department of Employment and Training

Contact: Director, Indigenous Employment Projects
             Ph: (07) 3227 6185

Website: www.employment.qld.gov.au

Youth Access Program
(also addresses recommendation 22)

The aim of the Youth Access Program is to provide training and employment opportunities to Queensland school students who are at risk of leaving school early. Its purpose is to correct and overcome early disadvantage before it becomes endemic by developing the basic skills necessary to access further training and employment through apprenticeships and traineeships.

While the program intends to target those school students in years 9 and 10, the program also extends to students in years 11 and 12. With early intervention, it is hoped that the students will develop skills that will enable them to obtain employment or transition into a school based apprenticeship / traineeship or higher learning.

Target group: Queensland secondary school students in Years 9–12.

Coverage: State- wide

Timeframe: 2001-2003

Responsible agency: Department of Employment and Training

Contact: Training Purchasing
             Ph: (07) 3237 1143

Website: www.training.qld.gov.au

Moving Ahead Post School Services Program
(also addresses recommendation 18 & 22 )

The Moving Ahead Post School Services Program (Moving Ahead) supports and encourages the transition of young people as they leave behind the role of student and begin to take on adult roles. As the purpose of the Program is transitional, assistance for each individual is available for a period of up to two years.

Moving Ahead has a dual focus as it provides support not only to the young person but also to their families/carers.

The Program’s focus regarding the young person is aimed at enabling him/her to experience a range of options and opportunities as they work toward the transition to adulthood. This support may mean that over the course of their individual program young people may take on a changing role within the family, participate increasingly in the life of their community as well as build on existing relationships and recreational interests. Some young people will also wish to explore vocational goals.

Assistance through the Program is twofold. Firstly, young people and their families will be assisted by Supports Facilitators to identify their needs and goals and to explore the range of possible formal and informal supports required to assist them work toward their individual goals. Secondly, the Program provides individualised funding which is used to purchase the identified supports and services.

Target Group:

Moving Ahead aims to assist those young people who, on leaving school, are not able to access State funded education and prevocational programs and vocational programs funded by the Commonwealth government.

To be eligible for the program, a young person must:

  • be 18 years old when they enter the Moving Ahead Program; and
  • be exiting or have exited special school or special education programs and/or services; and
  • have a level of disability which results in high and complex support needs; and
  • be eligible for assistance under the Queensland Disability Services Act, 1992; and
  • not have access to tertiary education, vocational training or employment options.

Coverage: State wide

Timeframe: Ongoing

Responsible Agency: Disability Services Queensland

Contact: Coordinator of Post School Support Services & Adult Lifestyle Support Programs
             Ph: (07) 3224 2234

Website: www.disability.qld.gov.au

Local Area Coordination
(also addresses recommendation 18 & 22)

Local Area Coordination is a service provided by Disability Services Queensland, which supports people with a disability and their families who live in the local community. The local area coordinator works with people with disabilities, their families and the local community to bring about positive changes that:

assist people with a disability live independently and participate in the community;

assist families in their continued provision of care and support; and

result in communities becoming more welcoming and inclusive of people with disabilities and their families.

Target Group:

Specific rural and remote areas of Queensland have been targeted to be service by a local area coordinator. The service targets people with a disability as defined under the Queensland Disability Services Act (1992).

Coverage:

Gympie, Hervey Bay, Murgon, Kingaroy, Mundubbera, Emerald, Longreach, Roma, Chinchilla, Charleville, Cunnamulla, Mt Isa, Mareeba, Mossman, Cooktown and Thursday Island.

Timeframe: Ongoing

Responsible Agency: Disability Services Queensland

Contact: Program Development Coordinator, Local Area Coordination
             Ph: (07) 3224 8002

Website: www.disability.qld.gov.au

Friendship Program
(also addresses recommendation 16, 22 & 23)

The Friendship Program aims to enhance the opportunity for people with a disability to form friendships with other in the community by:

  • Encouraging friendship support through services and community groups,;
  • An individual support strategy.

Target Group:

Encouraging Friendship Support strategies are targeted to disability services and community groups.

Individual support is available to people with a disability aged 18 – 65 years. People who have limited friendship networks and do not have a supportive service to help them to develop and maintain friendships will be give priority in accessing individual support.

Coverage: State wide

Timeframe: Ongoing

Responsible Agency: Disability Services Queensland

Contact: State Coordinator
             Ph: (07) 3224 0630

Website: www.disability.qld.gov.au