Contents
Regional employment plan .................................................................................................................. 2
Strategy summary ................................................................................................................................ 3
Profile of the Illawarra priority employment area ............................................................................... 4
Key challenges ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Issues and needs of employers .......................................................................................................... 10
Goals and strategies ........................................................................................................................... 12
Outcomes ........................................................................................................................................... 22
Appendix A—existing initiatives ........................................................................................................ 23
NOTE: In this RTF version of the Regional Employment Plan, a number of images (such as maps and charts)
have been removed and replaced with a description of the image to ensure that the information is available
to people with various information accessibility needs. The images are included in the PDF version of this
Plan.
1
Regional employment plan
Keep Australia Working is part of the Australian Government’s response to the global recession. As part of
Keep Australia Working, Illawarra was identified as one of 20 priority employment areas across the country.
This is one of the areas identified as being most vulnerable to unemployment during times of economic
downturn.
In each area, a local employment coordinator has been appointed to maximise the Nation Building –
Economic Stimulus Plan, to create job opportunities for local people and develop a regional employment
plan.
The local employment coordinator for Illawarra is Ms Jane Robinson. Ms Robinson has engaged a Keep
Australia Working Advisory Committee to help develop this regional employment plan. The committee
comprises key local stakeholders and includes:
Ms Leanne Grogan, Australian Industry Group
Ms Monique Harper-Richardson, University of Wollongong
Mr Nigel McKinnon, Industry & Investment NSW
Mr Greg Fisher, Illawarra Business Chamber
Mr Richard Walsh, Illawarra Retirement Trust
Ms Annelies Voorthius, Warrigal Employment
Mr David Morgan-Williams, DMW Group
Ms Dianne Murray, TAFE NSW - Illawarra Institute
Mr Garry Pinch, Accounting Professionals
Ms Natalie Burroughs, Regional Development Australia
Mr John Murray, NSW State Training Services
Mr Gareth McKeen, Workers Education Association (WEA) Illawarra
Ms Leanne Taylor, Port Kembla Port Corporation
Ms Lesley Scarlett, Southern Councils Group
Ms Louise Meyrick, GHD-Meyrick
Mr Michael Szafraniec, Illawarra Community Services Inc
Mr Steve Beard, Flagstaff Group
Mr Warwick Shanks, KPMG
Mr Geoff Hatton, Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce
Ms Kristyne Van Schieveen, Batemans Bay Shopping Centre Management
Ms Sarah Cooper, Eurobodalla Shire Council
Mr Chance Hanlon, Hanlon Windows
Ms Fiona Hatcher, Regional Development Australia for South Coast
Mr Greg Pullen, Shoalhaven City Council
Ms Linda Marquis, Marquis Holdings Ltd
Mr John Morris, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Ms Janine Pitt, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
The regional employment plan draws on the expertise and ideas of the committee members and those
employers and community leaders who attended the Keep Australia Working Forum in Shellharbour on
15 October 2009.
The plan sets out the employment priorities for the local employment coordinator and Keep Australia
Working Advisory Committee. It sets goals and outlines the strategies that will be used to meet those goals.
The committee has been critical in the development of the plan and will work with the local employment
coordinator to implement its strategies.
2
Strategy summary
Unemployment in the Illawarra priority employment area will be tackled in several ways, targeting
identified groups of unemployed job seekers in the region’s communities and working to improve the
number of employment opportunities in a diverse range of industries.
An overriding strategy of ‘many projects, done well’ will be implemented to avoid the pitfalls of relying on
too few strategies, which may or may not succeed in creating sustainable employment.
Strategies to be implemented will be achieved in partnership with the Keep Australia Working Advisory
Committee and other regional stakeholders.
The region has a number of residents whose employment outcomes are affected by low education levels,
low post-school training and education, poor or no public transport services and low aspirations. These
people are also are affected by multigenerational unemployment and a limited range of job opportunities.
Those most affected by these constraints are young people and Indigenous people, and many of the
region’s strategies will focus on improving opportunities for youth (aged 15–19), young adults (aged 20–24)
and Indigenous job seekers of all ages.
Workers who have lost their jobs due to the global financial crisis will also be targeted for assistance.
Retrenched workers will be assisted by a coordinated response to the Australian Government’s Nation
Building — Economic Stimulus Plan, ensuring that Job Services Australia providers, Disability Employment
Services providers and Australian Apprenticeships Centres are fully aware of opportunities arising to assist
job seekers.
Several growth industries have been identified. Training and recruitment strategies will be developed to
meet industry needs through accredited training packages that will create pathways for young people,
retrenched workers and the longer-term unemployed.
A range of strategies to support the growth of small and medium enterprises will be developed. Some will
use Nation Building — Economic Stimulus Plan measures while others will start locally and involve state and
local governments.
The region also has thousands of small business entrepreneurs. This plan will tap into the job-creation
potential of these businesses.
This regional employment plan has identified nine goals and outlines specific strategies to achieve them.
The nine broad goals, identified by the local employment coordinator and agreed by the Illawarra priority
employment area’s Keep Australia Working Advisory Committee, are:
maximising employment and business development opportunities created by the Nation
Building — Economic Stimulus Plan
creating and safeguarding jobs and generating jobs in the long term
creating employment opportunities in unemployment ‘hot spots’
increasing employment and training opportunities for young job seekers
creating stronger links between Job Services Australia providers and employers
maximising employment and training opportunities created by the Jobs Fund
assisting retrenched workers
improving the skills base of the region
including job creation strategies in other local plans, mainly the Regional Development Australia
Strategic Plan.
