2021 So many Jobs out there for the taking EMPLOYMENT CAREERS & TRAINING
ON A MISSION... Triple M Goulburn Valley breakfast host, Billy Bradley, with Monarch Personnel chief executive officer, Paula Ryan. The pair are aiming to fill ‘A Million Dollars’ Worth of Work’ in February by connecting job hunters with employers who need staff. Photo: Struan Jones
WHAT a year 2020 was! Coming out of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, it has come to the attention of Goulburn Valley’s 95.3 Triple M that businesses are struggling to get staff in both skilled and unskilled positions. It seems that although Jobkeeper and Jobseeker kept the economy going, it has also made some people complacent. Triple M Goulburn Valley, on 95.3FM, is about to launch ‘A Million Dollars' Worth of Work’. In co n jun c tio n w ith S h e p p ar to n
employment agency, Monarch Personnel, Triple M will broadcast the details of vacant positions and listeners’ resumes who are looking for positions. Anyone can send in their resume to Triple M GV, and any business can send through their position vacant job description. The station aims to fill one million dollars’ worth of employment in the Goulburn and Murray Valleys in the month of February. To take advantage of this free promotion, please contact Robyn Schischka at robyn. Schischka@sca.com.au.
A secure future “
Spoken and Written English in 2019 and then a FINDING the perfect job feels amazing. A role Certificate III in Security Operations. you are passionate about, that you enjoy and Adam lives with back pain caused by a one that gives you a sense of purpose is bulging disc in the lumbosacral joint, imperative to your happiness. It has been an nerve impingement and arthritis as Most of us have had a time in our enjoyable experience well as depression. As a result, Adam lives where we struggled to find the working with Adam, was able to seek assistance from a right job, and it may be disheartening and changing his disability employment service, and to settle for something not quite right. career and his life chose to approach atWork Australia Luckily, with the help of job agencies for the better. for help finding his dream role. (disability employment services) such Brad With the help of Disability as atWork Australia, there is help on Disability Employment Employment Services job coach, Brad, hand to marry people with a role that Services Job Coach who has a strong background in security reflects their interests and matches their operations, Adam received his security license abilities. and has been happily employed by a local security One of atWork Australia’s great success stories is that of Adam Abdelrahman. Adam arrived in Australia in company where he thoroughly enjoys his role. “It has been an enjoyable experience working with Adam, 2013. Born in Sudan, Adam sporadically attended education until Grade 6. He went on to complete a Certificate II in and changing his career and his life for the better. Adam
THE RIGHT JOB... atWork former client, Adam Abdelrahman (right) with atWork Disability Employment Services job coach Brad. Photo: Stephanie Holliday
now appears a lot happier. I have seen him at his workplace and he is really well-suited to the industry,” Brad said. To have a chat with the friendly atWork Australia team, drop in to The Play Lab at 196 - 202 High St, Shepparton, or give them a call on 1300 080 056.
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EMPLOYMENT CAREERS & TRAINING
2021
Harvest trail collaboration trial up and running FRUITS OF (ADEQUATE) LABOUR... A new trial program to train and mentor horticulture workers aims to recruit and retain more people working on orchards in the Goulburn Valley. Photo: Supplied.
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By Struan Jones A NEW trial program which sees horticulture workers receive more on-the-job training and on-going support has started in the Goulburn Valley in an effort to hire and retain more workers. THE Goulburn Valley-based Fruit Growers Victoria (FGV) is one of only five organisations across the country to receive funding as part of the $1M Harvest Trail Services Industry Collaboration Trial. The trial is designed to find new ways to encourage people to take up jobs in the horticulture sector – and keep them there while meeting employer demand. Finding and retaining orchard labour is an annual challenge made more difficult this year with the dearth of traditional backpacking labour. Reports of widespread worker exploitation and underpayment haven’t made the industry attractive to Australian workers en masse. FGV grower services manager, Michael Crisera, said the two-year trial, which started this month, was about mentoring farm workers to maximise their time at work. The scheme has included daily pre-employment training sessions at McNab Orchards in Ardmona and will continue with on-the-job support. “It’s not just for fruit pickers, too, but for all forms of farm work,” Mr Crisera said. Mr Crisera said it was too early to tell if the two-year trial was a success, which is run in conjunction with the Greater Shepparton City Council and employment agency
MADEC. About 800 people have signed up to the scheme, but according to Mr Crisera, that doesn’t necessarily translate to 800 farm workers who will start, let alone stay, in farm work. Federal Member for Nicholls, Damian Drum, said in addition to the scheme, the Government was also providing relocation assistance of up to $6000 for Australian citizens and $2000 for visa holders with general work rights for those who have moved to regional areas to take up agricultural work. According to Mr Drum, the scheme has also targeted secondary school leavers, migrant communities, refugees, youth and women, with a percentage of workers coming from Melbourne to work in Greater Shepparton. Greater Shepparton is one of the largest fruit producing regions in Australia, producing 86 percent of the country’s pears, 70 percent of Australia’s peaches, 49 percent of Australia’s plums, 80 percent of Australia’s Kiwi Fruit and 38 percent of Australia’s apples. There are thousands of short-term jobs up for grabs, including fruit picking and packing, and general farm work. Those interested in taking up orchard work this summer are encouraged to go https:// greatershepparton.com.au/business/pickshepp, where you can register your interest. Your details will be forwarded to Fruit Growers Victoria, MADEC Shepparton and Agriculture Victoria for consideration.
