Gippsland is one of 25 regions across Australia, and the only area in regional Victoria, to receive support through the Australian Government's Local Jobs Program. The Program focuses on reskilling, upskilling and employment pathways to assist people to move back into jobs as the economy recovers from coronavirus (COVID-19). The Program will run until 30 June 2022.

The Local Jobs Program has a particular focus on reskilling, upskilling and employment pathways and is part of supporting Australia's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic

Commonwealth budget 2021-2022 update

The Commonwealth Budget included a $213.5 million investment to expand the Local Jobs Program to all 51 Employment Regions around Australia from 1 July 2022 and extend the program until 30 June 2025. Further information can be found on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.

One component of the Local Jobs Program is a Local Recovery Fund for each region to support projects aligning with regional employment priorities and help the jobseekers enter the workforce.

Meeting identified priorities

Funded projects may be discrete activities, or a component of a larger activity, or may fill a gap in an existing activity that is directed to meeting identified priorities. Preference may be given to proposals that reflect one or more of the following:

• Feedback from key local stakeholders
• Connect directly with multiple priorities of the Jobs Plan for the Employment Region
• Involve collaboration with key stakeholders and service providers to meet one or more priorities in the Jobs Plan

It is strongly recommended proposals are developed in consultation with our local Employment Facilitator and Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce, which has also been established under the Local Jobs Program.

Training providers and local job plan

Gippsland's Employment Facilitator, Luke Arber, chairs the Taskforce, which consists of local business, employment services and training providers and other key stakeholders. A Local Jobs Plan has been developed to identify Gippsland's employment priorities and opportunities.

The Local Jobs Program is a great opportunity for Gippsland to address employment challenges and help our jobseekers enter, or re-enter, the local workforce in a meaningful way. If you've got an idea for a proposal, or you'd like more information about this initiative, you can contact RDA Gippsland for further information or alternatively, you can reach out to Gippsland's Employment Facilitator team:

Luke Arber

• Employment Facilitator
• Mobile: 0439 713 482
• Email: Luke.arber@gippslandfacilitator.org.au

Chantal Mills

• Employment Facilitator Support Officer
• Mobile: 0428 093 394
• Email: Chantal.mills@gippslandfacilitator.org.au

Pictures from One Gippsland Facebook page.