Cairns migrant employment service in danger of losing funding

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Created on Friday, 31 August 2012 13:22

Written by Editorial staff

A migrant employment service in Cairns in the north of Queensland is waiting on a decision from state premier Campbell Newman about whether cost cutting will cause the centre to close.

The funding for the migration consultants working at Centacare of $120,000 a year is due to expire in July 2013 and with unemployment in far north Queensland at 38 per cent, this could only lead to greater unemployment in the area, above the national average of 5.8 per cent. 

Centacare’s mission statement is “to provide social services to Cairns and the wider region, particularly people who are vulnerable, disadvantaged or marginalised within our community. Our vision is for a healthy and connected community that reflects and supports the dignity, equality and participation of all people”.

But CentaCare Cairns executive director Helga Biro told the ABC that the good work her organisation does could be undone by a cut in funding.

“I'm very concerned about it. It's a really good pathway to employment," she said. "We teach them about work life in Australia, how to write a resume, job search skills, assisting people with interviews and linking them up with employers,” Ms Biro said.

As a result of this program, over 70 people were helped in different ways with over 40 finding jobs while others were given additional training.

Cutting funding for a program that helps migrants to find work is likely to be a controversial move. There is a public perception that some migrant workers are dependent on government handouts, whereas programs such as these aim to break that cycle.

The Newman government is aiming cut costs in a bid to keep his election promise of returning his budget to surplus.