The past 12 months have been part of a demonstration program to assist long term unemployed, mature aged workers, and parents returning to work in gaining theoretical and practical knowledge to return to the workforce.
“The initiative has not only helped people returning to the workforce to hit the ground running, but it has also helped host employers to fill vacancies with people who really want to be there. This is particularly crucial in retail, which is an industry that has been crying out for good people over the past few years” says Retail Consultant, Ross Valentine.
Mr Valentine says that the project has resulted in real employment opportunities and has received much praise from all parties including DEWR, job network providers, participants and retailers.
“The ARA is in the process of developing a second stage to this program by way of promoting a fee for service package that will be marketed to Job Network Providers and retailers throughout Melbourne and Regional Victoria. Interest in this second phase already is very encouraging with two groups already locked in for the second half of 2007. We are aiming to run five groups in the second half of 2007 so we are well under way to achieving this goal.”
Mr Valentine says consultants have seen great changes in participants, many of who come into the program with low self esteem and lacking motivation.
“The change in these people by the end of our program has been in many cases extraordinary. This can only be put down to the skills and dedication of our trainers who go beyond the call with the effort and passion they display when nurturing our participants.”
The program has a balanced mix of retail training and life skills development. After several weeks of training, testing and refining their skills, participants are given the opportunity to display their new abilities in a real workplace environment. In a number of cases, host employers have gone on to offer participants permanent full time employment.
