Community Workforce Solutions has been given a grant through Get Active Brisbane to Project Manage the Fit and Fun Pilot Program. Karyn Mandrusiak of Community Workforce Solutions is the project manager.

The Fit and Fun Pilot Project is part of the Council’s 2010 vision of an Active and Healthy Brisbane City. It seeks to provide nutrition education and physical activity opportunities for children, their parents and families. These opportunities are to be provided as a community-based fun way of addressing the high levels of overweight and obesity in children.

The Fit and Fun pilot project will involve the co-operation of a number of parties, including Community Workforce Solutions, Brisbane City Council, Queensland University of Technology – School of Human Movement Studies, Sport and Recreation Queensland and two Bayside Primary Schools (Lindum State School and Manly West State School).

The Project will pilot healthy activities in local primary schools such as ‘Walk to and from School’, healthy tuck shops, nutrition information and physical activity sessions, train the parent, and ‘Get Active Schools’.

The project will commence in the two schools on 7 February 2003. The program will be run during school time for grades 1-4 and after school time and weekends for the whole family. We encourage all to participate in healthy eating and an active lifestyle.

We welcome any support from local organisations and businesses, for example, donations of sporting goods and hire, tennis lessons, sports clothing, healthy food, recipes and any information on keeping healthy for children and parents.

For more information on the Fit and Fun Pilot Program, please contact Karyn at Community Workforce Solutions on 3348 4307. 

CWS has received funding to deliver a Course in Introductory Computer Skills to Bayside participants.

Course Content:

Eligible participants:

• Unemployed people
• People with low levels of schooling
• People from culturally & linguistically diverse backgrounds
• People with low literacy levels

Course Dates & Length
This is a 2 days per week course for 8 weeks

Course Content:

• THHCOR01B – WORK WITH COLLEAGUES AND CUSTOMERS
  This unit deals with the interpersonal, communication and customer service skills required by all people working in the tourism and hospitality industries.
• THHCOR02B – WORK IN A SOCIALLY DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT
  This unit deals with the cultural awareness that is required by all people working in the tourism and hospitality industries.
• THHCOR03B – FOLLOW HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY PROCEDURES
  This unit deals with the skills and knowledge required to follow health, safety and security procedures. This unit applies to all individuals working in the tourism and hospitality industries.
• THHGHS01B – FOLLOW WORKPLACE HYGIENE PROCEDURES
  This unit deals with the skills and knowledge required to follow key hygiene procedures which apply in hospitality and tourism enterprises. It is particularly relevant to staff working in kitchens, housekeeping, food and beverage and tour operations involving the preparation of food.
• THHGCS01B – DEVELOP AND UPDATE LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
  This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to access, increase and update knowledge of the hospitality industry including different industry sectors and relevant industry legislation.
• THHBFB02B – PROVIDE A LINK BETWEEN KITCHEN AND SERVICE AREAS
  This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to provide general assistance in food and beverage service operations where the staff who take orders are supported by others who deliver food to and collect used items from a service point. It reflects the role of the food runner in food and beverage operations.
• THHBFB03B – PROVIDE FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICE
  This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to provide food and beverage service to customers in a range of food and beverage operations. It reflects the role of a waiter or a food and beverage attendant and may apply to different styles of service.
• THHBFB12B – PREPARE AND SERVE EXPRESSO COFFEE
  This unit deals with the skills and knowledge required to extract and serve espresso coffee using a commercial espresso machine, including storage of coffee and cleaning, care and maintenance of machinery.
• THHBFBCC00B – PREPARE SANDWICHES
  This unit deals with the skills and knowledge required to prepare and present a variety of sandwiches in a commercial kitchen or catering operation.
• THHGFA01B – PROCESS FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS
  This unit deals with the skills and knowledge required to process simple financial transactions in a range of hospitality contexts. These fundamental skills are essential for many people in a frontline customer service role in a range of tourism and hospitality contexts.
• THHGGA01B – COMMUNICATE ON THE TELEPHONE
  This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to communicate effectively on the telephone. It is an essential skill for large numbers of people working in all sectors of the tourism and hospitality industries.
  