3
Profile of the Illawarra priority employment area
Overview
The Illawarra priority employment area is one of great natural beauty, a coastal location with the Illawarra
Escarpment as a dramatic backdrop to the cities of Wollongong and Shellharbour. The region’s south is
characterised by medium sized towns and small coastal villages, picturesque farmland and natural bush
with large tracts of land with national park status.
The region also relies largely on the heavy industries of coal mining and steel making in the north and
seasonal tourism in the south.
Figure 1: Illawarra priority employment area. This map shows the geographical coverage of the priority
employment area described in the following paragraphs.
In the north, the Wollongong and Shellharbour Local Government Areas are dominated by heavy industry
and manufacturing. BlueScope Steel directly employs 4700 workers and contributes to an additional six
jobs for every employee at the Port Kembla Steelworks. Coal mining is a key industry employing many local
workers, with every mine worker contributing to the employment of four others in associated industries.
The largest towns in the south are Nowra and Batemans Bay. While the range of industries in the region is
diverse—mostly small and medium sized enterprises employing relatively small numbers of people—there
is a number of major employers. HMAS Albatross is located approximately six kilometres from Nowra and is
the largest operational Navy establishment and the Navy's only air station. The construction of the South
Coast Correctional Facility at Nowra is providing significant employment opportunities for local job seekers
and, once operational, will create up to 200 long-term jobs. The Manildra Flour Mill is also a large employer
in the Nowra area.
Further south, the main industries are tourism-based, including accommodation, hospitality and retail.
Local government and other government services, including education and health, are also significant
employers in this region.
Labour market participation
Unemployment levels across the priority employment area are typically several percentage points higher
than the national average, and have been consistently higher since large-scale restructuring of the steel
industry in the early 1980s. In April 2010, the unemployment rate for the region was 5.7 per cent,
marginally higher than the seasonally adjusted national average of 5.4 per cent.
Figure 2: A graph showing the unemployment and participation rates in the Illawarra priority employment
area in comparison to the national rates as described throughout this section has been removed. The
source information for this graph is the ABS Labour Force, Australia, Detailed – Electronic Delivery April
2010 (Cat No. 6291.0.55.001) and DEEWR administrative data (bluebook database). Unemployment rate
data are three month averages of original estimates, while youth data are 12-month averages of original
data. The priority employment area of Illawarra is approximated by the ABS Labour Force Region of the
same name (Illawarra).
Youth unemployment is a particular problem throughout the priority employment area. In April 2010, the
youth unemployment rate for the region was 14.5 per cent, significantly higher than the national average
of 11.7 per cent. High youth unemployment can be attributed, in part, to low education retention rates and
the existence of intergenerational unemployment ‘hot spots’.
At 56 per cent, the region also has low workforce participation rates, several percentage points below the
national average of 65.4 per cent. This may be a response to an ongoing perception that there are
insufficient job opportunities in the region, so the efforts by job seekers to engage are likely to be
unsuccessful.
4
Industry composition
The northern part of the priority employment area has been unable to absorb the loss of approximately
15 000 jobs from the manufacturing industry since the 1980s. For many years, nearly 20 000 people
commute to Sydney on a daily basis.
The south coast—a desirable sea change and retirement destination—is unable to generate sufficient new
jobs for its growing population. Local jobs are highly sought after by ‘overqualified’ people, often new to
the region, eliminating less qualified or experienced local residents. In the Eurobodalla Shire, the
unemployment rate has doubled in the past 12 months, creeping towards 11 per cent, partly due to
redundancies from vulnerable industries.
While the coal mining industry has been able to re-absorb many retrenched miners, the manufacturing
industry remains vulnerable and affects associated businesses, which are dependent on the markets of
BlueScope Steel. Many businesses in manufacturing have difficulty diversifying their business.
The construction industry has seen a recent upswing and this has been almost entirely due to the
Australian Government’s Nation Building — Economic Stimulus Plan. Residential building approvals have
remained stagnant and many major commercial projects have stalled.
Tourism is a growth industry in the priority employment area. The entire region is ideally placed to make
the most of a reduction in overseas travel, and short-stay holidays have been promoted in the Sydney
region by South Coast Tourism with considerable success. While the economic downturn has not hit the
local tourism industry as hard as expected, the conference market has contracted and larger, high-end
hotels have felt the effects of this loss.
Aged care is a growth industry throughout the region, with opportunities for retraining retrenched workers
in the textile, clothing and footwear sector through the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Structural
Adjustment Packages. Other measures are to be developed over the next few years. Training in the aged
care and nursing sectors will be very important and the University of Wollongong is set to introduce a
nursing training curriculum in the region’s south.
Case study: helping retrenched workers into jobs
When a locally owned clothing manufacturer lost a major contract to supply school uniforms, 48 staff were
made redundant from the Wollongong-based factory.
In response, the local employment coordinator organised an information session for affected workers to
ensure that they were aware of the range of assistance available to them, including assistance for
retraining. Presenters at the information session included representatives from Centrelink, the Department
of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the NSW Department of Education and TAFE.
With the assistance of the local employment coordinator, five of the affected workers quickly found
alternative employment in a similar industry. The local employment coordinator also helped the new
employer to access assistance for wage subsidies and uniforms from local Job Services Australia providers.
