The Morrison Government is funding two local employment projects that will see up to 40 young job seekers on the NSW Illawarra South Coast benefit from training in hospitality and basic land management.
The Morrison Government’s Local Recovery Fund is providing $55,000 for a pop-up community café in Eden later this month, while a more than $70,000 land management project in Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla is scheduled to start in November. The projects are also an opportunity for local school leavers and job seekers to develop soft skills such as teamwork and communication.
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert MP, said the initiatives would support up to 40 locals looking to break into a new job.
‘This region has done it tough, not only are the impacts of the bushfire still being felt but local tourism has been hit hard by COVID-19, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel through our National Plan which is our roadmap to keep the Illawarra and the South Coast open for good,’
‘We want to see locals make the most of the jobs opportunities delivered by the National Plan, Planting the Seed will give young people with limited or no work experience, valuable experience in land care, forestry and agriculture,’ Minister Robert said.
‘Importantly, the activity can go towards modules that make up a Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management,’ Minister Robert said.
Senator for New South Wales Jim Molan said the Eden pop-up café will give locals industry accredited, hands-on hospitality experience while preparing them for their next job in a region with increasing demand for qualified staff.
‘This is the result of the Morrison Government’s Employment Facilitators, Local Jobs and Skills Taskforces, and local businesses all working together to help our region,’ Senator Molan said.
‘It shows what we can achieve through effective local partnerships for our local communities.’
Local employment group Campbell Page has been chosen to manage the Planting the Seed project and Eden Community Access Centre is partnering with APM Employment Services to deliver the Eden Hospitality Training Hub.
The Local Recovery Fund is part of the Morrison Government’s $276 million Local Jobs Program. It supports regions by funding tailored projects to help align job seekers with employment opportunities in their community.
In the 2021-22 Budget, the Local Jobs Program was extended to 30 June 2025. It was expanded from 25 Employment Regions to all 51 Employment Regions across Australia from 1 July 2021.
More details about the Local Jobs Program can be found at: www.dese.gov.au/local-jobs-program