Figures released today show the Palaszczuk Government continues to honour its commitment to the fiscal principle of growing frontline services in line with population growth.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Public Service Commission figures for the December quarter showed a slight decrease in the number.
“The 0.44% reduction in full-time equivalent numbers in the public service reflects a seasonal decline in teacher numbers at the end of the school year,” the Premier said.
“It also reflects a ‘point in time’ calculation of more casual and temporary employees working in hospitals as full-time staff took leave over the Christmas-New Year period.
“We saw strong growth in the key area of child safety, with an additional:
- 49 child safety officers;
- 29 youth workers;
- 11 child safety support officers; and
- 33 support staff
In conjunction with the release of the quarterly Public Service Commission report, the Premier noted that her Government’s election commitment to place Defence veterans in public sector employment was exceeding its target.
“We committed to place 100 of our former service women and men in public sector roles within 12 months,” the Premier said.
“In just nine months, we’ve already found jobs for 166 veterans, and are always looking for more.
“Around 1,600 Queenslanders leave the ADF each year and many have difficulty finding work.
“We now have 166 valuable workers and they have the dignity of jobs and a new career.”
David Schembri served in Afghanistan and East Timor and now works in the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
“It’s a fantastic program and anything I can do to help more servicemen know about it I will do,” he said.
Benjamin Knight served in Afghanistan in artillery.
“I got out of the military six years ago and there wasn’t this level of support,” Mr Knight said.
“The transition from military life to civilian life is very difficult and the Queensland Government supports that.
“You’re serving the public and you have an opportunity to make a difference which is what the military is all about as well.”
Ian Christie said the best thing you can give a veteran is a stable job.
“That stability is what they are looking for when they get out,” he said.
“It’s still serving but in a different way.”
The Veterans’ Employment Pathway includes a virtual careers fair held last year and participation in the ADF Member and Family Transition Seminars in Brisbane.
Most have found work in either Brisbane or Townsville but also Mackay, Rockhampton, Cairns, Wide Bay and Toowoomba.
Most have started careers in nursing and teaching but others have started apprenticeships, are working as engineers, carpenters, rangers, in fire safety and IT.
The Public Service Commission report can be found here.