Several of the workers indicated they were interested in retraining in aged care so the local employment
coordinator helped the workers get relevant training under the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Structural
Adjustment Package. This funding provided for the delivery of a specially convened Certificate III in Aged
Care course for the affected workers.
The course was conducted at Shellharbour TAFE and participants graduated in December 2009. Eight
graduates have moved to jobs in various local aged care facilities.
The hospitality industry continues to perform well, with a noticeable boost to entry-level training positions
advertised in the local press. This may also be a response to the Australian Government’s Apprentice
5
Kickstart package. However, the industry, particularly in the south, is seasonal and this is reflected in the
quality of employment opportunities offered to job seekers.
Education
The region is well served by the University of Wollongong with its major campus at North Wollongong and a
satellite campus in the Shoalhaven. The university directly employs over 1700 staff, mainly in Wollongong.
It is also vital to the region because of its attraction of overseas and out-of-region students.
The Innovation Campus, located at Fairy Meadow, north of Wollongong, has the potential to become a
focus for high-value businesses that want to make the most of the university’s research capability. The
major infrastructure investment at Innovation Campus, and contribution to the regional economy, will
continue to grow.
TAFE NSW—Illawarra Institute services the region’s north and extends to Eurobodalla (Moruya) in the
south. The Illawarra Institute employs a large number of staff and is a major contributor to the region, both
financially and for workforce training and education. The region also has many private vocational training
organisations that offer training for unemployed job seekers through government-funded programs.
Housing
Social Housing is high in many beachside locations (Bellambi and Warilla) and Lake Illawarra (Berkeley, Lake
Illawarra, Warrawong, Koonawarra and parts of Dapto). These are the suburbs most affected by high youth
and intergenerational unemployment.
There is an increasing quantity of Social Housing currently under construction at Nowra.
There is a shortage of low-cost housing available in the Eurobodalla and the rental market is tight
throughout the priority employment area.
Workforce profile
In the north, professionals and managers make up 29 per cent of the working population, with a lower
percentage in the Shellharbour Local Government Area. Trade and other skilled or semi-skilled jobs make
up just less than 60 per cent of the working population while 10 per cent are unskilled. The proportion of
trade-qualified workers reflects the blue collar origins of the Wollongong and Shellharbour Local
Government Areas with many trade-qualified people employed in steel making and associated industries.
6
Key challenges
‘Hot spots’
There are several unemployment ‘hot spots’ in the Illawarra region, often poorly serviced by public
transport, large areas of Social Housing, high unemployment rates and low income levels. These suburbs
were identified in the IRIS Report into Youth Unemployment as Bellambi, Berkeley, Warrawong, Port
Kembla, Warilla, Barrack Heights, Dapto, Koonawarra and most southern suburbs of Wollongong and
Shellharbour.
The Keep Australia Working Advisory Committee also identifies several villages and hamlets in Shoalhaven
and Eurobodalla as unemployment ‘hot spots’ including St Georges Basin, Jervis Bay, Sanctuary Point,
Shoalhaven Heads and Ulladulla in the Shoalhaven area. In Eurobodalla, the committee identified Dalmeny,
Kianga, Tuross Heads, Wallaga Lake and Bodalla as ‘hot spots’. These areas are not serviced by public
transport and employment is not easily found or retained by job seekers without drivers’ licences or
vehicles.
The strategies under Goal 3 are aimed at addressing this challenge.
Population
In the north, unemployment ‘hot spots’ experience multigenerational unemployment. The population is
stable and many unemployed people tend to stay in their locale rather than seek work elsewhere.
The region’s south has one of the fastest growing populations in NSW—‘sea changers’ who move to the
area and then look for work. These are often the job seekers who are overqualified for jobs they apply for,
and crowd local, less skilled or less educated job seekers out of the market. Retired people also move to the
region and create an expectation of services in health care and aged care facilities.
All Local Government Areas in the region—Wollongong, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla—are in
the top 10 Local Government Areas in NSW for Indigenous population at 3.3 per cent (Illawarra), 3.1 per
cent (Shoalhaven) and 4.4 per cent (Eurobodalla).
Unemployment
Youth unemployment and unemployment among young adults are major issues for the region. Poor
transport services, low educational attainment and few entry-level jobs contribute to this situation. In the
south, competition for entry-level and low-paid positions is intense.
The strategies under Goal 3 aim to address this challenge.
Wollongong and Shellharbour Local Government Areas are in NSW’s top three locations for youth
unemployment (between 15 and 25 per cent).
There have been several bulk redundancies since the start of the global economic crisis, the most
vulnerable industries being construction, manufacturing and textile, clothing and footwear. Redundancies
have predominantly occurred in Wollongong with the closure or downsizing of three textile, clothing and
footwear factories and the loss of over 300 jobs, downsizing of various manufacturing firms and some job
losses in construction.
The strategies under Goal 7 aim to address this challenge.
7
Case study: retrenched workers and apprentices find new jobs
In October 2009, a manufacturer of high-end yachts in Nowra closed without warning, resulting in the loss
of 74 jobs, including four apprenticeships.
The local employment coordinator and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace
Relations’ employment project officer convened an information session for affected workers, along with
representatives from Centrelink, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and
TAFE.
They gave affected workers information about Centrelink entitlements, an overview of Job Services
Australia, advice about retraining opportunities and information on upskilling and getting their
qualifications recognised.
The local employment coordinator linked the affected workers with employment opportunities created by
the Nation Building — Economic Stimulus Plan, as well as two other boat building companies in the region.
