Community growth program celebrated

A SPECIAL event to celebrate the GROW Bendigo program will be held at Red Energy Arena on Tuesday. 

The event will gather local partners to celebrate social and economic achievements of the program since its inception.  

GROW was originally founded in Geelong in 2013 to support employment growth.  

The initiative was rolled out by the State Government across regional centres including Bendigo in 2019. 

Program manager Rob Murphy said over the course of the program there had been 240 employment outcomes for people from First Nations and Karen communities, as well as for people with disabilities and the long-term unemployed.  

“It’s been a successful program and there’s been lots of little success stories, like the young person mentor program that was run last year,” he said. 

A partnership with Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services resulted in a significant number of roles secured with GROW partners. 

Workshops to help people develop skills including interview techniques have also been successful. 

The recent State budget came with news that funding for GROW had been withdrawn in Victoria. 

“We were surprised,” Mr Murphy said. “When we think about what is happening in the community with the Commonwealth Games and the need in terms of what we’re going to need in the Bendigo community, I was personally really shocked to see the program not funded.” 

After 5 aims to celebrate the achievements of the GROW program as well as reflect the employment needs of the Bendigo community going forward. 

The event will start at 5.30pm on 18 July at Red Energy Arena. Limited free tickets are available via Eventbrite.