Funding to boost job skills in New England

04 Nov 2020

Local and tailored projects aimed at helping New England and regional NSW recover from the economic impact of COVID-19 will be supported through the Morrison Government’s Local Recovery Fund.

Applications are now open for local groups and organisations to apply to receive funding ranging from $10,000 to $200,000, to develop projects, including mentoring, training and reskilling, in line with local employment needs.

The Local Recovery Fund is a key component of the Local Jobs Program and will fund projects, or parts of larger projects, that are not being supported through existing programs or activities.

Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the fund will help drive job outcomes in regional NSW with locally led initiatives aimed at getting more Australians back into work.

“Local Jobs is focused on reskilling, upskilling and creating employment pathways to help people move back into jobs as the economy recovers from COVID-19,” Minister Cash said.

The Federal Member for New England, the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, said projects supported under the Local Recovery Fund will be locally driven initiatives that are aligned to our local region’s employment related priorities, as identified by our Local Job Plan.

“I strongly encourage stakeholders in the electorate of New England to work together and put forward innovative project ideas under the Local Recovery Fund,” Mr. Joyce said. 

The Federal Member for Parkes, the Hon Mark Coulton MP, said we want to hear about new ways to connect job seekers with training or employment opportunities that support improved labour market outcomes in our region.”

“The Morrison Government will do this by getting Australians back to work and by supporting locally-driven pathways to jobs.”

As part of the Local Jobs Program 25 Employment Facilitators, have been engaged to help connect job seekers to local employment opportunities.

The Employment Facilitators will chair Local Jobs and Skills Taskforces across Australia. The taskforces will bring together local employers, employment and training providers and other local stakeholders, to collaborate and develop projects funded by the Local Recovery Fund to get job seekers back into work.

Applications for the Local Recovery Fund will open from 3 November with funding available from mid-December 2020.

Further details on how to apply can be found at www.dese.gov.au/local-jobs-program
Further details on the New England Taskforce: https://www.employment.gov.au/new-england-and-north-west

(ENDS)

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