Employment Facilitators start work to find jobs

JOBSEEKERS in Victoria’s south west will benefit from the federal government’s Local Jobs Program with the appointment of two new Employment Facilitators.

Carley Brennan and Tracey Jeffery, who started their roles on September 27, will identify labour market challenges in the Barwon region while generating and co-ordinating employment and training opportunities for local jobseekers.

Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson said the facilitators would enable skilled workers to reach opportunities in sectors including health care, retail and manufacturing across the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, the Borough of Queenscliffe and the Golden Plains Shire.

“Our goal is to build opportunities for our local workforce and generate new roles for jobseekers, particularly young people as we emerge from the pandemic,” Senator Henderson said.

“This program is designed to develop training that is aligned with local industry workforce needs for people with a disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.”

The Employment Facilitators will work to implement the strategies detailed in the Barwon Local Jobs Plan, which states one of its key priorities is to maximise the benefits of existing federal, Victorian and local government programs to create pathways to employment in growth industries, particularly health care and social assistance, retail trade, construction, manufacturing, and education and training.

The plan also encourages the generation of opportunities for skill development and providing better connections for displaced workers – especially youth – that align with the local labour market needs through apprenticeships, traineeships and skills training and in partnership with local tertiary education providers and employers.

Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business Stuart Robert said the Local Jobs Program aimed to increase the capacity of the region’s workforces by supporting training and upskilling opportunities.

“The Government will continue to support the COVID-19 recovery of Barwon’s businesses by making sure we have locally relevant training and upskilling opportunities for jobseekers,” he said.

“These Employment Facilitators will assist job seekers by removing barriers to participation and employment, helping our skills-led economic recovery.”

Assistant Minister for Youth and Employment Services Luke Howarth said the Local Jobs Program was expanding from 25 Employment Regions to cover all 51 Employment Regions across Australia.

“This will increase the number of facilitator services on the ground around the country, with the program extended to June 2025.”

For more information, head to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.