A$170,000 grant from the State Government will allow Limestone Coast businesses to attract, develop and retain skilled workers.
Regional Development Australia Limestone Coast (RDALC) will deliver the ‘Region Ready’ project as part of the government’s Accelerating Regional Employment Program.
Member for MacKillop Nick McBride said the Region Ready project would support businesses to attract and retain workers in the Mount Gambier, Tatiara, Kingston, Robe, Naracoorte-Lucindale, Wattle Range and Grant council areas.
Mr McBride said the project would work with key stakeholders to assist skilled migrants and workers from other states and overseas – when travel restrictions allow – to successfully settle in the Limestone Coast region.
“I’d like to congratulate the RDALC on their successful proposal, which will help drive migration to the Limestone Coast and connect skilled workers with employers,” he said.
“The Marshall Government is committed to providing small businesses with the tools to help them grow and increase their capability.
“That’s exactly what the Region Ready project does by supporting local job seekers, skilled migrants and domestic re-locators into employment, promoting job vacancies and connecting skilled workers with employers.
“The Limestone Coast is a great place to live and work, with more and more career opportunities as businesses move outside of the cities during the pandemic.
“The target is to have 25 employers go through the employer of choice program. In addition, Region Ready will develop an employer of choice toolkit and other resources that will be made publicly available, free of charge, connecting the wider business community to the program.
“This has a flow-on effect to the entire community, creating jobs and boosting the local economy.”
RDALC Chair Evan Flint said Region Ready built on the success the region has had in attracting new arrivals to the region and would ensure local employers were well equipped to continue to attract skilled workers to the region, including an international workforce when travel restrictions allow.
“Employers in the Limestone Coast have been struggling to fill vacancies across all industry sectors, so Region Ready will connect skilled job seekers to regional vacancies, securing a reliable workforce for our businesses and supply chains to grow,” Mr Flint said.
“The impacts of COVID-19 are still being felt around the region, including significant shortages in the supply of skilled labour, especially for our agriculture and hospitality sectors.
“By working with employers to build their knowledge and skills through the employer of choice program, we help them stand out from the crowd in a competitive jobs market.”
