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Helping Disadvantaged Job Seekers Find Work

20 February 2017

Ballarat employment providers, businesses and community groups have put their heads together at a networking conference to get thousands of disadvantaged Victorians into work.

The conference was part of Jobs Victoria – the state’s biggest-ever employment drive to help more than 4,000 disadvantaged Victorians find meaningful and sustainable jobs.

Jobs Victoria has a network of providers across the state working to assist jobseekers and help employers find and retain staff.

The program supports a range of jobseekers including long-term unemployed people, people with a disability, disengaged young people, retrenched automotive workers, refugees, youth justice clients, public housing tenants and Aboriginal Victorians.

Today’s conference at the North Ballarat Football and Sports Club is one of nine being held across the state to drive stronger collaboration, discuss regional issues, and better assist local jobseekers and employers.

A key focus is building strong relationships between providers and employers to place jobseekers into work.

Those taking part in the conference include Jobs Victoria providers, Commonwealth employment service providers, local councils, community organisations, community health and justice service providers, employers and industry groups.

More than 12,000 new jobs have been created in the Ballarat region since November 2014, and unemployment has fallen from 6.9 per cent to 2.7 per cent.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan

“For many Victorians, it means the world to have a job – and be able to keep it.”

“That’s why we are working hard to help disadvantaged Victorians get into work so they can make a valued contribution to their local communities.”

Quote attributable to Minister for Regional Development Jaala Pulford

“Every Victorian should be able to benefit from the state’s growing economy, and these regional conferences are a perfect outlet to bring employment providers together.”

Quote attributable to Member for Wendouree Sharon Knight

"This conference provides an important opportunity to discuss the initiatives, investment and action needed to grow jobs in Ballarat and support our local economy."

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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