The Queensland Government has announced it will provide $7 million in funding toward 365 traineeships and 110 apprenticeships across 63 local councils.
The announcement is part of the state government’s First Start Program, and includes 11 Indigenous councils.
Employment and Small Business as well as Training and Skills Development Minister Di Farmer said the program aimed to provide the young and disadvantaged job seekers with opportunities to gain a nationally recognised qualification and 12-24 months of paid employment.
“That’s a total of 475 new jobs created across Queensland and new careers getting started,” she said.
“Of these jobs, 74 per cent are in regional and remote Queensland and all 110 apprenticeships places have been allocated to regional and remote Queensland councils – an important and deliberate strategy to prioritise jobs in our regional communities.”
The announcement comes as Australian continues to weather the growing skills shortage, particularly in the trades.
Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Alison Smith said the program would be a major benefit to regional councils, which offer training across 240 occupational areas.
“In many parts of Queensland, councils are the biggest employers in the community,” she said.
“First Start is another way of giving people the jobs, training and skills they meed while helping them stay in the communities they love, particularly in First Nations councils, remote and regional areas.”
Visit www.qld.gov.au/skillingqueenslanders or call 1300 369 935 for more information.