About Us

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Workforce Australia Local Jobs

Job Coordinators are on the ground in 51 Employment Regions and bring together local employment and skills services, employers and community organisations to connect people to training, job opportunities and support services. They focus on connecting, collaborating and building capacity within the community to help meet local workforce needs.

Each Job Coordinator has access to flexible funding to support small employment activities and collaborative community initiatives.

We recognise local knowledge gets people back into jobs quickly.

Workforce Australia Local Jobs includes the following key elements:

  • Job Coordinator
  • Local Support Officer
  • Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce
  • Local Jobs Plan
  • Access to a Local Initiatives Fund to support and deliver small scale local activities to respond to community priorities that improve local labour market functioning
  • Access to funding for projects that provide training and employment pathways through the $10 million Local Jobs, Local People Grant

Recognising that labour markets vary across Australia, local labour market data is provided by Jobs and Skills Australia. This ensures the Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce understands shortages and predicted future trends to drive local training responses informed by evidence.

Workforce Australia Local Jobs runs until 30 June 2027.

The Barwon Region

Expanding over the lands of the Wadawurrung and Eastern Marr peoples, the Barwon region includes the Local Government Areas of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, Queenscliffe and parts of Golden Plains.

Geelong is the largest regional city in Victoria and serves as the major centre for many of the surrounding areas providing diverse employment opportunities. The largest employing industries are Health Care and Social Assistance, Construction, Retail Trade, Education and Training and Manufacturing.

Projects commenced or planned for the region include the construction of the Barwon Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the 12 Apostles Precinct Redevelopment, Social and affordable housing in East Geelong and Geelong, the Wurdi Baierr Aquatic and Recreation Centre, the Armstrong Creek Sports Centre and the Waurn Ponds Sporting Complex.

Meet the Team

Tracey is passionate about helping people build meaningful careers and supporting communities to thrive. As the Job Coordinator for Workforce Australia Local Jobs Barwon, she works collaboratively with employers, training providers, community organisations, and government stakeholders to create local solutions that connect people with skills, training, and employment opportunities.

With a background in careers counselling, human resources, and educational leadership, Tracey brings extensive experience in workforce development and supporting people at all stages of their career journey. Having previously led the region's Skills and Jobs Centre, she is a strong advocate for lifelong learning and creating pathways that help individuals and businesses succeed.

Originally inspired by time spent working in the Canadian Rockies, Tracey still loves escaping to the mountains whenever she can, although you'll most often find her enjoying the coast and spending time with her family in the beautiful Barwon region.

Kara is passionate about helping people discover opportunities, build confidence, and connect with meaningful work. As the Support Officer, she works closely with local employers, community organisations, training providers, and job seekers to support initiatives that strengthen workforce participation and create positive employment outcomes across the region.

Before joining the Local Jobs team, Kara built a diverse career in the hospitality industry, where she developed a strong appreciation for customer service, teamwork, and the importance of creating positive experiences for people from all walks of life. Her hospitality background gave her firsthand insight into the challenges businesses face in attracting, developing, and retaining a skilled workforce.

Kara later transitioned into the employment and careers sector, working with individuals to explore education, training, and career pathways. This experience strengthened her passion for helping people overcome barriers and achieve their goals, whether they are entering the workforce for the first time, changing careers, or looking to build new skills.

A proud local resident, Kara values the strong sense of community across the Barwon region and enjoys building relationships that bring people and opportunities together. She believes that everyone deserves access to meaningful employment opportunities and is committed to supporting initiatives that help local businesses thrive while creating pathways for local people to succeed.

When she's not working, you'll likely find Kara enjoying the Surf Coast lifestyle, spending time with family and friends, and making the most of everything our region has to offer.

Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce

Each Employment Region has a Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce, chaired by a Job Coordinator. The Barwon Taskforce consists of 10 members that represent, and are reflective of, their community. The Barwon taskforce includes local stakeholders such as employers and industry groups, community organisations, education and training providers, Employment Services Providers, and state government representatives. Taskforce members volunteer their time and are highly valued for bringing their industry or community perspectives to the taskforce, and for informing local initiatives in their regions.

The Barwon Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce meets regularly to develop a shared understanding of their region. They develop solutions to help more of the community to connect with quality job opportunities, improve their skills and assist employers to meet their labour and skills needs.

The Taskforce plays a central role in connecting, coordinating and leveraging existing programs and aligning efforts on the ground to ensure collaboration is maximised, duplication is minimised, and outcomes are achieved. They work with the Job Coordinator to develop and implement the Barwon Region’s Local Jobs Plan. The plan identifies key employment and training priorities and provides a framework for how to assist individuals and employers.

Matthew Luttrell is the Priority Apprenticeship Manager at Apprenticeships Victoria and brings more than 18 years of experience across employment services, workforce development, and government programs. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with employers, job seekers, training providers, and community organisations to develop workforce solutions that support employment and skills growth across regional Victoria.

Matthew has extensive experience leading employment programs and collaborating with industry, government, and community stakeholders to improve workforce participation and address local skills shortages. His broad understanding of both Commonwealth and State employment systems provides valuable insight to the Taskforce.

Passionate about creating pathways to employment, apprenticeships, and training, Matthew contributes a strong understanding of workforce trends and opportunities. His experience supporting regional communities helps the Taskforce identify practical solutions that connect local people with sustainable employment outcomes.

Jo has an extensive background in Tourism and Hospitality and has been engaged as a Manager at Great Ocean Road Regional Tourism (GORRT) for the past 7 years. She’s passionate about the Visitor Economy and contributing to the development, management and market positioning of the Great Ocean Road and its surrounding areas.

