Jobwise Program
Local Labour Market Issues
Friday 30 November 2008, Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre, South Morang
The purpose of the Jobwise program is to raise awareness of local labour market issues and connect businesses looking for experienced workers with mature age people looking for work. There are a number of components to the program, which include raising awareness of local labour market issues (eg; the aging workforce, skills shortages) and solutions (eg: initiatives that attract mature age people to employers, skills training etc) via Jobwise Workshops, providing mature aged (45+ in this initiative) people with the opportunity to refresh their job search skills, and one on one assistance to businesses to help them utilise mature age people as a source of labour.
To kickstart the Jobwise program in Victoria we will be holding our first Jobwise Workshop on Friday the 30th November. The Jobwise workshop will provide businesses, service providers and mature age people the opportunity to learn about how mature age employees can be an asset of increasing value in the workforce, with ample opportunity to mingle, network, and discuss how each can be of benefit to the other. Light refreshments will be provided, as well as a lucky door prize.
The workshop on the 30th will be held in the 'Blue Gum Room' of the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre, 35 Ferres Boulevard, South Morang. We would love for not only you to attend, but also any other businesses or mature age people that would benefit from the workshop. For example, I believe that business of all types that comprise the Plenty Food Group would find the Workshop beneficial. These businesses may also be interested in the one on one assistance available to help them utilise mature age people as a source of labour. You may also know someone within the City of Whittlesea that has connections with mature age people who would benefit from the Workshop or the Self Help Group Activities. To this end, please feel free to distribute the attached invitation. RSVP's can be directed to myself (details on the invitation or below) where they will receive my personal attention.
Of benefit to mature age people, after the Workshop a 'Self Help Group' for people over 45 and looking for work will commence within a fortnight. Registration will be available on the day. The aim of the Jobwise Self Help Group is to enhance the employment decisions and job search skills of mature age people to help them re-enter the workforce.
Of benefit to businesses, after the Workshop one on one assistance to businesses is available to help them implement age positive workplace practices, including the following support.
- Assistance to audit workforce age profile
- Discuss various age positive workplace practices suitable to the business and its employees
- Assistance to identify barriers to implementing age positive workplace practices and options to address these
- Assistance to develop plans and performance measures for implementing age positive workplace practices
- Assistance to fill any vacancies available