CALL OUT MADE TO JOIN THE NEW LOCAL JOBS TASKFORCE TO DRIVE JOB OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS BAROSSA

The Morrison Government is calling on expressions of interest to join its Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce for the Mid North Employment Region that includes the Barossa.

The Mid North Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce is one of 26 new Taskforces that will be established across the country as part of the Morrison Government’s $276 million Local Jobs Program.

Each Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce will be chaired by an Employment Facilitator who is also engaged by the Commonwealth to act as an on-the-ground presence working with local job seekers to connect them with training, job opportunities or other support.

Taskforce members will be selected to create local solutions to local needs. Taskforces will include representation from key stakeholder groups including employers, the training sector, employment services providers, government and the community services sectors.

Expressions of interest are particularly sought from members of the community who have specialised expertise and knowledge that will help Australians get into work including experience in small business, a particular industry or sector, as well as knowledge of the local workforce challenges and opportunities.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin, said the Local Jobs and Skills Taskforces, a part of the Local Jobs Program, is a key part of the Morrison Government’s Economic Plan.

‘We know that local challenges need local solutions and this Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce will help drive new efforts that work, it’ll help get Canberra out of the equation and put locals in charge of connecting people with jobs in their community.

‘These Taskforces will get different perspectives in the one room generating localised projects focused on getting people into jobs – it is a pretty simple approach but we know it works, it is why we committed more than $213 million in the recent Budget to expand the highly successful Local Jobs Program,’ Mr Pasin said.

Mr Pasin said the Taskforce will help develop a Local Jobs Plan to identify key employment and training priorities for the region and develop initiatives that address local labour market needs.

‘The Taskforce will also drive initiatives to reskill or upskill people looking for work so that we can better meet the needs of local employers.

‘Getting a range of local voices together at the same table will play a critical role in better connecting local job seekers and local employers.’

The Local Jobs Program supports tailored approaches to accelerate reskilling, upskilling and employment. In the 2021-22 Budget, the program was expanded from 25 Employment Regions to cover all 51 Employment Regions across Australia.

The program provides an Employment Facilitator, Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce and Local Jobs Plan in each region, and delivers projects funded through either the Local Recovery Fund or the new $50 million National Priority Fund.

Applications open Tuesday 20 July and close on Friday, 13 August 2021. For more information, including on how to apply, visit: www.dese.gov.au/local-jobs-program

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