Hundreds of extra cleaners will hit local streets across regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne in a four-week blitz to help slow the spread of coronavirus and support jobs.
The Victorian Government is creating short-term positions for 1,500 cleaners who will work across 10 regional and 26 suburban communities cleaning public infrastructure, retail centres and shopping strips to help build community confidence as the staged lifting of restrictions begins.
Workers will disinfect and wipe down external surfaces such as street benches, handrails and door handles, traffic light buttons, poles, bicycle stands and bins.
The cleaning blitz, part of the Government’s $500 million Working for Victoria initiative, will create employment for people who have lost work as a result of the coronavirus pandemic while delivering a valuable community service.
The Government has been working with local councils to prioritise areas for cleaning and the first of the workers have taken up their posts. Advertising for the remaining jobs will continue until all positions are filled.
For more information on Working for Victoria and to register, go to vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.
Almost 3,000 Victorians have found positions through Working for Victoria since the program was launched last month, providing a quick return to work and access to training where required.
The metropolitan councils involved in the four-week blitz are: Banyule, Bayside, Boroondara, Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Greater Dandenong, Darebin, Hobsons Bay, Frankston, Glen Eira, Hume, Kingston, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Melton, Monash, Moonee Valley, Moreland, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Whitehorse, Whittlesea, Wyndham and Yarra Ranges.
The regional councils are Ballarat, Greater Bendigo, Greater Geelong, Greater Shepparton, Horsham, Latrobe, Mildura, Wangaratta, Warrnambool and Wodonga.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Jobs, Innovation and Trade Martin Pakula
“This blitz provides immediate work and wages to people who need it most, so they can pay the bills while they search for more permanent positions.”
“We’re taking the first cautious steps when it comes to easing restrictions, and the jobs that will be done as part of this program are an important part of that process.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Local Government Adem Somyurek
“Local councils have a vital role to play in supporting communities as we look cautiously to the other side of the pandemic – that’s why we’re working with them to pinpoint the right areas for this cleaning blitz.”
Reviewed 26 June 2020