2006

Wednesday 3rd August 2006
Bishops Host BBQ for Cessnock Business Community
Bishop Brian Farran, Bishop Michael Malone and Minister Michael Costa highlight how partnerships address unemployment
Local industry representatives from across the Cessnock and Pokolbin areas will attend a barbecue tomorrow hosted by the Anglican Bishop of Newcastle, the Right Reverend Dr Brian Farran and Catholic Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, the Most Reverend Michael Malone. Guest of honour at the event will be Minister for the Hunter, Michael Costa MLC. 

The bishops will host a special BBQ event to highlight how local business can benefit from participating in CHIPS (Cessnock Hospitality Industry Preparation Scheme), and to raise awareness of its value for both industry and the local community.

CHIPS was initiated by the Two Bishops Trust in 2003 to address the issue of long term unemployment in the Cessnock area. It provides training and work experience for local long term unemployed people, increasing their employability within the industry. To date 119 local people have completed their training with CHIPS, of which almost 50% are now employed with local businesses.

CHIPS is a unique example of a successful partnership established to address the difficult issues of unemployment and skills shortage in the Cessnock and Pokolbin areas.

The project is auspiced by the Two Bishops Trust and managed by the Samaritans Foundation, funded by the NSW Premiers Department and the BHP Welfare Trust and supported by partnerships with the Cessnock Community Renewal Project, TAFE NSW Hunter Institute and the Job Network.

According to Bishop Farran, “Local businesses are integral to the ongoing success of CHIPS. They support the program by offering work placements for the participants.  Not only does CHIPS offer employers the opportunity to give back to their community, it also provides them with a pool of qualified, committed and motivated employees in the current difficult employment market”.

Minister for the Hunter Michael Costa said the State Government was pleased to support the Scheme. “CHIPs is a credit to the many local people who have worked hard to make it a success. I hope local businesses and organisations will continue to support this program and support young people in the Cessnock area.”

The Two Bishops Trust, a collaborative venture between the Hunters’ Catholic and Anglican Churches aims to inspire and unite the whole community in finding workable, just and creative solutions for unemployment.  Key elements of the Trust are community building and development, individual skill development, one-to-one mentoring, business development and experiential learning.

WHAT:                          BBQ for local Cessnock businesses and industry hosted by Bishops Malone and Farran
WHEN:                          Friday 4th August 2006
WHERE:                        Harrigan’s Irish Pub, The Terrace, 2090 Broke Road Pokolbin
TIME:                             5pm for 5.30pm

Media Enquiries:  Catherine Mahony Ph: (02) 4979 1136 or 0419 263 901.

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