Through this coordinated effort, the affected workers were able to quickly access the services they needed
to help get them into other work. All the apprentices were placed in new jobs and within three weeks,
more than half of the affected workers had found alternative employment.
Six months later, 51 of the former employees of the company are working in similar or alternative
industries.
Transport
The Illawarra region is serviced by rail from Sydney to Bomaderry and nearly 20 000 workers commute each
day to Sydney by train or car.
There are limited public bus services in the priority employment area and private bus services are
inappropriate for employees’ working hours in many areas, particularly Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla.
School buses are available in some parts but do not run at times suited to most working hours. Subsidised
travel on bus services is available to unemployed job seekers through the NSW Department of Transport.
The Princes Highway runs the full length of the priority employment area.
In the south, the large number of small towns and villages means job seekers face isolation, little or no
transport options, few public services and few local labour markets. Many job seekers do not have drivers’
licences and this increases the difficulty securing ongoing employment.
The strategies under Goal 3 aim to address this challenge.
While addressing the fundamental issue of infrastructure to support transport is beyond the scope of this
plan, the local employment coordinator and the Keep Australia Working Advisory Committee will explore
opportunities to put in place local and specific, project-based solutions.
Education
Education levels are lower than most regions in NSW. A smaller proportion of people have higher education
degrees than other regional centres. Trade qualifications are held by over 20 per cent of the population in
Wollongong and Shellharbour, reflecting blue collar work opportunities in the Illawarra.
A key challenge is to improve completion rates at high school. Data from the 2006 Census indicates that
36.4 per cent of people in the priority employment area completed Year 12, compared with the national
average of 46.5 per cent.
Programs such as the Beacon Foundation’s ‘No Dole’ program have been established in parts of the area,
mainly Shellharbour, to encourage students to remain at school until they have a job or go on to further
education.
8
Diversification of industry
With the downsizing of the steel and coal industries in the 1980s, the whole region needs a more diverse
economy. Relying on too few industries to support employment growth will leave the region vulnerable to
potential negative impacts for particular industries.
The area would benefit from developing a diversified economy that is outward looking, i.e. export oriented.
Small business development should be encouraged and entrepreneurial business people supported so jobs
are created. The growth of the Economic Gardening business development strategy is supporting the
diversification of local economies by encouraging small businesses from a wide range of industries to
participate and produce local jobs across industry sectors.
The strategies under Goal 2 and Goal 9 aim to address this challenge.
Industry development
There is a strong dependence on coal mining and steel making but these industries have faced major
challenges in the past and will do so in the future. The port of Port Kembla has seen major state
government investment over the past few years with the port expanding to accommodate car imports
previously handled by Sydney Harbour. Expansion of the outer harbour is likely to see further investment in
the port, resulting in significant employment growth.
Coal mining had a boom year with coal exports reaching their highest levels in the past few months
according to local industry sources.
The aged care industry is growing rapidly and seeking new properties for development. Due to the
industry’s rapid growth, skills shortages are likely throughout the priority employment area.
The strategies under Goal 2 aim to address this challenge.
Tourism has further growth potential, particularly in niche markets like short stays and sport and adventure
tourism. The conference market suffered with the global financial crisis. The region could benefit from a
culture shift to a more customer-service focused approach and a concerted effort to welcome tourists to
the region, as occurs in some major cities around the world where city ambassadors are either employed or
work as volunteers.
The south is heavily dependent on seasonal tourism with job opportunities largely dictated by outside
visitation to the region. However, Shoalhaven City Council has also had the advantage of having vacant land
which has been developed into industrial land precincts, encouraging manufacturers to the area.
Government departments, including Defence (Navy), and construction of the new correctional centre have
created diverse and well-paid jobs.
9
Issues and needs of employers
The following issues and needs were identified at the Keep Australia Working Forum on 15 October 2009,
through direct consultation with business and by the Keep Australia Working Advisory Committee.
Aged care
The aged care workforce in the region is mainly female and aged over 50. The industry is constantly
growing and faces major skills shortages. It has identified a need to increase the sector’s appeal as an
employer to a wider range of job seekers to obtain a future workforce.
Strategies under Goal 8 aim to address this issue.
Construction industry
The construction industry has been affected by the economic downturn, with many major projects shelved
or cancelled, often as a result of developers liquidating. While midsized companies are now sustained by
Building the Education Revolution and other Nation Building — Economic Stimulus Plan projects, some
businesses say they will experience skills shortages over the next couple of years. Therefore, the sector will
need skills development.
Strategies outlined under Goal 1 aim to address this issue.
Corrective services (South Coast correctional facility)
The new South Coast correctional facility is currently under construction at Nowra and due for completion
in December 2010. The centre will need a staff of 200 prison warders, 120 of which will transfer from other
gaols around NSW. The remaining 80 prison officers will need to be recruited from the local population,
offering an opportunity for local job seekers. Importantly, the Department of Corrective Services is
committed to employing a number of Indigenous staff.
Strategies under Goal 4 aim to address this issue.
Hospitality industry
Sector employers have identified the ongoing demand for entry-level staff and higher, trades-qualified
staff. The industry’s relatively low margins and high-labour component can contribute to poor employment
practices, discouraging job seekers from remaining in the industry. Better incentives to train new entry-
level staff are needed, as well as better employment conditions to retain experienced staff.
Strategies under Goal 8 aim to address this issue.
