TRAINEES employed under the First Start program were celebrated in Logan last week when MP’s Leeanne Enoch and Shannon Fentiman congratulated Logan City Council on their involvement with the program.
57 councils participated in First Start in 2015/16 including Logan City Council with ten of their trainees funded by the program.
First Start is one of seven programs delivered under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, which aims to provide young people and disadvantaged job seekers with opportunities to gain a nationally recognised qualification and 12 months’ paid employment by undertaking a subsidised traineeship with a local council.
The First Start program has been operating for over 12 months and in 2015/16, $3.25 million in funding was made available for local councils to provide 260 new traineeship opportunities with a subsidy of $12,500 per trainee for 12 months employment.
Mayor Luke Smith said Logan City Council was committed to creating local employment opportunities by employing 48 trainees across all business units.
“Ten of our trainees are funded by the First Start program and next year this figure will double to 20,” he said.
“We’re grateful to the Queensland Government for funding this initiative.
“It’s an invaluable opportunity for council and for young people.
“Some will gain employment with the organisation, while others acquire marketable job skills or go on to tertiary study.”
Member for Algester Leeanne Enoch highlighted the positive benefit the program had on the lives of disadvantaged young people in the community.
“Throughout 2015/16, more than 87 per cent of First Start trainees and apprentices are young people aged 15 to 24 years, and 20 per cent are from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds,” she said.
“It’s also pleasing to note that male and female groups are equally represented across the total recruitments, with qualifications being undertaken across 15 different industry areas including business, primary industry and construction.”
Member for Waterford Shannon Fentiman said the First Start Program had created employment opportunities and encouraged young people to remain in their local communities.
“This program demonstrates the Palaszczuk government’s commitment to creating jobs for young people,” she said.
“Congratulations to Logan City Council for giving disadvantaged people access to skilled employment.”
