By Parker McKenzie
Upper Ferntree Gully’s Coonara Community House was home to an industry forum on Thursday 15 September, exploring how industry and job providers could collaborate together for future opportunities, employee return strategies, the benefits of volunteering and employment pathways throughout the sector.
Coonara Community House manager Sandra Romero said the event was an opportunity to have robust conversations about the current job market.
“We all know how we’re struggling in the job market, whether we are job seekers or whether we are job providers,” she said.
“What are the gaps, the obstacles and what can we do to help each other? We know individually, it’s really difficult to make a difference, but collaboratively we can make a really huge difference.”
The major issue raised by people who attended the forum was a struggle in finding staff. One corporate representative said within their organisation —which employs around 7000 staff — there is currently 1000 vacancies Australia-wide and 550 in Victoria currently.
Swinburne University facilitator Leanne Fitzgerald said pre-accredited training programs through Learn Local were invaluable for community employment and opening opportunities for people.
The companies and organisations present at the industry forum were Smart Support, Concern Australia, MyAbility, Westfield Knox, Interchange Out East, Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, APM WorkCare, Cleanaway Hydrocarbons, WCIG, Cummins Australia and the Migrant Information Centre.
Volunteer for Knox manager Sally Dusting-Laird said volunteering is at the centre of Australia’s national identity.
“Nearly six million Australians or 31% of the population volunteer at some time in their lives,” she said.
“People volunteer for many reasons, they include building confidence, gaining work experience, giving back to the community, being happy, keeping busy, personal satisfaction, social interaction, helping others using skills, learning new skills, making a difference and practising English.”
She said half of the organisation’s volunteers have been under the age of 35 and more than 50 per cent have been born overseas. The fastest growing area for volunteering has been people with a disability.
Coonara Community House is a not-for-profit organisation offering education opportunities for adults and children through accredited courses, short courses, community programs and early childhood education. it is located at 22 Willow Road, Upper Ferntree Gully.
