Media Release by The Hon Jane Prentice MP

Carer skills can help you get a job

Joint Media Release with:

    • The Hon John Ajaka MP, NSW Minister for Disability Services

Assistant Minister for Disability Services the Hon Jane Prentice MP and NSW Minister for Ageing and Disability Services the Hon John Ajaka today launched the SkillsLink2Work website and toolkit.

This new website will help carers recognise that the skills they have gained from caring for a loved one can be useful when re-entering the paid workforce.

Assistant Minister Prentice said the SkillsLink2Work website would benefit many of the 2.7 million Australians providing unpaid care.

“The Commonwealth Government is delighted to support this NSW Government initiative.

“Carers make a priceless contribution to our society and economy and the Commonwealth Government is committed to supporting them.

“Carers bring valuable skills and experience to workplaces and I encourage those carers who may be thinking about getting paid work to use this website to see how their skills can lead to opportunities in paid employment,” she said

Mr Ajaka said the SkillsLink2Work website takes the difficulty out of identifying carers’ employable skills so they can combine caring with paid work.

“Carers place the needs of others ahead of their own yet their hard work often goes unrecognised. Their commitment to caring for a family member or friend can make it difficult to be in paid work” he said.

“The NSW Government is committed to ensuring that all carers in NSW are supported – I hope this resource provides both practical help and a confidence boost to those carers or former carers who are considering paid employment.”

Developing a tool to recognise carers’ skills was identified as a commitment under the NSW Carers Strategy – a five year plan to improve the position of carers in NSW.

SkillsLink2Work is the result of a partnership between the Commonwealth Government Department of Social Services and the NSW Government Department of Family and Community Services. Its development was led by the NSW Community Services and Health Industry Training Advisory Body (NSW ITAB) in consultation with carers.

For more information about SkillsLink2Work visit http://www.skillslink2work.com.au