Brisbane City Council’s ‘working on’ program is moving from strength to strength. It was named Queensland’s best public sector training initiative at the 2003 Queensland Training Awards, and went on to be a joint winner of the National Initiative Awards later in the year. Not content with that accolade, it took out the 2003 National Award for Local Government in Social Development.
The program is part funded by the Queensland Department of Employment and Training under its Breaking the Unemployment Cycle Initiative Strategy.
Senior Program Officer, Margaret Harley, said the main reason for its success was flexibility. The program places young people recovering from drug dependency in employment and then helps them through the first year. Last year it funded 40 Youth in Recovery traineeships, creating jobs for young people who have undergone drug rehabilitation. Of this group of 40, ten were employed by Brisbane City Council itself. Participants are now working in a variety of fields including administration, parks and gardens, information technology, multi media and libraries.
The program recently scored its first apprenticeship with a position in maintaining heavy vehicles. Margaret said the scheme was successful because it involved both partnership and leadership. “Council takes the lead by employing a lot of young people and we work in partnership with the private sector to locate jobs.”
Council works with agencies and the community youth employment program, Jobtrack, to provide work preparation training, work experience and support to participants. Young people 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.
For more information phone Margaret Harley on (07) 3403 4146 or email hrpob8@brisbane.qld.gov.au
