Workforce Participation & Skills

Chair
Richard Hancock / Anthony Schinck

Deputy Chair
Fiona Davey

Task Team
Michelle Anderson, Ray Coloretti, Luke Cooper, John Gay, Barbara Hahs, Scott Hebbard, Doug Lloyd, Terry Lloyd, Kay Macaulay, George Osborne, Andrew Rowe, Mark Skerritt, Tully Smith, Tony Stone, Jo Vendy, Glen Walker, Andrew Wallace, Barry Wright

Key Issues
Workforce participation
The Ballarat region has a relatively high unemployment rate when compared to other regional centres, a youth unemployment rate higher than the State and Federal average and approximately 6,000 people on some kind of disability support. These factors have
the potential to negatively impact the local economy.

Skills shortage
There are notable skills gaps within the local economy and there is no overall strategic plan for a skills development program to address current and future gaps. This has the potential to negatively impact the local economy and local industry will be disadvantaged unless a sustainable employment strategy is developed.

Key Objectives
To understand the key issues relating to workforce participation and skills based on an environmental scan and audit of all relevant business, training, government and community activities.

To develop and implement strategies (short, medium and long-term) that bring together
disparate elements of the Ballarat community to address the key issues.

Outcomes (reported December 2007)
Completed:
communication strategy, workforce project plan, advisory group terms of reference, environmental audit of workforce services and programs, review of existing data undertaken July to November 2006 (not formally documented), terms of reference for new advisory group.

Confirmed:
advisory group funding, administration and facilitation from City of Ballarat’s Economic Development Unit.

To be sought by City of Ballarat on a project-by-project basis: project specific funding.

The initial aims of this project were achieved by the task team and City of Ballarat has undertaken for its Economic Development Unit to follow through with the work.