Health and community services
With a lack of trained personnel and difficulty retaining qualified staff, the health sector is experiencing an
ongoing demand for staff at all levels. There is a need to promote the benefits of working in the industry, as
well as create better pathways to entry-level employment and develop programs to mentor new
employees to promote employee retention.
Strategies outlined under Goal 8 aim to address this challenge.
Transport and logistics
Road and rail infrastructure is an important factor in the further development of the region’s major
industries. The regional stakeholders have undertaken significant research into local options to better use
10
current infrastructure. Port Kembla’s Outer Harbour Development will commence in late 2010, following a
staged approach, at a total cost of approximately $700 million. This expansion will result in significant
employment growth for the region, not only through construction, but attraction of new business and
trade.
This plan focuses on strategies that the local employment coordinator and Keep Australia Working Advisory
Committee can implement to address, or partially address, these issues at the local level.
Issues related to the broader economic and social development of the priority employment area will be
taken up with the Regional Development Australia Committee and fed into its planning processes.
11
Goals and strategies
The local employment coordinator and the Keep Australia Working Advisory Committee for the Illawarra
priority employment area have identified the following specific goals to create job opportunities and
strengthen relationships to boost employment opportunities for local people.
One of the main goals of this regional employment plan, and the following strategies, is to improve and
strengthen relationships between stakeholders in the Illawarra priority employment area, including
employers, Job Services Australia providers and registered training organisations.
Goal 1: Maximising employment and business development opportunities created
by the Nation Building — Economic Stimulus Plan
There is funding of $498.2 million allocated to the priority employment area for infrastructure, community
infrastructure, Defence and Social Housing, Building the Education Revolution and Teaching and Learning
Capital Fund projects. See Appendix A for more detail.
Strategies:
Short term (3–12 months)
Work with Job Services Australia providers to ensure they are aware of current job vacancies with
construction (Building Education Revolution and Social Housing) and Jobs Fund projects by advising
providers by email, phone and in person about job opportunities generated by the Nation Building —
Economic Stimulus Plan.
Engage with stakeholders at various business network meetings to promote Nation Building —
Economic Stimulus Plan measures.
Work with Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to assist in planning and
delivering the Building the Recovery major projects forum for the region as a means of providing
information about Nation Building — Economic Stimulus Plan projects to local construction firms.
Produce a six-weekly newsletter, advising Job Services Australia providers of current job creation
projects through the Nation Building — Economic Stimulus Plan and associated employment
opportunities.
Stakeholders: local employment coordinator; employment project officer; Keep Australia Working Advisory
Committee.
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Goal 2: Creating and safeguarding jobs and generating jobs in the long term
Strategies:
Short term (3–12 months)
Promote an understanding among community leaders that business growth is the key driver for
achieving long-term job creation.
Promote the expansion of the Economic Gardening Illawarra program in the Wollongong and
Shellharbour Local Government Areas to foster the growth of small and medium enterprises.
Identify potential funding partners to enable the establishment and implementation of an economic
gardening program in other Local Government Areas within the priority employment area.
Maintain membership of the Economic Gardening Project Advisory Committee and provide input and
advice about project management and content to ensure continuous improvement and refining of the
program.
Work with personnel from Enterprise Connect to identify future funding sources and further develop
program content to constantly improve outcomes from the Economic Gardening program, both in
terms of job generation and business growth.
Engage with business networks throughout the priority employment area to promote state and federal
government assistance for job creation with local business people.
Link growing businesses to state and federal government funding programs to assist with job creation.
Promote the Keep Australia Working Jobs Expo to employers in the region and encourage participation
by those businesses with potential for job creation. The local employment coordinator will follow up
with employers after the Jobs Expo to ascertain employment outcomes.
Coordinate a ‘Jobs Drive’ in the Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla Local Government Areas.
Identify training programs to overcome skills shortages in industries experiencing labour demand,
including aged care, health care, hospitality and construction, and seek funding to deliver training
programs for unemployed job seekers in these sectors.
Facilitate a partnership with a locally based recruitment agency and NSW State Training Services to
develop skills training and employment in the hospitality industry, bringing major hospitality employers
into the strategy. This will create new job opportunities and enhanced career prospects for job seekers.
Initiate relationships with transport and logistics firms at Port Kembla to establish a recruitment
process for local job seekers as Sydney commuters leave these roles.
Promote employment opportunities in local businesses and industries for Indigenous job seekers by
utilising Indigenous employment programs and coordinating stakeholders, including Indigenous
recruitment agencies, registered training organisations and Job Services Australia providers.
Alert relevant agencies, including the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, Industry & Investment
NSW and Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, of any ‘at risk’ or vulnerable
businesses in the region to ensure that appropriate support and assistance are provided to safeguard
jobs in the region.
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Medium term (12–18 months)
Advise other councils within the region of the range of programs available for Indigenous employees
and job seekers with the aim of increasing employment outcomes for Indigenous job seekers.
Stakeholders: local employment coordinator; employment project officer; other Keep Australia Working
Advisory Committee members; personnel from relevant public sector agencies; Industry & Investment
NSW; Innovative Regions facilitator; Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations;
Centrelink; NSW Department of Education and Training; TAFE NSW–Illawarra Institute; local government
representatives; director and staff of DMW Group; manager, Corporate Partners for Change; state training
services; recruitment agency; SKILLED group training company; selected registered training organisation;
and NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.
