Community Workforce Solutions (CWS) is a not-for-profit organisation that has been involved in government-funded programs since its inception in 1996. Hundreds of people have participated in CWS' employment programs and received invaluable training and assistance in finding meaningful work.

Our Government-funded programs have been very successful, achieving both a high standard of service as well as positive outcomes for our clients.

CWS is currently involved in the following goverment-funded programs:

• Personal Support Program
• Community Jobs Plan - Employment Assistance Program (CJP-EA)
• TSS

Some of the government-funded program CWS has been involved in:

• Work for the Dole Projects
• Young Offenders Vocational Training Program
• Work Skills for Youth
• Youth Injected 2002 - National Youth Week
• Community Training Partnerships Program
• Active Kids
• Youth Injected 2003 - National Youth Week
• Youth Injected 2004 – National Youth Week Project
• Youth Voice Committee Development Project
• Youth Space Project
• Computer Training
• Job Ready Clubs
• Nationally Recognised Training

Community Workforce Solutions has been successfully delivering Work for the Dole projects since the pilot round in 1997. Throughout the Work for the Dole scheme CWS has provided valuable work experience for over 1000 jobseekers in areas from IT and childcare, to landscaping and woodwork. CWS has always been involved in caring for the environment and has been committed to bush regeneration projects since the program began.

In 2002 Work for the Dole participants have been working on a variety of community projects. Through the Work for the Dole program, jobseekers have had the opportunity to develop websites for community organisations, plant a community garden at Lindum, develop original woodwork pieces, restore furniture, and be involved in hundreds of other support roles within community not-for-profit organisations in all areas in Brisbane.

Community Workforce Solutions held a market day in July 2002 to showcase the woodwork and furniture pieces created on the Work for the Dole program.

CWS has delivered a number of Work for the Dole Projects in Web Design. Participants on the projects worked with skilled supervisors to develop the following websites for community organisations:

CWS has been funded under the QLD Government's Smart State Initiative to deliver the Community Training Partnership program in the Port of Brisbane and surrounding areas. This program aims to provide accredited training for over 200 people who are unemployed, underemployed or at risk of becoming unemployed.

• Transport and Distribution
• Metals and Engineering
• Information Technology and Telecommunications
• Community Services and Health

The response from businesses, community organisations and individuals, has been overwhelming. CWS is providing CTPP clients with accredited training such as Certificate 4 in Information Technology, Software Applications courses, Certificate 3 & 4 in Community Services, Certificates in Engineering, and a range of other training courses.

CWS provides support to all participants on the program so they can achieve their training goals and outcomes. We also provide training in study skills, career counselling, job search training, communication skills, financial management, computer skills, time management, managing stress and other training support as required.

The PSP is a Commonwealth Government initiative funded through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).

The PSP provides personalised support for people who are experiencing personal, economic or social difficulties in their lives. The programme helps people to participate fully in their local community by providing individuals with information, resources and access to services.

At Community Workforce Solutions we offer a personalised service that caters for participant’s needs. The participant, along with their support worker, develops an action plan that identifies areas that they feel they need assistance with. Their support worker is able to provide them with relevant information regarding services in the local community that can help to address these needs. Participants receive ongoing support while on the PSP.

In addition to our head office at Lindum, the PSP is also available at our Woodridge and South Brisbane offices.

For more information on the PSP visit www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Individual/DisadvantagedJobseekers/

Community Workforce Solutions delivers a Community Employment Assistance Program, funded through the Department of Employment and Training - The Job Ready Club.

CWS assists people who are long-term unemployed, mature age, unemployed young people, young offenders, and women aiming to return to the workforce. Through the New Beginnings program, participants will be offered a program of:

• Skills assessment and career counselling, using the "New Directions" counselling program
• Accredited training in information technology, horticulture
• Job search
• Life skills training
• Relevant work experience

Job Ready Club & Work Experience Placements: for people who are long term unemployed, living in the Bayside area and not on Intensive Assistance / Customised Assistance with Centrelink. Activities include Work Experience, Career Counselling, Job Search Assistance, Resume Assistance, Interview Techniques, Application Letters. Regular Seminars are held on Thursdays. You can download Getting the Edge poster here….(Getting the Edge poster)

