Thursday, 10 February 2022

Ministers statements: Jobs Victoria

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Employment, Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Resources) (12:05): I would like to update the house on some of the work of Jobs Victoria. Since the house last met back in December Jobs Victoria has been busy supporting jobseekers and small businesses. It has also been on the front line of response as the state has dealt with the omicron COVID-19 variant. While general unemployment is historically low across Victoria, we still see particular sections of our community experiencing difficulty finding work. This includes young people as well as other groups.

So far at Jobs Victoria over 30 000 Victorians have interacted with our jobs advocates, over 20 000 Victorians have received support from our jobs mentors and career counsellors and over 7000 Victorians have been supported into new jobs. Over 4000 Victorians have been supported into work through the Jobs Victoria Fund in industries including logistics and transport, disability and aged care, local government, construction, warehousing, and hairdressing and beauty. I can advise the house that I was able to resist the temptation to wash anyone’s hair at the media event for that one.

Ms Shing: You don’t need two people holding the hose.

Ms PULFORD: No, that is right. Also over the summer it was a delight to announce two important jobs programs that have started and will continue into the year, providing more jobs in swim teaching and land management. 280 people looking for work will become swim teachers in a partnership between Jobs Victoria and the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association—a $3.4 million partnership. The jobs are not only addressing a shortage of swim teachers but also giving young swimmers an opportunity to catch up on vital water safety education. The initiative targets women over 45, people under 25, multicultural communities and people with a disability in particular.

Finally, the other week Jobs Victoria started a new partnership with the four big supermarkets’ distribution sections to support them to connect jobseekers during the food supply chain pressures as a result of omicron. Programs received around 3000 EOIs— (Time expired)