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EMPLOYMENT CAREERS & TRAINING
2021
Athena’s calling to community work SHEPPARTON woman, Athena Papadatos, always knew she wanted a career where she could help her community. As someone with Cerebral Palsy, Athena knows first-hand the experience of people making assumptions based on appearance. But Athena also knows about the benefits of having a network who supports and encourages you. Since 2018, Athena has been working with her WDE A Works employment consultant, Maxine Piggott. In October 2019, Athena was able to put her Diploma in Community Welfare Work to good use when she won the role of Cultural and Linguistic Diverse Advocate with the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria. The role has allowed Athena to thrive in her role of supporting people in the community. Maxine is thrilled that Athena’s new role has been so successful. “I love working with Athena, she has taught me so much and I’m so proud of all she has achieved,” Maxine said. “You can see she is so much happier
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SUCCESS STORY... WDEA Works employment consultant, Maxine Piggott (left), with Athena Papadatos, a Cultural and Linguistic Diverse Advocate with the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria. Photo: Struan Jones
now she is in a role that she’s is passionate about and is able to help people.” Athena said, “I love working because I’m able to use my education and personal
skills to help and support those in the community. WDEA’s support has helped me to work from home during COVID-19.”
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EMPLOYMENT CAREERS & TRAINING
2021
Finding the right person for the job “
level to senior positions. EMPLOYING the person that is the right ‘fit’ for Mr Wynn said once an employer comes to a business and not necessarily the most him with an employee request, he takes a experienced or qualified candidate, can detailed description of the role and the have a positive impact on the workplace. Employing the type of person sought, before utilising Superior People recruitment agency right person for the agency’s database, networks founder, Graham Wynn, has built his your business is not and social media platforms such as own business on exactly that principal. about ticking boxes, LinkedIn, to identify candidates. He of fers to streamline the but looking outside of “We filter through sometimes 300 employment process by getting what the resume says. or 400 resumes, conduct preliminary a feel for the culture, environment Graham Wynn inter views and then present the and people of the workplace before Superior People recruitment employer with the best two or three identifying suitable new team members. agency founder candidates for them to finalise the process,” “If the person is the right fit, you can train Mr Wynn said. them in other areas,” Mr Wynn said. He said his business model, which is geared to “Employing the right person for your business is not about ticking boxes, but looking outside of what the support small and medium-sized enterprises, differs from competitors by offering a six-month guarantee and flat fee resume says.” The recruitment agency, which operates Australia-wide structure. “If a person doesn’t work out or leaves of their own and has an office in New Zealand, has recently opened a branch in Shepparton at the Greater Shepparton Business accord within a six-month period, we replace the staff member at no additional cost,” Mr Wynn said. Centre on New Dookie Road. “Our success rate is well above industry standards. More Superior People was formed in 2008, the culmination of Mr Wynn’s previous experience in management, consulting than 70 percent of people we place are still employed 12 and financial roles, including as general manager of two months after their appointment.” Job seekers can also register their details on the Superior companies, which he grew by investing in the right people. The privately-owned boutique agency is a generalist People website. Mr Wynn has regular talkback radio segments nationally recruitment agency, sourcing candidates for management, administration, finance, sales and technicians, from entry on Triple M and SouthernFM Community Radio and offers
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KNOWS BUSINESS... Superior People recruitment agency founder, Graham Wynn, matches employers with the right people for the job. Photo: Supplied
free training sessions for job seekers in resume writing and interview techniques. He speaks to students at University and TAFE, regarding job markets and what employers in various industries are looking for and donates a percentage of profits to the Edgar’s Mission animal sanctuary. “Having an impact on people’s lives, by helping them find a job, or the right person for their business is so rewarding,” he said.
EMPLOYMENT CAREERS & TRAINING
2021
Free, low-cost priority courses in highdemand industries now available at GOTAFE
OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN... Apprentice, Jack Scrimizzi, GOTAFE electrical trainer, Norm Lawler, and electrician, Tyson Saunders. The Federal Government’s Jobtrainer initiative is making it easier to commence study in priority industries. Photo: Supplied
HAVE you found yourself at a crossroads and trying to figure out what to do next? Thanks to the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments’ newly-established $260M JobTrainer initiative, now is a great time to consider commencing study to explore a new career. Under the JobTrainer initiative, Victorians who are unemployed and/or aged 17-24 will be eligible to access either free or low-cost training in areas of identified skills need and employment growth. There are a range of placements in more than 60 priority courses available to help people upskill, retrain, enter the workforce for the first time and rebuild their lives after a difficult year. Former GOTAFE student, Tyson Saunders, is proof that once you are set on the right path, the sky is the limit. Tyson started his career studying electrotechnology at GOTAFE, and has now established his own business, ‘Tyson Saunders Electrical’. He now employs two students and an A-grade
electrician, all who have embarked on life after school with a course at GOTAFE. “GOTAFE is a really nice place to study and there is massive support from the teachers and staff,” Tyson said. “The fact that my apprentices go through GOTAFE gives me confidence to know that they’re going to get the right training. It takes the pressure off, knowing that they’re going to get the best they can.” Jack Scrimizzi works as an apprentice with Tyson and said that studying with GOTAFE has given him the tools to get prepared for the workforce. “On the job, you pick up everyday skills that you can always benefit from in the future, and it prepares you for the proper work,” Jack said. To view the full list of JobTrainer courses available at GOTAFE or to check your availability, visit www.gotafe.vic.edu.au/ jobtrainer or call GOTAFE on 1300 468 233. GOTAFE Shepparton is located at 152-200 Fryers Street.
Wendy Lovell MP
Member for Northern Victoria Region Whether it’s finding your first job, a job before your dream job, or a job that turns into a career, there are many great education, training and employment opportunities right here in the Goulburn Valley! My team and I are here to help you with any State Government issues. Please call or email us if you require any assistance. p: (03) 5821 6668 e: wendy.lovell@parliament.vic.gov.au www.wendylovell.com.au Authorised by Wendy Lovell MP, 222 Wyndham Street Shepparton. Funded from Parliamentary Budget
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