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Goal 3: Creating employment opportunities in unemployment ‘hot spots’
There are several unemployment ‘hot spots’ in the Illawarra priority employment area often poorly
serviced by public transport and characterised by a high proportion of social housing, high unemployment
rates and low income levels.
Strategies:
Short term (3–12 months)
Ensure that youth, young adults, Indigenous job seekers and retrenched workers from unemployment
‘hot spots’ are referred to Jobs Fund and Innovation Fund projects via Job Services Australia providers
and community and employment organisations assisting these job seekers.
Investigate opportunities to establish employment projects in unemployment ‘hot spots’ in the region
as a means of providing sustainable employment for disadvantaged job seekers.
Identify and implement strategies to assist job seekers without drivers’ licences or access to public
transport to obtain a drivers’ licence.
Medium term (12–18 months)
Liaise with successful Jobs Fund recipients to ensure vacancies are notified to Job Services Australia
providers.
Ensure that Job Services Australia providers identify and, where possible, refer disadvantaged job
seekers from unemployment ‘hot spots’ to Jobs Fund projects.
Stakeholders: local employment coordinator; employment project officer; Jobs Fund projects; Lady
Denman Heritage Complex Huskisson Inc; Eurobodalla Adult Education Centre Inc; Shellharbour Surf Life
Saving Club Inc; Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club Inc; Wollongong City Council; Bega Shire Council; Psychiatric
Rehabilitation Australia (PRA); Kembla Joggers; Crossing Land Education Centre as trustee for the Crossing
Land Education Trust; Shoalhaven City Council; Greening the Snakepit; Soft Landing (mattress recycling and
refurbishment program); Shoalhaven Creative Reuse Action Project; Energy and Water (build green
sporting amenities).
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Goal 4: Increasing employment and training opportunities for young job seekers
Strategies:
Short term (3–12 months)
Highlight training programs, which address skills shortages in a range of industries, identified at the
Keep Australia Working forum and link local registered training organisations to these industries. The
aim of this strategy is to better link young job seekers to training and employment opportunities in
identified industries.
Promote these training and employment opportunities to young people through Job Services Australia
providers, Youth Connections, the Beacon Foundation and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Apprenticeship
project.
Ensure that young job seekers from identified ‘hot spots’ in the priority employment area access
employment and training opportunities created by Jobs Fund projects.
Maximise employment opportunities for young people by facilitating partnerships between Job
Services Australia providers and other agencies contracted to deliver services to young people, and
linking them with businesses and industries where job opportunities are available.
Work with the new School Business Community Partnerships Brokers program to build partnerships
between potential employers and schools to support young people to attain Year 12 or equivalent
qualifications and reach their full educational and social potential.
Stakeholders: local employment coordinator; employment project officer; Job Services Australia providers;
School Business Community Partnerships Brokers; Youth Connections; Beacon Foundation; Illawarra
Shoalhaven Apprenticeship project; Australian Apprenticeships Centres; Workplace Learning Illawarra;
identified industries.
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Goal 5: Creating stronger links between Job Services Australia providers and
employers
Strategies:
Short term (3–12 months)
Provide advice and contact details to businesses about the services of local Job Services Australia
providers.
Work with Job Services Australia providers to ensure a coordinated response to government initiatives
such as the Apprentice Kickstart Extension and Keep Australia Working Jobs Expos.
Refer businesses seeking to recruit staff to the range of Job Services Australia providers in each part of
the priority employment area.
Work with Job Services Australia providers and local businesses to maximise employment outcomes of
any bulk recruitment exercises identified by the local employment coordinator or employment project
officer.
Stakeholders: local employment coordinator; employment project officer; Workplace Learning Illawarra;
NSW State Training Services; Wollongong City Council; Shoalhaven City Council (Youth Centre); Australian
Apprenticeships Centres.
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Goal 6: Maximising employment and training opportunities created by the Jobs
Fund
Strategies:
Short term (3–12 months)
Work with successful Jobs Fund projects to ensure the delivery of projects that create sustainable jobs
and are suitable for disadvantaged job seekers, particularly young people and Indigenous job seekers.
Obtain current information from successful Jobs Fund proponents regarding the progress of each
project and the creation of job vacancies, including the placement of young people, young adults,
Indigenous job seekers and retrenched workers.
Ensure that Job Services Australia providers are aware of job opportunities created by Jobs Fund
projects and encourage partnerships with successful proponents by reporting at regular interagency
meetings and publishing information about projects in the local employment coordinator newsletter.
Host an information session for Job Services Australia providers, with presentations from Jobs Fund
project managers, to maximise employment opportunities for unemployed job seekers.
Facilitate the development of a community sector hub, bringing together successful Jobs Fund
proponents, particularly those running social enterprises, to enable cross referrals, share best practice
and develop strategies to help the enterprises grow beyond the funding period.
Stakeholders: local employment coordinator; employment project officer; Keep Australia Working Advisory
Committee.
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Goal 7: Assisting retrenched workers
Strategies:
Short term (3–12 months)
Convene information sessions with groups of retrenched workers to ensure a coordinated response by
organisations that can assist with retraining and job referrals, including Job Services Australia providers
and registered training organisations.
Encourage retrenched workers to register with Job Services Australia providers immediately to
maximise their access to assistance including re-employment and retraining options.
Contact employers within the same industry to identify job vacancies for retrenched workers, with a
view to moving retrenched workers into alternative employment.
Identify training for skills in demand in the region and develop and convene training courses to address
skills shortages and create new opportunities for retrenched workers.
