GROW Ballarat targets unemployment

A NEW initiative aimed at reducing unemployment was launched recently by Highlands Local Learning and Employment Network.

Called Growing Regional Opportunities for Work, or GROW, is a state government initiative created to collectively involve business, government, community organisations and individuals to address unemployment in regional Victoria.

Jannine Bennett, Highlands LLEN’s Executive Officer said this is an exciting opportunity to act as the backbone organisation on a collective impact project that will be tackling some of the key social and economic issues in our city.

“We will be aiming to unite all stakeholders who together can make sustainable positive change for targeted cohorts” Ms Bennett said. Currently the five GROW projects, rolled out across the state, meet quarterly.

“GROW Geelong have been absolutely wonderful in helping us get set up, they are happy to share anything and everything with us,” Ms Bennett said.

Highlands LLEN will focus on creating job opportunities for residents of Ballarat and surrounding area with specific emphasis on young parents, the homeless, young people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The GROW Ballarat concept is being introduced to local businesses and organisations by Highland LLEN to challenge unemployment through social procurement and targeted employment strategies.

Ms Bennett said the organisation is in the early stages of learning how social procurement operates in other areas.

“Once we are confident with the knowledge and the potential of social procurement, we will do more in this space,” Ms Bennett said.

City of Ballarat Mayor Cr Samantha McIntosh said we know there are disadvantaged people in our community and programs such as GROW help create long-term job opportunities for some of this cohort.

“The City of Ballarat fully supports this fantastic initiative and would encourage all local businesses to buy local and help create more jobs across the region,” Cr McIntosh said.