Work Skills Traineeships (SQW Community Recovery)

For the second SQW funding round in 2022–23, a SQW Community Recovery package has been activated to assist with the clean-up and re-building program across 21 identified local government areas in South East Queensland and the Fraser Coast region as a result of widespread damage caused by extraordinary rainfall and flooding.

Projects funded under Work Skills Traineeships – SQW Community Recovery will offer immediate job opportunities to displaced workers and local job seekers in disaster affected areas to support the recovery effort.

Project overview

As part of the Small Business Recovery and Resilience Package, in the second SQW funding round of 2022–23, an additional $10 million is available for non-profit community-based organisations (CBOs) in flood affected areas to submit recovery related project proposals under the SQW Work Skills Traineeships program.

The Small Business Recovery and Resilience Package is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

While SQW does not ordinarily directly support small business recovery, this tailored initiative will support the various stages post the disaster event (e.g. ongoing clean-up and rebuilding programs) across the impacted regions as a result of widespread damage caused by the extraordinary rainfall and flooding in 2022.

Through Work Skills Traineeships – SQW Community Recovery, participants are employed full-time as entry-level trainees on work placement projects. There are 5 types of traineeships available at the certificate I level.

Participants will:

• earn a certificate I level qualification in business, construction, conservation and ecosystem management, hospitality or retail services
• gain practical experience in real work situations that align with their training
• complete paid work that can be included in their resumes
• receive a mix of career advice, job preparation skills and foundation skills.

Who does the program support?

Work Skills Traineeships primarily targets Queensland residents who either:

• are ineligible for Australian Government employment services or assistance
• require complementary services because they have significant barriers to learning and employment
• or
• have accessed Australian Government services for more than 6 months and remain unemployed.

Work Skills Traineeships are focused on developing vocational and employability skills for long term unemployed and disadvantaged job seekers and providing them with a pathway to employment.

What can the program funds be used for?

Work Skills Traineeships – SQW Community Recovery funding can only be expended on costs directly associated with the delivery of the project including:

• wages and on-costs for project coordinator and other delivery staff, trainee wages and on-costs for Work Skills Traineeships – SQW Community Recovery projects
• administration costs such as rent, accommodation, venue hire, office supplies, advertising, travel costs, vehicle hire/lease
• materials and equipment
• overheads or operating costs (with the management fee not to exceed 5% of total funds).

What types of projects can be funded?

Work Skills Traineeships – SQW Community Recovery projects could include:

• clearing debris and weed clearing
• repairing and erecting fencing
• restoring community buildings, facilities and public spaces
• revegetation and regeneration
• stabilising creek beds and riverbanks
• restoring affected beaches and foreshores
• restoring national parks
• repairing school facilities and playgrounds
• supporting social enterprise cafes and other community activities
• refurbishing community recreation areas, parks and sporting grounds – minor infrastructure works
• restoring and upgrading walkways, bikeways and footpaths.

Each project or intake must range in length or duration between 18–26 weeks.

Who can apply for funding?

Local councils, volunteer organisations, neighbourhood centres, youth, sporting, church and environmental organisations, peak industry bodies and other advocacy groups that can organise relevant projects that benefit the broader community are encouraged to apply for Work Skills Traineeships funding.

The delivery of training and assessment services for Work Skills Traineeships is funded under the User Choice program. A supervising registered training organisation (SRTO) must be engaged to provide training and assessment services to the trainees in line with their training plan. The SRTO must be approved as a Skills Assure supplier (SAS) under the User Choice program. Work Skills Traineeships are fully exempt from student contribution fees under User Choice.

Where can projects be delivered?

Work Skills Traineeships – SQW Community Recovery projects can only be delivered in the following local government areas:

1. Brisbane City Council
2. Bundaberg Regional Council
3. Fraser Coast Regional Council
4. Gold Coast City Council
5. Goondiwindi Regional Council
6. Gladstone Regional Council
7. Gympie Regional Council
8. Ipswich City Council
9. Lockyer Valley Regional Council
10. Logan City Council
11. Moreton Bay Regional
12. Noosa Shire Council
13. North Burnett Regional Council
14. Redland City Council
15. Scenic Rim Regional Council
16. Somerset Regional Council
17. South Burnett Regional Council
18. Southern Downs Regional Council
19. Sunshine Coast Regional Council
20. Toowoomba Regional Council
21. Western Downs Regional Council.

Organisation checklist

Organisations applying for funding to deliver Work Skills Traineeships – SQW Community Recovery projects will need to:

• contact the local DESBT regional office to discuss the application (phone 1300 369 935)
• demonstrate previous success in delivering similar programs and achieving outcomes or demonstrate capacity to manage and locally deliver a work placement project
• have the support and appropriate approval from council or other community/government agencies to undertake works if on public lands or involving works to public buildings
• employ, or be able to employ, suitably experienced and qualified staff to provide appropriate supervision, training and support to participants
• offer a variety of work activities, in line with the Work Skills Traineeship being undertaken, to ensure participants acquire a broad range of skills that will increase their competiveness in the job market and assist them to secure ongoing employment
• allow sufficient time for participants to learn new skills and establish a routine of attending work, in a supportive but structured environment.

How to apply

Applications for Work Skills Traineeships – SQW Community Recovery projects can be submitted via the SQW Application Portal under the existing Work Skills Traineeships program.

Learn more about the application process and how to apply.

Program documents

Work Skills Traineeships Guidelines for funding 2022–23 (PDF, 392KB)

Work Skills Traineeships 2022–23 fact sheet (PDF, 297KB)

Sample Skilling Queenslanders for Work services agreement (PDF, 533KB)

Last updated 10 November 2022