Accommodation Australia thanks Victorian Government for $5.6 million jobs investment
CEO, Michael Johnson: This program has changed hundreds of lives and addressed the chronic staff shortage we all face
Peak industry body, Accommodation Australia, has thanked the Victorian government on behalf of its members as the $5.6M Victorian Jobs program for priority cohort jobseekers concludes.
The highly successful accommodation sector Victorian Jobs program has matched 320 priority cohort jobseekers with employment in 64 Victorian accommodation providers by offering tailored training support to meet the specific needs of both members and their new employees.
The program matched priority cohort jobseekers over 18 years old with vacancies for full and part-time (min 20 hours weekly) roles at Project Employer Project Sites with Victorian members. Jobs were paid at the award rate or site rate (whichever was higher). Of those employed, 29.9 percent were at risk and long-term unemployed, and 16.6 percent were Jobseekers with Jobs Victoria Partners.
The bulk were in the 18-30 cohort, with an average age of 33 years.
Following the completion of an intensive immersion training program, Project Employees were placed into ongoing employment. Outcomes included 172 candidates employed as room attendants and 117 as food and beverage attendants. The time between application and employment averaged 33 days.
To create stronger outcomes, the team provided tailored support for candidates including targeted prevocational training and mentoring and support for employers. The program provided over 4800 total hours of wellbeing support, which represents an average of 14.9 hours for each successful jobseeker.
This included mental health support, housing assistance, GP assistance, and access to psychology and psychiatry services. Also, 7125 full days of public transport assistance on Myki was issued, in addition to petrol and cost of living assistance.
Every successful candidate received footwear and over 400 resumes were updated as part of the effort to highlight the opportunities available in the accommodation industry and reinforce its leadership position as an inclusive employer.
The Accommodation Association Victorian Jobs program was supported by the $250 million Jobs Victoria Fund. Jobs Victoria supports people looking for work and connects employers with staff.
Accommodation Australia CEO, Michael Johnson said: “This program has changed hundreds of lives and addressed the chronic staff shortage we all face.
“I warmly thank Minister Carroll and Jobs Victoria for supporting our Accommodation Association Victorian Jobs program. This funding was a win for jobseekers, our members, and our industry. The program transformed 328 jobseekers into in-demand skilled workers by working together with our metro and regional member properties.
“I thank the Victorian government for recognising the pressing need to close the gap between demand and supply for skilled staff in accommodation. The program successfully maximised the return on the state government investment by matching the right people to the right jobs, nurturing long-term careers for people at properties who need them.”
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