Local young people get full-time jobs through BoysTown’s skills program

Practical, quality support and education is providing Ipswich with outcomes that benefit young people and the community with half of those graduating from a workskills program this week securing full-time jobs.

Practical, quality support and education is providing Ipswich with outcomes that benefit young people and the community with half of those graduating from a workskills program this week securing full-time jobs.

All eight young people enrolled in BoysTown’s Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) workskills traineeships program will graduate this week (16 February), with special guest Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale in attendance.

According to BoysTown General Manager Brendan Bourke, all the young people in the program have showed initiative and are keen to secure a job and this is paying dividends.

“We are seeing young people who are highly employable with a keen drive and passion to work,” Mr Bourke said.

“Like Calvin Duncan, who has consistently displayed great mateship and always drives and creates innovation within the team environment. He’d be an excellent worker in any occupation he chooses.”

Calvin is one of four graduates already offered permanent positions with Queensland Rail. Another graduate is going through an interview process for a local company and the others are also keen to get work.

While on the program, the participants engaged in a variety of activities that will benefit the Ipswich community, including the construction of new pathways, rejuvenation projects and work with the Ipswich City Council and its conservation teams to eradicate specific weed species.

“Work has included planting around 1,500 new trees, track clearing and bollarding on Little White Rock walking track, The Bluff and Melaluca bush walking trails and the construction of a new pathway of approximately 120M in length.” Mr Bourke said.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale says the positive results are a testament to the success of the program in helping young people into the workforce.

“This is a tremendous win-win for everyone involved. Importantly, young people who have disengaged from schooling now have the chance to reengage and gain real-world skills to increase their prospects for future employment,” Cr Paul Pisasale said.

“The people of Ipswich are grateful for all the hard work these trainees have done on our behalf and are proud to be part of their skill development.”

The SQW initiative is proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government. It was implemented to increase workforce participation in under-utilised or disadvantaged communities by providing trainees with practical skills and up to a Certificate III qualification.

-ENDS-

About BoysTown

BoysTown offers a broad range of services that care for children, young people and families in need.

Services include counselling offered nationally through Kids Helpline and via face to face support programs in several Australian states; employment, education and training for disadvantaged young people; refuges for families experiencing homelessness and/or domestic violence; education programs and support for parents, and work with Indigenous people in both urban and remote Australian locations.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY:
Date: 16 February
Time: 3pm
Graduates of the program
Mayor Paul Pisasale

Media Contacts:
Ernestine Lavalle, KDPR | (07) 3136 2555 | 0411 691 241 | [email protected]
Andrea Dickson, KDPR | (07) 3136 2555 | 0421 971 923 | [email protected]