Conversational Cafe for Bayside Migrants: Each Tuesday come and practice your English, bring a friend 12.00 - 1.00pm Meals available for half price ($2-3)

Free Internet Training for people wanting to enter the workforce who are not on Intensive Assistance / Customised Assistance with Centrelink. Tuesdays 10.30am-12.00pm

Parents wanting to return to the workforce Free Seminars are held regularly at Community Workforce Solutions.Topics covered include:
• Issues relevant to returning to the workforce after having a break for family commitment
• Parent’s sharing their stories of breaking back into the workforce
• Options for employment assistance
• Current trends in the world of work today

You can download an informational poster for the seminar here (Parents.doc)

To download a flyer for the program, please click here (CEAP 0304 Flyer.doc).

CWS, BABI Youth and Family Support and the Youth Participation Committee have received funding from the Department of Employment and Training to deliver a project for National Youth Week 2004.

‘Youth Injected 2004’ is about young people injecting their creative talents and ideas into the community.

Youth Injected 2004 will involve a series of activities organised by community organisations, high schools and young people to celebrate and recognise young people in the Wynnum-Manly area.

The Youth Injected 2004 Project will incorporate the Youth Injected 2004 Writing Competition, Youth Injected 2004 Website, and the Youth Injected 2004 Event.

The Youth Injected 2004 Event is planned for Saturday 3rd April 2004 and will incorporate:

• Youth Injected Skate, Blade and Bike – Local youth groups
• Youth Injected Legal Street Art - BABI and Wynnum PCYC
• Youth Injected Writing Competition Announcements
• Youth Injected Art, Writing, Photography and Video display
• Youth Injected Speak Out – Youth Voice Committee
• Youth Displays and Performances – High schools, Local Youth Performance, School Bands, School Drama classes & Arts
• And much more

To keep updated on the Youth Injected Project, log on to our Youth Week 2004 website.

To see what happened last year for National Youth Week in the Wynnum Manly area, go to (link to Youth Injected 2003 – National Youth Week)

The Youth Voice Committee Development Project is a collaboration of BABI Youth & Family Support and Community Workforce Solutions, and is funded through the Department of Employment and Training, Office of Youth Affairs.

The project involves the coordination and development of recently established Youth Voice Committee in the Wynnum and surrounding suburbs. The Committee was established in May 2003 by a core group of young people aged12-25 to “generate positive youth images, plan youth events and plan youth facilities in Wynnum/Manly”. It is in the early stages of development and funding is sought to provide shared learning, youth development workshops, and experiential learning for members and other interested young people in the community.

The project goals are:

The project aims to develop young people’s skills & knowledge in areas such as establishment and development of youth committees and groups; peer support, youth leadership; youth justice and advocacy; affecting local council, state and federal government decision-making processes; media relations; proactive youth affairs; successful government funding applications; youth enterprise; planning successful youth events; establishing innovative youth networks; developing effective youth strategies; and experiential leadership development.

For more information on the Youth Voice Committee, log on to our youth website

The Youth Space project aims to enable a “youth space”, develop youth leadership skills and provide cultural and artistic opportunities for young people in the Wynnum Manly area.The Youth Space will provide opportunities for young people to pursue sporting and active recreational activities, including involvement in break dancing workshops and other activities identified by young people such as volleyball, basketball and dance. Young people will be consulted as to the activities and workshops they are interested in participating in, and recreational and/or sporting activities that meet new emerging trends will be encouraged and developed to meet the needs of young people.

The Youth Space Project also aims to document the culture of young people in 2004 in the Wynnum Manly area through the development of a Youth Film and the showcasing of young people’s talents. The objectives of the Youth Space Project will be to:

• Provide opportunities for youth-specific cultural activities, including workshops in film making, hip hop culture, beat boxing, breakdancing, poetry, aerosol art, illustration software, computer image manipulation
• Provide opportunities for young people to have input into the local planning and development of permanent youth space in Wynnum/Manly
• Develop a safe and democratic space for young people to meet
• Expand and develop the existing Youth Voice Committee process to be fully representative of young people in the Wynnum/Manly areas
• Encourage community understanding of youth culture through positive promotion of young people, and to maximize their participation in community
• Provide the skills necessary in career building ie. team work, leadership, technical skills, self expression, self determinism
• Be an advocacy tool for the development of a youth facility in Wynnum/Manly