By Michael Esposito
THE number of people in Werribee claiming unemployment benefits has risen by a startling 45.3 per cent from September 2008 to September 2009, Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard revealed at a major jobs forum in Hoppers Crossing on Friday.
Ms Gillard presented several other unsettling figures about employment in Melbourne’s north-west, showing why the area was recognised by the Federal Government as one of 20 “high priority” regions – regions with above-average unemployment rates and several barriers to employment – in Australia.
Trucking magnate Lindsay Fox was another luminary at the Keep Australia Working Forum, designed to embolden the community to take responsibility of itself and work together to create more jobs and better-trained workers.
“If you believe you can, or you believe you can’t, you’re right,” Mr Fox told guests at Wyndham Leisure Centre, echoing the words of the original automobile tycoon Henry Ford.
It was part of a clear message sent by all speakers that the Wyndham community had the power to create more opportunities for its unemployed and under-employed.
This point was driven home with the announcement of a new local employment co-ordinator, John Macdonald, for Melbourne’s north-west.
At the forum, Mr Macdonald referred to himself as “the other guy”, a relative unknown among the other distinguished guest speakers, but he was undoubtedly the most important person to know for job-seekers and employers in the area.
Unemployment figures clearly put the region in the “high priority” basket. The north-west has a 7 per cent unemployment rate compared to the national average of 5.8 per cent.
North-westerners looking for work take 37 weeks to find a job, four weeks longer than the national average.
To address these issues, attendees workshopped ideas to help support existing jobs, provide new opportunities for job-seekers, develop more job-ready skills and maximise the impact of the government’s stimulus money.
Some similar themes came through, such as the need for a better public transport system throughout the north-west, a greater focus on promoting local products, and closer ties between government, job agencies and job-seekers.
More educational facilities and a tailoring of training programs to meet industry needs was also high on the agenda.
Of welcome news to guests were plans to build a steering committee around Mr Macdonald to help job-seekers gain better access to the services that can help them.
Ms Gillard also announced the government’s nationwide plan to hand out $100 million in incentives to hire apprentices in summer.
