Government initiative extended for Toowoomba’s unemployed

City jobseekers will receive another chance to gain meaningful employment thanks to the extension of a key government initiative.

Minister Di Farmer and MP Brittany Lauga at the Small Business roadshow in Rockhampton.

Toowoomba jobseekers will have a greater chance of locating local employment and training pathways as the State Government prepares to extend the Regional Jobs Committees initiative.

The committees in Toowoomba will be extended to connect government initiatives and economic activities, which will in turn create employment and training opportunities to residents look for work.

Employment and Small Business Minister and Training and Skills Development Minister Di Farmer said this election commitment was a critical regional response to help Queensland’s economic recovery.

“Regional Jobs Committees help local businesses, local industries and local employee groups address regional employment and training needs and solutions,” Ms Farmer said.

“Through the recent Small Business Roadshow I heard directly from almost 3000 people and employers about what they need to keep their local businesses and communities strong.

“They want to find ways to harness existing government programs to suit their regional needs, build a skilled workforce, while tapping into local expertise.

“One of the best ways to do that is through the fantastic work of Regional Jobs Committees, which are creating local jobs and meeting business demands for now and into the future.”

Ms Farmer said on her recent trip to Toowoomba that the city’s inclusion in southeast Queensland made it hard for employment initiatives to take off in the region.

The Regional Jobs Committees are one solution.

“In Toowoomba we’ve seen the RJC bring together a range of providers in the public and private sector throughout the Darling Downs to identify, share and support placed-based opportunities to get people into jobs,” Ms Farmer said.

“The on-the-ground engagement with local schools, training organisations and business leaders is critical in determining where we need to focus in terms of local employment and training.

“These RJC extensions won’t just keep that work going but it will now enable existing and any new RJCs to connect, to create a better picture so government investment and programs can be better targeted.”