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Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford and Local Government Minister Melissa Horne today announced the Labor Government’s $4 million Local Government Jobs Initiative, which will create 210 jobs across Victorian councils.
The jobs will range from office administration to outdoor roles including parks and gardens maintenance, and civil works such as road maintenance and footpath and drain repair.
Workers will earn a wage while studying for qualifications such as a Certificate IV in Business Administration or an apprenticeship or traineeship in horticulture, parks and gardens, or civil works.
Jorja Miller has recently started working in the sector thanks to the support of Jobs Victoria employment partner Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN).
As a double amputee, Ms Miller felt she’d been overlooked for other jobs when employers made assumptions about her capabilities and needs, so she registered with Jobs Victoria and was soon placed in a traineeship with Moorabool Shire Council.
Ms Miller is now working in the Assets team at the council, a role she’s enjoying because she gets to work with a variety of people to support her local community, and she will soon commence her Certificate III in Business.
Jobs Victoria is partnering with leading sector organisation Local Government Professionals to build the skilled workforce councils need to deliver important services to their communities, particularly in regional and remote areas.
The jobs will support people who have experienced challenges securing employment, including people with a disability, women over 45, Aboriginal people, culturally and linguistically diverse Victorians, and young people.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford
“These roles will provide a meaningful opportunity for people to be involved in their community while training for their new careers.”
“Creating diverse workforces and employing people that may have been overlooked in the past is not only great for that individual – it’s also good for the sector, good for the economy and good for Victoria.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne
“The demand for local government workers is on the rise and this will provide councils with a skilled workforce to provide communities with quality services they need and rely on.”
Quote attributable to Moorabool Shire Council trainee Jorja Miller
“My disability doesn’t define me, and it shouldn’t define the career I have. I’m grateful that Moorabool and Jobs Victoria can see beyond this and have given me the opportunity to succeed in a career I love.”