Eligible participants:

• Unemployed people
• People with low levels of schooling
• People from culturally & linguistically diverse backgrounds
• People with low literacy levels

Job Opportunities:

For more information: Contact CWS on 3348 4307.

The Lindum Computer Club, funded through the Technology Survival Skills Program, will train jobseekers and migrants in introductory computer skills.

Course Content: Introductory computer skills including computer set-up, using a mouse, Microsoft Word, typing a document, saving documents, creating tables, using Excel and other Microsoft Programs, accessing the internet and using email.

Course Duration: 4 Half days over 2 weeks
Course Cost: Free for eligible participants
Course Eligibility: Participants may be either:

• A jobseeker not already accessing similar training
• A mother/father needing to update their skills for future employment
• A migrant or person from a non-English speaking background

On-going Support: Participants will become members of the Lindum Computer Club so they can maintain and develop their computer skills on a regular basis with other club members. Once a week, members of the club will be able to meet together to use CWS’ computer learning resources, browse the Internet, check emails and share knowledge and skills.
More information: Call CWS for more information on 3348 4307.

The Queensland Government’s concern for young offenders, whose unemployment increased their likelihood of their reoffending, led to the development of the Young Offenders Vocational Training Program in 1996 at Community Workforce Solutions (formerly Wynnum Enterprises).

For 6 months full-time, Community Workforce Solutions worked with 25 young offenders and trained these young people in skills required by employers. The participants undertook a vocational access course at Bremer TAFE, went on outdoor education canoeing trips, and gained work experience landscaping and developing gardens at local schools.

From this program, 15 young people assisted to secure work experience, traineeships, and part-time and full-time employment.

Community Workforce Solutions received funding for the Work Skills for Youth Programme from DETIR in 1997. The 6-month programme involved providing a range of work skills for 27 long-term unemployed young people.

• Building a colonial style fence for a local church,
• Constructing a twenty-one meter concrete wheel chair access ramp complete with hand rail for the disabled in the Wynnum area,
• Installation of drainage for a local church,
• Internal painting of a local church,
• Constructing a three level terraced landscaped area for a local church,
• The installation of a memorial garden and flag pole structure for the Wynnum RSL and Wynnum Historical Society,
• Construction of a garden area for a local church, Wynnum Baptist
• Tree planting and grounds enhancement for a local Primary School,
• Construction of an amphitheatre and landscaped area for a second local Primary School. 

On completion of the project 19 out of the 27 young people found employment after graduating in accredited courses and completing the local community projects.

The 'Youth Injected' project was designed by young people for young people in the Wynnum-Manly area on the outskirts of Brisbane, Australia.

The Youth Week project, 'Youth Injected 2003' aimed to encourage young people to inject their creative talents and ideas into the community.

Approximately 100-200 young people attended the Youth Injected 2003 Event which included skateboarding and writing competitions, commnuity stalls, youth rock band performance, sporting displays, movies, development of a youth website and a ‘speakout’ on issues of concern to young people.

Youth Injected 2003:

• Motivated young people to develop their creative talents in music, art, sport, drama and multimedia design
• Acknowledged and celebrated young people in the Wynnum-Manly area through a display of their talents
• Provided entertainment for young people during National Youth Week

The Youth Injected Project encouraged community organisations and governments to take a coordinated response to Youth Issues in the Wynnum-Manly area.

The Youth Injected Event incorporated:

• Youth Injected Skateboarding Competition
• Youth Injected Legal Street Art displays/workshops
• Youth Injected Music Competition
• Youth Injected Speak Out
• Youth Displays and Performances
• Youth Writers Competition

Youth Week Program Guide:

Sponsered by:

Thanks to Karen Brooks and Rowena Cory Lindquist for donating signed copies of their published books for the Writers Competiton and Speak Out. Check out their websites on:
www.karenrbrooks.com and www.powerup.com.au/~coryd

Youth Injected TShirts were proudly discounted by
'TShirt Corp' and 'Cosmic Design'

Sausages were proudly donated by
'KR Darling Downs & Cresta' and 'Hieatt KS & Sons'

YOUTH INJECTED SPEAK OUT

Five young people from the community spoke out about issues of concern at Youth Injected 2003 Speak out, as part of National Youth Week Activities.

