The Andrews Labor Government will help more than 4,000 disadvantaged Victorians find meaningful work and keep it, as the Jobs Victoria Employment Network (JVEN) gets underway.
In the state’s biggest push to get people back to work, the Labor Government will provide $39 million to employment providers across regional Victoria and Melbourne to deliver jobs to disadvantaged Victorians.
Providers will launch targeted services, working closely with employers to find work for disadvantaged Victorians who often face multiple barriers to employment and who have fallen through the cracks of the federal system.
Federal programs such as jobactive are largely effective for people who are relatively job-ready but not effective for people with complex barriers to employment who require more intensive support.
We know that almost 50,000 unemployed Victorians have been registered with Commonwealth job services for three years or longer.
Our new program will provide personalised and flexible assistance to place people in on-going work, and help employers to find the staff they need.
The services that have been selected have close working relationships with those employers that will support real job outcomes for jobseekers.
This personalised approach, with assistance tailored to the needs of jobseekers and local employers, will result in long-term employment outcomes.
A range of jobseekers will be supported, including refugees, retrenched automotive workers, youth justice clients, long-term unemployed people, disengaged young people, single parents, people with disability, public housing tenants and Aboriginal Victorians.
Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan made the announcement at SCR Group in Coburg, an employer who will partner with Whitelion to create job opportunities for at-risk young Victorians.
For more information on the program and on how to access JVEN services visit jobs.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment, Wade Noonan
“Every Victorian – regardless of their background – has a right to the dignity of a job and no one in our community should be left behind.”
“We recognise that some people in our community face multiple barriers to work, which is why we are helping thousands of disadvantaged Victorians find work and keep it.”
“We’re working hand in hand with employment providers who have strong links to employers that can offer real long-term job opportunities.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020