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2011 Queensland Natural Disasters Jobs and Skills Package

Background to the Jobs and Skills Package
What is in the Jobs and Skills Package?
Information on the Rural Resilience Package
Where can I get more information about the package?
Where can I get more information about other assistance?
Jobs and Skills Package fact sheets

Background to the Jobs and Skills Package 

Skills Queensland, in partnership with the Employment Initiatives Division of the Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE) and the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), has developed the $83 million 2011 Queensland Natural Disasters Jobs and Skills Package to support Queensland industry, businesses and communities to recover from the recent flood and cyclone crises.

The package is an investment in skills and employment initiatives aiming to:

  • mitigate skills and job losses
  • support the retention of skilled workers in local communities
  • address emergent skills shortages.

The Jobs and Skills Package will assist approximately 10 000 Queenslanders and focuses on:

  • providing community capability in the worst affected areas to support the recovery effort
  • providing immediate job opportunities for residents of affected communities to support the recovery effort, to support the re-building program and to ensure local residents have the opportunity to remain in their local communities
  • maintaining of apprentice numbers in critical industries to ensure skilled labour is available when local economies improve and to alleviate the impact of skills shortages in the longer-term
  • alignment of future investment in skills development to maximise local employment as part of the re-building program.

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What is in the Jobs and Skills Package?

The Jobs and Skills Package comprises four key skills and employment initiatives, including:

  1. Community Capability - funding of $16.55 million to build the capacity of affected communities to support local industry, coordinate employment and skills assistance and maximise available funding opportunities under the Package. Read more on the Community Capability component of the Jobs and Skills Package.
  2. Green Jobs - funding of $39.30 million to provide employment and work experience opportunities for eligible people on projects targeted at rebuilding community and public infrastructure and environmental restoration following the natural disaster. Read more about the Green Jobs component of the Jobs and Skills Package. 
  3. Apprentice Support - funding of $14.15 million to implement assistance measures to support employers to retain apprentices and trainees; to provide employment and training opportunities to those apprentices and trainees that are stood down or cancelled; to expand the Out-of-Trade Register to provide a link to future employment opportunities; and to provide additional apprentice incentives to maximise employment during the recovery phase. Read more on the Apprentice Support component of the Jobs and Skills Package.
  4. Priority Skills Development - funding of up to $13.00 million for training to address priority skills development in regions and industries directly affected by these natural disasters; support funded Community Work Placement projects; provide pre-employment training aligned to local job opportunities; support indigenous participation; or address other local priorities. Read more on the Priority Skills Development component of the Jobs and Skills Package.

The Queensland and Australian Governments are committed to increasing employment and training opportunities for Indigenous Australians. These outcomes will contribute to the achievement of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) "Closing the Gap" targets.

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Rural Resilience Package

The Rural Reconstruction Package is a jointly funded Queensland and Australian Government assistance package to assist regional communities with the recovery process.

The $20 million package is being administered by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority in far north Queensland. It will fund up to 12 Industry Recovery Officers, assist with farm and waterway clean-ups, counselling and education support services.

This package is administered by the Employment Initiatives Division of the Department of Education, Training and Employment. 

For information on this program, visit www.disasterassist.gov.au or view the media release.

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Where can I get more information about the package?

The fact sheets below provide more detail on the suite of initiatives, including eligibility and the application process.

For further information on any of the initiatives within the package, contact the Jobs and Skills Package Hotline on 1800 773 048 or email disasterpackage@skills.qld.gov.au

Read more about the Australian Government initatives within the Queensland Natural Disasters Jobs and Skills Package.

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Where can I get more information about the package?

For more information about other Queensland Government support and assistance available to affected individuals, communities and businesses visit the Community Services website.

For more information about other Australian Government support and assistance available to affected individuals, communities and businesses visit www.disasterassist.gov.au.

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Jobs and Skills Package fact sheets

Last updated: 15/05/2012