The Speak out was very successful and generated meaningful dialogue between the young people and the Community Panel.

Issues topics varied from Arab and Israeli relations, youth representation, how youth are perceived, melanoma cancer awareness and youth needs in the Wynnum Manly community.

The Community Panel involved Pual Lucus MLA, Counselor Peter Cumming, Cheryl Heron (President of Wynnum Manly Regional Development Partnerships), Julia Ponder (President of Wynnum Chamber of Commerce) and Paul Brooks (President of Manly Chamber of Commerce).

BABI Manager, Lynne Rose, hopes to see further community discussions come out of the Youth Injected Speak Out.

‘BABI, together with other youth agencies and young people, would like to see all levels of government working together to address the identified need for Youth Space and avenues for Youth Participation’, said Lynne.

‘Perhaps this can be achieved through the formation of a Wynnum Manly Youth Council, Youth Action Group and/or youth representation on community committee’s such as the Wynnum Manly Regional Development Partnerships.’

‘I would like to see more promotion of the positive achievements of young people within our local community.’

‘The involvement of youth in our National Youth Week Activities highlights the potential for contribution of young people and that should be acknowledged and continued’, she said.

Performed at Youth week

The Youth Injected Skateboard Competition and guest band ‘Home by Five’ was a feature at the Youth Injected Event at the Lota Skate Park and PCYC on Saturday 12th April.

Young people experimented with the Breakdancing and Aerosol Art Workshops, tried their luck with Speedball and watched displays of Roller Hockey, Aikido and Belly Dancing at the PCYC.

There was a free BBQ sponsored by KR Darling Downs, Crest and Hieatt KS & Sons and the Milo Energy van distributed Milo product for approximately three hours.

Youth Injected Coordinator, Amanda Tarbit, said she was pleased the rain held off and so many young people attended throughout the day.

‘Youth Injected was fabulously supported by local young people, businesses and community leaders’, said Amanda.

‘A special thanks goes to our major sponsors GenR8 Clothing and Port of Brisbane, with their support the Youth Injected Taskforce were able to provide great competition prizes, quality promotional tools and a well attended Youth Event for Wynnum Manly’, she said.

Amanda encourages young people to get involved next year to make Youth Injected an annual Youth Week Event for Wynnum Manly.

The Youth Injected 2003 project was funded by the Office of Youth Affairs, Department of Employment and Training.

Community Workforce Solutions and a core group of 10 young people from the local Bayside community developed the Youth Injected 2002 project. The project was funded through the Department of Employment and Training, and the Office of Youth Affairs, for National Youth Week.

• The Youth Injected Website
• The Youth Injected Music Competition
• The Youth Injected Speakout and Website Launch.

The core team of young people who worked on the project included jobseekers on the Work for the Dole project with Mt Gravatt Training Centre. They worked hard at designing a website for youth week.

The Youth Injected 2002 was a very successful Youth Week project with the activities culminating in the Youth Injected Speakout with 40-50 people coming from the community. At the Speakout, four young people spoke out on issues of concern to them, the Music competition entrants and winners were announced, the youth website was viewed, sausages were eaten, and young people were acknowledged and congratulated for their efforts.

The Peer Support Program was a collaborative youth program, developed by BABI Youth and Family Support, CWS and Operation Care and funded by the Department of Families in 2002-2003.

The Peer Support Program trained 30 young people in life and leadership skills so they can then provide support and assistance to their peers.

This Peer Support Program had 5 distinct stages:

30 young people 15-17 participated in the program of leadership training, mentoring and outdoor education activities with excellent outcomes for the young people including increased self-esteem, skill development and increased support networks for the young people.