Treasurer and Minister for Employment and Economic Development
The Honourable Andrew Fraser

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Training for unemployed at Blackwater Quarry

The Queensland Government, Salvation Army Employment Plus, civil construction and mining contractor Whicon and a registered training organisation are working together to train five unskilled, unemployed people for work in Blackwater Quarry.

Parliamentary Secretary for Employment and Economic Development, Jan Jarratt, said the Queensland Government’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative provided $10,500 towards the $57,500 project.

“The Blackwater Quarry Operations project is a wonderful opportunity for the participants, including four Indigenous people, to get the assistance they need to join the workforce,” Ms Jarratt said.

“Salvation Army Employment Plus is providing a mix of job preparation courses, while LD Training will deliver accredited black coal training which will include earning occupational health and safety tickets for skid steers and front-end loaders.

“Whicon is providing the use of their machinery for six weeks while the participants are learning on site.”

Salvation Army Employment Plus spokesperson Kirrilee Trist said working in the quarry would be good experience for the group.

“Using Whicon’s front-end loader, bobcat and dump truck gives the participants a chance to impress potential employers,” Ms Trist said.

“This is shaping up as a great project with organisations and government working together to assist five unskilled, unemployed people to get the training they need to work in the quarry, the mining industry or civil construction.

“The job preparation course we are delivering will help participants start and settle in to a new job so they can turn their skills and training into stable employment.”

For more information on the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative visit www.employment.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 925.

Media contacts:   Treasurer’s office - (07) 3224 6361 or (07) 3224 5982 
                               Salvation Army Employment Plus - Kirrilee Trist 0431 727 619

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