General News
13 August, 2025
Funds to train 40 students
THE Marlin Coast Neighbourhood Centre has been granted $186,700 for job-ready training by the state government through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work (SQW) initiative to deliver its Move Up, Skill Up project.
It is the second largest grant the centre has received and will enable 40 people to be trained in a certificate III individual support aged and disability qualification.
Centre manager Prue Rheuben said the funding would allow the centre to train 20 students in two intakes in an 18-week course, which also included 120 hours of work placement.
“We were blown away by the funding and absolutely thrilled,” she said.
Ms Rheuben said over eight years the centre had put through 320 students.
She said the students were generally aged 25-years-old-plus from disadvantaged backgrounds.
“It’s a fantastic program. We outsource a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to deliver the program with added support from our education support coordinator Allison Smith,” Ms Rheuben said.
She said there were waiting lists for each intake.
Member for Barron River Bree James said the new funding would allow the centre to expand its successful training and employment support programs, helping more locals in the Far North Queensland region gain the skills and confidence they needed to move into meaningful work.
“I know how much the Marlin Coast Neighbourhood Centre does for our community and I’m incredibly proud to see them receive (one of) their biggest-ever grants through Skilling Queenslanders for Work,” Miss James said.
“They’ve successfully delivered this program in the past with fantastic results, helping so many locals gain skills, confidence and a fresh start. This new funding will allow them to support even more people across our region and it’s so well deserved.”
The Move Up, Skill Up project will focus on training disadvantaged job seekers, providing them with practical skills and support to help them secure lasting employment.
Employment and Training Minister Ros Bates said the funding was part of the government’s focus on rebuilding Queensland’s economic strength by backing hardworking individuals, strong communities and proven local initiatives.
“We are backing hardworking Queenslanders by investing where it matters most – in skills, training and job pathways,” she said.
