Employment (WFD & CJP)
Community Jobs Plans (CJP)
Community Jobs Plans are now widely known as Skilling Queenslanders for Work programs funded through the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations. CJP's are primarily aimed at skilling up and reengaging Queenslanders who have been unemployed long term (generally six months or more) in an effort to assimilate them back into a training, education or employment environment.
Programs are required to run for a minimum of 13 weeks and can be either full or part time. Generally CJP programs will be funded from around $60,000 plus. The majority of funding goes towards wages for a program coordinator and program participants, remaining funds are used for transport, material and equipment, training and management of the funding monies (ie: administration).
There are several main streams that programs can be run under including childcare, administration, agriculture and building, with funding targeting youth, indigenous and long term unemployed. DEIR funding for CJPs is usually open twice a year.
During the program, participants will undertake a variety of training opportunities in their relevant field, including updating or gaining of licences (blue cards, machinery tickets etc), first aid certificates and TAFE courses in applicable subjects.
There are also a set of compulsory modules that each participant must complete, covering areas such as job readiness, problem solving and workplace health and safety. Resumes are updated and canvassing of job opportunities in the area is undertaken.
Towards the end of the program a graduation is held where participants receive certificates outlining the areas in which they are competent and they have an opportunity to show the business and local community the contribution they have made over the preceding months.
PCYC has conducted CJP's in various areas around the State with some recent programs in North Queensland in Charters Towers (youth focused and in the administration stream, six participants in 2006 and six participants in 2007); in Innisfail, as a result of the Cyclone Larry recovery fund (these had youth involvement but were not primarily youth focused and were in a crossover agricultural/building stream, eight participants in 2006 and six in 2007).
Across all of these programs around 85% of participants went into some type of employment, training or education by the end of the CJP. Community Jobs Plans are an excellent way of highlighting the positive contribution that young people can make to their community by giving them the opportunity to gain skills, training and experience in employment related fields while earning a wage. Community Jobs Plans allow PCYC to contribute to their communities while providing a valuable service and opportunity for young people and the wider community.
Work for the Dole (WFD)
PCYC acts as a sponsor organization for the Work for the Dole Program.
We work with Community Work Coordinators to provide work experience opportunities for participants. We provide structured activities to improve participants' employment prospects and vocational skills, and encourage more active and effective participation in the workplace.
This work experience will enhance participants' ability to work as part of a team, take directions from a supervisor, work independently, communicate effectively, and be motivated and dependable.
A project PCYC runs at Beenleigh, Bayside and Inala is cooking and supplying nutritious meals to the community. This project works with local community organisations, who distribute the meals to the needy in their areas. The participants on the project gain skills for the hospitality industry, which generally lead them on to paid employment.