Job program works
YOUNG Steven Quinn is a happy man.
That’s because, at 24, after more than six years of trying and many disappointments, finally he has secured his first full- time job.
He is employed by Townsville dealership Pickerings as a car detailer.
It has come about because of the new federal program, called Youth Jobs PaTH, tackling the country’s disastrous youth unemployment, which at Townsville is running at around 22 per cent.
Mr Quinn’s lack of permanent work was not from want of trying. He secured a lot of work but always as a casual.
“I love to work. I applied for hundreds of jobs a month but I was lucky to get a phone call or email back just to get an interview,” Mr Quinn said.
“This is awesome. I can’t get over the fact that I’m working full- time.”
Mr Quinn registered with employment services provider Workways, and they liaised with Pickerings and the Department of Employment.
The program provides training, sup- ported internships and wage subsidies once interns are hired.
Pickerings human resources manager Jaret Grant said they were involved in the program’s trials and were among the first to accept interns.
“It’s been an amazing program to assist employers to train and evaluate the skills of applicants and assist with the unemployment issue we are facing in regional Queensland,” Mr Grant said.
“This is really supporting small and large business in the region.”
Under the program, interns aged be- tween 17 and 24 are paid an additional $ 200 a fortnight on top of Centrelink payments, while employers receive $ 1000 to help cover internship costs.
If interns are hired, the Government pays a subsidy of $ 6500 or $ 10,000.
Since April three young people have been employed by Townsville businesses following internships and another 11 are undertaking internships.
A further 129 Youth Bonus Wage Subsidy agreements have been entered.
Mr Grant encouraged Townsville employers to take up the initiative.