Jo’s been instrumental in driving the development of the Tourism Jobs Bank initiatives and works closely with Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine (TGGB) on regional initiatives.

As well as Jo’s extensive experience in the Tourism Industry, she boasts a range of skills in Financial Services and Property that add to her ability to develop, innovate and consult the Barwon Local Jobs and Skills Taskforce.

Brooke Hyland is the Head of Social Impact at the Give Where You Live Foundation. With a Diploma in Youth Work and more than 20 years of experience in the community sector, Brooke is passionate about creating pathways to employment for people facing barriers to work.

Throughout her career, Brooke has worked across youth employment, mental health, and workforce participation initiatives, partnering with employers, government, and community organisations to improve employment outcomes. She has played a key role in the development of trainee and apprenticeship programs and supports collaborative approaches that connect people with meaningful work opportunities.

Through the GROW network, Brooke works with businesses and community partners to strengthen social procurement opportunities and create more inclusive pathways to employment. Her experience and commitment to equity help inform the Taskforce's work to support both regional workforce needs and positive community outcomes.

Ricky is a proud Dja Dja Wurrung man, a father of two daughters, a lifelong Dees supporter and the Managing Director of Wan-Yaari Aboriginal Consultancy Services.

Wan-Yaari is an Aboriginal owned and operated business providing professional and empowering services to the Aboriginal Community and local organisations. “Wan-Yaari” means to Listen, Learn and Understand, which underpins their philosophy in designing and delivering programs in an inclusive, engaging and culturally appropriate way.

Ricky has over 12 years’ experience working within the Aboriginal Community in Education, Employment and Justice sectors, and demonstrates the very highest standards of management, administration and governance. He is a highly dedicated and passionate Aboriginal consultant who is committed to driving work to address disadvantages, reduce Aboriginal unemployment rates, improve pathways to employment and make a real difference within the local community.  

Courtney is the Acting Chief Executive Officer of GRLLEN and brings extensive experience across careers, disability, community services, and education. She is passionate about creating inclusive opportunities that support individuals to thrive and achieve sustainable employment outcomes.

Courtney has worked closely with job seekers, employers, and employment programs across the Barwon region and has a strong understanding of local workforce challenges and opportunities. Through her role at GRLLEN, she supports initiatives that strengthen school-to-work pathways, industry engagement, work experience, and career development opportunities for young people.

Courtney's leadership of key regional initiatives, including the Geelong Careers Expo, and her commitment to collaboration across education, industry, and community sectors bring valuable insights to the Taskforce. Her contribution helps ensure the needs of young people remain a focus in discussions about skills, training, and employment across the region.

Maurice Lyons is the Regional Manager for atWork Australia in the Barwon region and has worked in employment services since 2015. Throughout his career, he has built strong relationships with employers, community organisations, training providers, and government stakeholders to support sustainable employment outcomes for local job seekers.

Maurice is passionate about improving employment opportunities across the region and brings extensive experience in workforce participation, employer engagement, and community collaboration. His strong understanding of local labour market challenges and opportunities provides valuable insight to the Taskforce.

Through his work with atWork Australia and the broader community, Maurice supports initiatives that help individuals overcome barriers to employment while assisting employers to meet their workforce needs.

Simon Loone is the Economic Development Coordinator at Surf Coast Shire and has worked with the organisation for more than 20 years across economic development, tourism, major events, and people and culture. His extensive local government experience provides valuable insight into the opportunities and challenges facing businesses and communities across the Surf Coast and wider Barwon region.

In his current role, Simon focuses on business engagement, sector development, and supporting sustainable economic growth. He is passionate about fostering strong regional economies while maintaining the qualities that make communities attractive places to live, work, and visit.

Simon brings a strategic perspective to the Taskforce, helping identify opportunities to strengthen workforce participation, support business growth, and address local skills and employment needs across the region.

Corrie Inei is the Manager of Employment Services, Settlement and Community Services at Cultura. She brings extensive experience supporting culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and is passionate about helping individuals overcome barriers to employment, education, and social participation.

Through her work with employment and settlement programs, Corrie has developed a strong understanding of the challenges faced by newly arrived migrants, refugees, and other vulnerable community members seeking to enter the workforce. Her expertise provides valuable insight into workforce participation, social inclusion, and the supports needed to help people achieve sustainable employment outcomes.

Corrie contributes an important community perspective to the Taskforce, helping inform local solutions that improve access to employment opportunities and strengthen workforce participation across the Barwon region. Her collaborative approach and commitment to positive outcomes make her a valued member of the Taskforce.

Anneliese Knell is a psychologist and strategic executive leader with extensive experience across government, community and education services.

As Executive Director, People, Policy & Practice at Meli, she leads workforce capability, culture, policy and practice, helping to create positive outcomes for employees, clients and communities.

Anneliese is recognised for her collaborative approach, her passion for developing leaders and high-performing teams, and her track record of leading transformative change that strengthens organisations and the people they support.

Local Jobs Plan

The Job Coordinator and Taskforce have developed a Barwon Region Local Jobs Plan, which outlines employment priorities and actions. It can be used by individuals, organisations and communities to understand the regions local labour market and help inform local initiatives that assist their community.

Local data and insights ensure the Local Jobs Plan reflects the skills and workforce needs of the region.

Local Jobs Plans are updated regularly and published below;

Barwon Local Jobs Plan

Priority areas

  1. Supporting local industry to engage the local labour market to meet changing industry need.
  2. Supporting the local economy to transition to a net zero economy, including apprenticeship pathways.
  3. Minimising the impact of challenges for disadvantaged cohorts to access education and sustainable employment.
  4. Boosting training and employment opportunities for the First Nations community.