Sunshine Coast graduates shape new horticultural careers
New career prospects will be celebrated on the Sunshine Coast tomorrow for nine trainees in a specialised field of horticulture.
The aspiring 'aboriculturalists' are the first graduates in a series of 14-week training courses under the Bligh Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative.
Employment, Skills and Mining Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the job preparation and training that the jobseekers had successfully completed would help open up new employment opportunities to them.
'A formal qualification provides a more competitive edge for finding a job,' Mr Hinchliffe said.
'Tracking shows us that a year after receiving assistance of this type, more than two-thirds of participants are in work or undergoing further training.'
The 12-month Focused Employment Support project, coordinated by not-for-profit organisation Community Solutions, has received more than $351,000 to fund seven training programs and paid work placements for 70 jobseekers.
Tanya Scott, Community Solutions Project Officer, said these first graduates had been shown the required skills for the cultivation of trees and shrubs by Interlink Training, a subsidiary of vegetation management contractor Eastern Tree Service.
'People working in this industry need very particular skills that develop only with rigorous training and development,' Ms Scott said.
'These participants have trained in six units of competency from a Certificate II in Horticulture (Arboriculture), and also received assistance to prepare them for future job opportunities.'
'Skills training included working safely in the construction industry, occupational health and safety procedures, supporting arboriculture work, operate equipment and machinery, first aid, and using chainsaws.'
'They've engaged in vocation placement during the course, they've been referred to Skilling Solutions Queensland for further career guidance, and they've been invited to attend talks by guest speakers from industry,' she said.
The graduation will be held at 1pm tomorrow (Friday 9 December) at Community Solutions, 100 Sportsman's Pde, Bokarina.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work is a labour market initiative to help disadvantaged people in Queensland to overcome barriers and join the workforce.
Employment, Skills and Mining
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe