We’re excited to announce the extension of the Workforce Australia Local Jobs Program to the 30th of June, 2027. The Gordon TAFE will continue to deliver the Workforce Australia Local Jobs Program for the Barwon employment region over the next two years.
The Program continues to play a critical role in strengthening the local labour market by addressing workforce shortages and tackling structural and systemic barriers to employment.
Highlights of the Local Jobs program in the Barwon region over the past four years have included:
- Delivering a range of collaborative jobs expos and events, including:
- Early Childhood Education and Care Sector events hosted in collaboration with The Gordon’s Skills and Jobs Centre.
- Hospitality and Tourism Jobs Expo (October 2024), in partnership with Skilling the Bay and Tourism Greater Geelong & The Bellarine.
- Apprenticeship and Traineeship Support Forum (July – August 2024), in partnership with Skilling the Bay.
- Aged Care Expo (March 2025), with 100 participants and 19 exhibitors including Great Ocean Road Health.
- Women in Trades (September 2024), promoting the role of women in male-dominated industries.
- Corrections Victoria Jobs Expo (January 2025), at Western Plains Correctional Centre.
- Barwon Healthcare Recruitment Day (August 2023), with The Gordon’s Skills and Jobs Centre.
- Visitor Economy Jobs Expo (October 2023), in collaboration with regional tourism partners.
- Chairing the Geelong Pre-Employment Professionals Network.
- Supporting GRLLEN’s Supply Chain Talent Pipeline Initiative.
- Avalon Employment Precinct advocacy.
- Pathways to Building and Construction initiative with Northern Futures and The Gordon.
- Renewable Energy Sector Engagement with Australian Renewables Academy.
- Coordination of the Barwon Trello Board.
- Supporting the HOPES program through the Local Recovery Fund.
We’ve got some fantastic initiatives planned over the next two years, including:
- Advanced Manufacturing Careers Expo with The Gordon TAFE.
- Development of a Multicultural Employment Strategy.
- Apprenticeship and Traineeship Support Forum with Skilling the Bay.
- Hospitality and Tourism Jobs Expo with Skilling the Bay and The Gordon TAFE.
- Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre Jobs Expo with Barwon Region Employment Service Providers.
- Surf Coast Education to Industry Internship Program with Surf Coast Shire.
- Inclusive Employment Workshops with GROW.
Key changes to the Program include:
- Establishment of a single, grants-based $10 million fund—Local Jobs, Local People.
- Conclusion of the Local Recovery Fund and National Priority Fund on 30 June 2025.
- Increase in Local Initiatives Fund funding to $50,000 per Employment Region per year from 1 July 2025.
As part of the Program’s extension:
Employment Facilitators will now be known as Job Coordinators, a change that better reflects Tracey’s role of driving employment-related activities and collaborating across sectors to deliver meaningful job outcomes within the region.
