Regional Development Australia Southern Inland, Wingecaribbee Shire Council and tech company JobGetter are partnering to roll out one of seven regionally based technology hubs in the Highlands that makes it easy for job seekers and employers in the area to connect.

For job seekers, the platform, accessible by both mobile and computer, not only shows them the jobs available in the area but also helps job seekers to find out more about local industries, businesses and the career paths available to them.

“Jobs are vitally important to our region,” Wingecaribbee Shire Council’s Economic Development Manager, Noel Ferguson said

“And improving employment prospects, especially for young people, is something we’ll be focusing on”.

Mr. Ferguson said that while the region had a relatively low unemployment for youth compared with its neighbours, council and its partners were keen to retain as many young people in the region as possible, and that meant matching them with local jobs.

“About 60 per cent of our companies say they would employ one full time equivalent employee if they could find someone with the skills they need, which equates to around 3000 open jobs,” he said.

“Now we’re making it easier to maximise and optimise the number of local jobs filled with the right local people – and make it easy for our employers to get the best people for the job  in Australia – before looking overseas.”

The platform will also help local businesses reduce staff skills shortages as well as give community stakeholders valuable data about the skills required in the region.

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“This is a true partnership between RDASI, the council and JobGetter, who truly care about helping us to achieve our goals,” Mr Ferguson said.

He said the platform would enhance regional sustainability by measuring skill supply and demand, which council could use to attract new businesses to the area.

“We’re also working with schools in the area to help students understand their options when it comes to jobs as well as with local training providers who can help them get the relevant skills they need for employment. This ‘ecosystem’ approach brings all of the community together - anyone with an interest in getting people into jobs is invited onto the platform. 

“That includes schools, job agencies, careers counsellors, local businesses, industry and business groups and training providers.”

For businesses, the website not only allows them to quickly connect with locals for jobs, but also ranks applications for them making it both time saving and cost saving for local businesses.

Chief Executive Officer of Regional Development Australia Southern Inland Mareeca Flannery, said she was excited about not only being the first region to embrace this technology but also about what it would provide to the area.

“We’re trialling the platform in three regions of Southern Inland - with three specific localised sites covering the Southern Highlands, Upper Lachlan and Goulburn,” she said.

The Southern Highlands site will be the first site launched on November 22.

The website will be SouthernHighlandJobs.com.au

“We’re excited about being able to get real metrics from the platforms to help us help residents in each area connect with jobs, and help businesses connect with people. We’re also hoping that it will assist us to attract new workers and businesses to our areas.” Ms  Flannery said.

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