Stakeholders: local employment coordinator; employment project officer; Centrelink; Job Services Australia
providers; NSW State Training Services; TAFE NSW–Illawarra Institute; registered training organisations.
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Goal 8: Improving the skills base of the region
The aim of this goal is to improve the skills base of the region by increasing opportunities for apprentices,
creating stronger links between registered training organisations and employers to address skills shortages
and promoting better use of the Productivity Places Program by retrenched or at-risk workers.
Strategies:
Short term (3–12 months)
Identify opportunities to maximise the benefits of the Australian Government’s investment in Skills for
Sustainable Growth. This includes promoting the availability of the up to 39 000 additional training
places in sectors facing high skills demands and encouraging the take up of apprentices and trainees
through the Apprentice Kickstart Extension.
Develop and promote apprenticeship initiatives through local media, promotional launches, career
advisers’ meetings, visits to businesses, promotion to accounting firms and a range of other activities.
Maintain an active membership of the Illawarra/Shoalhaven Apprenticeship project until its conclusion
in June 2010 and provide a report at each meeting on the development of pre-apprenticeship programs
and other activity promoting apprenticeships throughout the priority employment area.
Promote opportunities for apprenticeships to Indigenous youth through Indigenous employment
organisations and community groups.
Work in partnership with stakeholders to identify best-potential outcomes from the Apprentice
Kickstart Extension pre-apprenticeship training.
Provide information about skills shortages to registered training organisations to enable the
development of appropriate entry-level training programs.
Facilitate the development of an education and training hub to strengthen the response of the training
sector in addressing skills shortages.
Identify representatives from industries experiencing skills shortages to speak at meetings of the
education and training hub.
Promote the Productivity Places Program to retrenched workers and link them with registered training
organisations.
Provide information about retraining opportunities at information sessions for retrenched workers
organised by the local employment coordinator or registered training organisations.
Medium term (12–18 months)
Establish a partnership to identify apprenticeship and traineeship vacancies in Sydney and coordinate
efforts to place unemployed youth from the priority employment area in these vacancies.
Stakeholders: local employment coordinator; employment project officer; Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation;
NSW Department of Education and Training’s State Training Services; TAFE NSW–Illawarra Institute;
Australian Industry Group; Australian Apprenticeships Centres; Job Services Australia providers; registered
training organisations; Keep Australia Working Advisory Committee; The Smith Family.
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Goal 9: Including job creation strategies in other local plans, mainly the Regional
Development Australia Strategic Plan.
Strategy:
Medium term (12–18 months)
Negotiate with Regional Development Australia to incorporate job creation and industry diversification
strategies within the Regional Development Australia Strategic Plan to ensure longevity of the
strategies developed by the Keep Australia Working Advisory Committee.
Stakeholders: local employment coordinator; Regional Development Australia (Illawarra and South Coast).
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Outcomes
Outcomes for the Illawarra priority employment area regional employment plan
The local employment coordinator will work with the Keep Australia Working Advisory Committee to
deliver this regional employment plan.
The outcomes of this plan will be used to diversify employment opportunities for the priority employment
area and strengthen the industry base. Broader types of employment will reduce the area’s vulnerability to
future downturns in the economy and help the area recover quickly from the current global recession.
Achievement against these outcomes will be reported on a quarterly basis, and shown by:
qualitative evidence including local data from the local employment coordinator and the Keep Australia
Working Advisory Committee
case studies.
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will take a snapshot of the priority
employment area each quarter to determine how they are tracking against the key labour market
indicators of:
unemployment rate
youth unemployment rate
proportion of population on income support
increase in unemployment benefit recipients
participation rate
apprenticeship commencements.
Outcome 1: Employment and business opportunities available through stimulus package projects are
maximised
The strategies under Goals 1 and 6 aim to meet this outcome.
Outcome 2: Increased employment and training outcomes achieved through stronger links between
stakeholders
The strategies under Goals 2, 5 and 9 aim to meet this outcome.
Outcome 3: Increased employment and training opportunities for young job seekers and disadvantaged
groups in unemployment ‘hot spots’ in the region
The strategies under Goals 3 and 5 aim to meet this outcome.
Outcome 4: Retrenched workers assisted into new employment and/or training
The strategies under Goal 7 are aim to meet outcome.
Outcome 5: Improved opportunities for skills development with a particular focus on filling skills gaps in
key industries
The strategies under Goals 2 and 8 aim to meet this outcome.
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Appendix A—existing initiatives
Nation Building — Economic Stimulus Plan Funding Allocation for the Illawarra
priority employment area
The data contained in the table below relates to estimates of allocated funding for the region as at
11 May 2010. For more detailed, up-to-date information on projects within the priority employment area
and at the postcode level please refer to the Economic Stimulus website:
www.economicstimulusplan.gov.au.The information on this site is updated regularly.
The table outlining Nation Building—Economic Stimulus Plan funding allocation for the Illawarra priority
employment area has been removed. This table shows that in the Illawarra priority employment area there
are 353 education projects (which include Building the Education Revolution and Teaching and Learning
Capital Fund for Vocational Education and Training) with a total allocation of $297.2 million dollars. There
are a total of 2982 housing projects (which includes Social Housing Repairs and Maintenance, new Social
Housing and Defence Housing) with a total allocation of $177.9 million dollars. There are a total of 46
community infrastructure projects with an allocation of $14 million. There are a total of 44 road and rail
projects (which includes Boom Gates for Rail Crossings Program and Black Spot Program. May also include
projects shared with an electorate outside of the priority employment area) with a total allocation of $9.1
million dollars. In total there are 3407 projects with an allocation of $498.2 million in the Illawarra priority
employment area.
