By CASEY NEILL
A NEW hub in Dandenong will help job-seekers to retrain and find work.
Higher Education and Skills Minister Nick Wakeling opened the South Eastern Workforce Development Centre last Friday.
He said it would provide a range of services and assistance to workers who were directly affected by changes in the economy, particularly those in the automotive supply chain.
“About 60 per cent of Victoria’s automotive supply chain companies are located in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs and this centre will offer significant support for workers to transition into new jobs within growing areas of the economy,” Mr Wakeling said.
“The two centres were funded through a $30 million package to support workers in the automotive and supply chain sector.”
Services on offer include careers information, training and reskilling support, workshops and referrals to other support services such as financial and employment skills counselling.
Frank Formsto was at the launch and will be using the centre.
“I was made redundant from the automotive industry in April,” he said.
He picked up a casual job but is looking for something more permanent and thinks the centre will help.
“I’ve already started my own up-skilling and a few computer courses and stuff like that but they’ve offered one-on-one support, which you get to a certain extent though job agencies but it’s not the same.
“They’re under-resourced, they’ve got too many clients.”
Mr Formsto, 44, will travel from his home in Mooroolbark each week.
“You just have one-on-one interviews, they set you up on the computer to job search, help you with a resume, all that sort of stuff,” he said.
“They also give you other tips and interviewing skills and stuff like that.”
Chisholm TAFE CEO Maria Peters said the institute trained workers in transition and supported the centre.
“Education is instrumental in strengthening our people and the economic sustainability of our communities,” she said.
“The opportunities afforded by the new Workforce Development Centre will give support and skills that will help individuals in our wider communities.”
Mr Wakeling has also opened Workforce Development Centres in Broadmeadows and Geelong.
