$472,500 BOOST FOR SKILLS INITIATIVES IN THE WIMMERA
Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said the Brumby Government was providing $250,000 for the Wimmera Rural Skills Connect project to help at least 40 people working in the farm sector transfer their skills to meet rural industry skills gaps; and $222,500 for the Wimmera Southern Mallee Global Skills initiative to attract up to 65 skilled migrants to the region over the next two and a half years.
(PressZoom) - A $472,500 Brumby Government grant will help solve skills shortages in the Wimmera.
Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said the Brumby Government was providing $250,000 for the Wimmera Rural Skills Connect project to help at least 40 people working in the farm sector transfer their skills to meet rural industry skills gaps; and $222,500 for the Wimmera Southern Mallee Global Skills initiative to attract up to 65 skilled migrants to the region over the next two and a half years.
“The Brumby Government is taking action for rural and regional Victoria and Wimmera Rural Skills Connect will engage rural farm workers, owners and operators who have a range of skills that are vital for regional economic growth but for which formal recognition may not have been obtained,” Ms Allan said.
“In responding to the needs of regional industry in the Wimmera, this project will provide employment and training opportunities to employees and employers affected by drought who have the required skills to meet local rural industry needs.”
Ms Allan said skills shortages are a major barrier to the ability of regional businesses to expand and grow and Wimmera Rural Skills Connect would help tackle this issue.
“Everyone in the rural community knows the wealth of skills and experience that farmers have developed running highly complex and technical enterprises,” Ms Allan said.
“Tapping into this resource will significantly benefit regional employers and support those farm families through this difficult period, as well as help our regional and rural communities retain their populations.
“Wimmera Rural Skills Connect will focus on skills in demand in western Victoria such as welding, transport, machinery operation, hospitality and aged care, creating a minimum of 40 effective full-time employment opportunities over 12 months.
“It’s an excellent project that provides an innovative approach to addressing one of the impacts of prolonged drought – that of an underutilised but skilled pool of on-farm labour – to meet regional labour and skills shortages.
“The Government is funding Wimmera Rural Skills Connect within the Hindmarsh, Yarriambiack and West Wimmera shires and Horsham Rural City Council under the $2.5 million Rural Skills Connect initiative, part of the Government’s $100 million drought assistance package announced last October.”
Ms Allan said the Wimmera Southern Mallee Global Skills project was an initiative of the Wimmera Development Association, Horsham Rural City Council and the West Wimmera, Hindmarsh, Yarriambiack and Buloke shires.
“Representatives of the partnership will attend migration and careers expos, and use Victorian Government websites and overseas postings and link up with stakeholders to promote the Wimmera region to skilled migrants, identify skills shortages and provide information to employers on skilled migration,” Ms Allan said.
“The partners will also encourage secondary migration from Melbourne and seek to persuade international students to consider working in Western Victoria.
“Once potential migrants with the appropriate skills set are identified, the partnership will help prepare them for interview, link them to relevant businesses and industries and provide post employment support.”
Ms Allan said the Wimmera Southern Mallee Global Skills project was funded through the $3.96 million Global Skills for Provincial Victoria program and would build on the success of the Regional Migration Incentive Fund, which has attracted more than 1600 skilled migrants and their families to regional Victoria since 2004.
“Global Skills for Provincial Victoria will help Victoria attract skilled migrants and their families including doctors, scientists, accountants and teachers to settle into new jobs in regional communities,” Ms Allan said.
“This will boost regional populations and economic growth by filling skill shortages, helping to enrich local communities economically and making provincial Victoria more culturally diverse.”
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