City welcomes Working for Victoria employees

THE City of Greater Geelong is welcoming new employees to its workforce as part of the Working for Victoria program.

The city joined the state government initiative in July to help create more than 200 new jobs in the region for people who had lost their jobs or experienced a significant loss in income due to COVID-19.

The city now has more than 110 new employees through the initiative.

Dan Nelson is one of these new employees. Mr Nelson was a QantasLink pilot before COVID-19, but is now training as an asset data analyst for the city.

Mr Nelson said while his new role was “just a little bit different” from being a pilot, it was also something he was “thoroughly enjoying”.

“Everything has gone very smoothly and everyone at the City of Greater Geelong has been very welcoming.

“It’s exciting and rewarding being part of a new project that improves the local community infrastructure.”

Data analysts receive asset data and enter it into the city’s systems. This data helps the city plan and prioritise asset maintenance and improvements across the region.

The city is also providing employment opportunities as administration officers; support officers, COVIDsafe Community Officers, healthy communities education officers, welfare contact officers, graffiti removal, and cleaners.

Mr Nelson said if not for the Working for Victoria initiative he would likely be “job hunting… either that or crossing my fingers that the coronavirus would disappear so people can get back to flying.”

For more information on the Working for Victoria program, head to vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.