Some 100 new positions will be advertised in Gippsland through Working for Victoria, building on almost 230 jobs already created across the region through the Victorian Government employment initiative.
Of the new jobs, more than 40 positions with the East Gippsland Shire Council will become available from this week, including in parks and gardens maintenance and bushfire remediation work in council-managed reserves and trails.
The workers will contribute to teams providing repair and weed management programs for more than 15 kilometres of trails and 70 hectares of council-managed reserves that were affected by last summer’s bushfires.
A team of Working for Victoria participants including Thomas Clayson, who has a background in zoology and emergency medical response, are currently working with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DEWLP) on bushfire recovery projects around Heyfield.
Mr Clayson’s team is completing land management works including track repairs, dangerous tree removal and repairs to damaged infrastructure in national parks and state forests.
While the East Gippsland Shire jobs will be advertised from this week, other Working for Victoria jobs including roles with other councils from across the region, as well as dedicated positions for young people providing administrative support to Victoria Police and further roles with DEWLP, will become available over coming weeks.
The 229 jobs already created for Gippsland workers through Working for Victoria include roles with Latrobe City Council, Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation, Bass Coast Shire Council, Wurinbeena, East Gippsland Shire Council and Wellington Shire Council.
Jobs are typically for a six to 12-month duration, providing vital connections to the labour market and valuable on-the-ground work experience in roles that also deliver a real community benefit.
Working for Victoria has partnered with 53 councils across Victoria that have created more than 4,800 jobs covering land and asset management, community outreach, hardship relief delivery and crisis co-ordination. Since launching in April, the initiative has created more than 10,000 jobs in total.
For more information and to register for Working for Victoria, go to vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.
As stated by Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford
“These new jobs will benefit the community well beyond repairs and upgrades to tracks, reserves, parks and gardens.”
“Working for Victoria gives helps people get back to work – it’s impossible to overestimate the importance of that.”
As stated by Member for Eastern Victoria Jane Garrett
“We’re creating jobs in Gippsland and giving people the chance to get back on their feet while contributing to improving our beautiful region.”