State of the region—Illawarra summit
A new initiative of Regional Development Australia (Illawarra) to be held annually, where business and
community leaders meet to discuss and prioritise major economic development and community capacity,
building projects of regional significance.
The Buchan Report
A report commissioned by Wollongong Council, which identifies a roadmap for expanding job-creation
activity in the city of Wollongong. The report has been the subject of much discussion over several years
and a range of solutions have been implemented.
Illawarra Employment Strategy (NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet)
This strategy was developed following the Buchan Report and identifies several major projects of regional
significance and recommends the protection of employment lands from encroachment of residential
development or other activity that will reduce job creation. The success of this strategy has been restricted
due to financial and development constraints and the level of commitment by some stakeholders.
Advantage Wollongong Business Attraction Strategy
The NSW Government has provided funds to develop a new marketing approach to attract business
investment to Wollongong. The city’s business attraction strategy targets growth sectors, such as business
and financial services.
The rate of funding has increased over the past decade and assisted the region with finance for airport
development and other infrastructure and business development opportunities.
Blueprint Shoalhaven
A community initiative, led by business, community and local government, involving a series of consultative
forums held to determine economic and social priorities for the region, some of which are yet to identify
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sources of essential funding, for example Ulladulla Future Park. Several spin offs from Blueprint Shoalhaven
include the establishment of a Professionals Association (school students involved in business/employment
project to commence in 2010); Youth Vision (identified and used by local government, schools and
industry); and various other industry, employment and community initiatives in progress.
Economic Gardening Illawarra business development program
This is an economic development strategy, focused on building local small-to-medium enterprises. The
program encourages businesses to seek national or international export markets.
This project has the potential to expand once funding is committed by Industry & Investment NSW and
local government partners. Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama Councils have committed funds for 2010.
Eurobodalla Council may be interested in developing the program in the Local Government Area. To date,
150 small business owners have participated in the program, creating approximately 100 jobs. Businesses
continue to grow and invest, long after completing the program and job creation is both a short and long-
term outcome of the program.
Business networks
There are a number of business networks throughout the priority employment area which hold regular
business networking events. These networks are an ideal conduit for initiating and maintaining contact with
a large range of businesses and industries. The networks and their databases are managed by a range of
organisations, primarily business chambers throughout the region and, in some instances, local, state and
Australian Government agencies.
Partnership with industry and education in the Eurobodalla
A council and Moruya high school initiative to commence in 2010, this project aims to improve education
retention rates in local secondary schools by identifying at-risk students and collaborating with local
businesses to provide ongoing work experience, combined with vocational training and normal school
curriculum.
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Australian Apprenticeships Centres are contracted by the Australian Government to provide one-stop
shops for those seeking to hire Australian Apprentices or to take up an Australian Apprenticeship as a
career path.
Australian Apprenticeships Centres provide assistance to employers, Australian Apprentices and training
providers throughout the duration of the apprenticeship, market and promote Australian Apprenticeships
in the local area, administer incentive payments to employers, work with the state and territory training
authorities to provide an integrated service, and establish effective relationships with Job Services Australia
providers, group training organisations, registered training organisations, schools and community
organisations.
The local employment coordinator will establish links with local Australian Apprenticeships Centres with
the aim of increasing the uptake of Australian Apprentices.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Apprenticeship Program
This Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ funded project has been operating in
the region for several years and employs a coordinator to promote apprenticeship opportunities and
develop pre-vocational training programs with registered training organisations for apprenticeships in
demand. To date, some 400 apprenticeships have been secured since the project began operating. This
number has increased substantially since the completion of the Apprentice Kickstart initiative.
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IRIS Report—youth unemployment in the Illawarra
This report was released in June 2008 by Illawarra Regional Information Service Ltd (IRIS Research) through
the University of Wollongong.
The report explores the reasons why the Illawarra region has a consistently higher youth unemployment
rate than other places in Australia, outlines those factors affecting young job seekers in all regions, as well
as uncovering those factors either more prominent within, or perhaps unique to, the Illawarra region. The
report provided an overall picture of the youth unemployment ‘hot spots’ in the region, identifying five key
suburb areas where a disproportionate number of the region's unemployed young people live. These
suburbs are: Bellambi/East Corrimal; Wollongong/Coniston/Gwynneville; Warrawong/Lake Illawarra;
Berkeley/Koonawarra/Kanahooka/Dapto; and Warilla/Lake Heights.
Jobs Fund
Fourteen projects were approved in the Illawarra priority employment area under the Jobs Fund:
Lady Denman Cultural Infrastructure project
Community Education Access Centre (Eurobodalla) project
Shell Harbour Surf Life Saving Club project
Bermagui Surf Life Saving Club project
Illawarra South Coast Region State Emergency Services project
Blue Pool project (Bermagui)
Illawarra e-Recyclers project
Kembla Joggers National Cross Country Park and Clubhouse Development project
Sustainable fit-out of The Crossing Community Centre for Youth Education Tourism project
Regional hockey facility project (North Nowra)
Save Energy and Water - Build Green Sporting Amenities project
Shoalhaven Creative Reuse Action project
Sustainable Community Infrastructure: Greening the Snakepit, and
Soft Landing - Mattress Recycling and Refurbishment Program.
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