- Minister for Agriculture
- Minister for Regional Development
More than 80 full-time equivalent jobs benefitting the agriculture industry will be created in regional Victoria, backed with funding from the Victorian Government.
Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaclyn Symes today announced funding from the Agriculture Workforce Plan will be put towards job creation projects for five Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) across Victoria.
These new jobs will be focused on projects that provide benefits to Victorian farmers and the wider agricultural industry – a focus that is particularly important given the impacts of recent bushfires and seasonal conditions.
Funded projects include fruit fly control measures in the Goulburn Broken CMA which will target the removal of wild fruit trees from public land, and supporting bushfire recovery work in Bunyip and other parts of the Port Phillip Westernport catchment.
Port Philip Westernport will also commence an innovative new program focused on agricultural education in schools involving excursions to farms and school incursions to put farmers and producers in front of students to talk about the agricultural industry and food.
In the Mallee CMA, a project will be delivered to aid weed and pest animal control, while Wimmera and Glenelg Hopkins will help agricultural landlholders with land management measures such as re-vegetation and weed control.
The majority of the jobs are regionally based and will provide employment over a six-month period. Successful applicants will be matched with positions through Working for Victoria, the Government’s initiative to help jobseekers find work and employers find workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
The $50 million Agriculture Workforce Plan is supporting businesses in regional, rural and outer metropolitan areas within key agriculture and food processing industries through job-matching, case management, worker relocation needs, transport and training.
To register interest in the program or other job initiatives, visit vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.
As stated by Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaclyn Symes
“Job creation is crucial to keeping the Victorian economy moving as we gradually ease coronavirus restrictions, and we know how important it is to keep those jobs in regional Victoria.”
“We have funded fantastic projects across the state that will benefit several agricultural industries and help communities with land management, pest control and recovery from bushfire and drought.”
As noted by Minister for Water Lisa Neville
“Healthy waterways and catchments are vital to sustain regional economies, and meaningful local employment opportunities is central to bushfire recovery efforts.”
