Last month, Brisbane City Council’s Youth in Recovery program was named Queensland’s best public sector training initiative at the 2003 Queensland Training Awards. State Employment and Training Minister, Matt Foley, announced 14 category winners at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre event, in front of 750 guests.
“In today’s competitive environment, a commitment to training and skills development can open up a world of opportunities and is integral to the success of an organisation,” the Minister said.
The awards, an initiative of the Training and Employment Board and the State Department of Employment and Training, are Queensland’s highest honour for apprentices, trainees, vocational students, employers, schools and training providers.
Brisbane City Council won the Public Sector Best Learning and Development Initiative Award, sponsored by the Office of Public Service Merit and Equity. Other contenders included Booringa Shire Council and the Queensland Department of Families.
Council’s Youth in Recovery initiative helps young people who have successfully completed a drug rehabilitation program. Council works with drug rehabilitation agencies and the community youth employment program, Jobtrack, to provide work preparation training, work experience and support to participants. They say the program has given them self esteem, confidence, and purposeful direction following their treatment. Many graduates have gone on to full time, part time and casual work or further education.
Brisbane will now represent Queensland in the Australian Training Initiative category of the 2003 Australian Training Awards, to be presented on the Gold Coast in November.
