Those interested to work in the social service sector may now get help for training and job placement at a one-stop career centre - the first of its kind in the sector. This centre is part of the new Social Service Institute, which was officially launched on Friday morning by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

The Workforce Development Agency will fund the training and the operations of the career centre with a grant of up to $28 million over three years. The career centre aims to boost manpower in the sector by matching jobs for 2,000 individuals by 2015.

DPM Tharman, who is also Finance Minister said: "The solution to low incomes and inequality does not merely lie in supporting incomes through Government transfers or other police moves...It takes people with the passion and skills to help others. We must groom a larger pool of committed, qualified and skilled social service professionals."

The new institute at TripleOne Somerset replaces the Social Service Training Institute which already provides training courses and programmes for those in the social service sector.