Financial scheme to help affected Queensland industries announced

Queensland Minister for Employment, Skills and Mining and Prime Minister Julia Gillard have announced an $83 million Queensland natural disasters jobs and skills package to help get stricken communities back on their feet.

Queensland industries, businesses, apprentices and trainees affected by the summer floods or Cyclone Yasi will be supported through the scheme.

The skills package is part of the more than $5 billion the Commonwealth is expected to contribute to rebuilding Queensland.

It includes $4 million for Jobs Skills Development Officers, $36 million for Community Work Placements, $14.1 million for apprentice training and support, and $13 million for skills training in priority areas.

One of the package’s key initiatives will be a flexible funding pool of $12 million to pay for small-scale capital works and employment and training initiatives.

Jobs Skills Development Officers will work closely with local governments, organisations and businesses to help coordinate skills training and provide opportunities for local residents in the rebuilding effort.

Skills Queensland is consulting with local councils, industries and communities to determine where and how the officers can be best mobilised. They are also working with the tourism, manufacturing, mining, retail and rural sectors to roll out training and address immediate skills priorities.