Support for rural jobseekers – Reconnect
Wednesday, 4 September 2019
Locals in the Towong, Indigo and Alpine Shire are being offered FREE assistance to re-engage with further education and employment through Wodonga TAFE which recently secured an additional 50 places to their highly successful Reconnect Program.
“Currently we work with over 60 locals from varying backgrounds to help them reach their individual goals” says Scott O’Brien, Project Coordinator from Wodonga TAFE. “The majority of people we help are looking to secure ongoing employment but struggle with confidence to take the first step having been out of the workforce for so long. We help them identify their individual strengths and support them one on one to determine their overall goals. Together, we work with them to come up with a plan to help overcome whatever barriers they face, to deal with whatever it is that is holding them back. They are in the driver’s seat!”
To date, the Reconnect program has helped a variety of people in various situations including: stay-at-home mums, young people, people returning to work after a long absence (for example after an injury/illness/carer responsibilities), career changers, those escaping domestic violence, long term unemployment, homeless, mental health issues, new immigrants, drugs or alcohol issues etc.
“Recently one of my clients secures an ongoing employment in a job they had not considered prior to coming onto the reconnect program” said Trish, Pathways Officer at Wodonga TAFE and who works one on one with Reconnect participants. “He had always driven trucks since leaving school but could not continue due to an ongoing injury. Together, we looked at what jobs were available close to where he lived and identified the hospitality industry as a very real option given that he liked talking with people. The Reconnect program paid for him to complete some short courses, helped him with his resume and he found ongoing paid work at a local club and is now very happy. All he needed was someone to help identify what he was good at and make a practical plan to allow him to get there.”
The Reconnect program is a free service and has funding to assist with paying training costs as well as other barriers people might have e.g. driving lessons. We offer career advice, assistance with resumes, interview tips and how to find a job, free of charge. We also visit all the towns in our local region and on a regular basis. We come to you!
To be eligible for this free assistance:
- Aged between 17-64
- Not completed year 12 or equivalent
- Not completed Certificate II or above
- Not in full-time employment for the past 12 months (if 17-19 can be working part time or casually)
- Not currently in school studying
If you are interested in the Reconnect program, please contact Wodonga TAFE for more information on 1300 MY TAFE (1300 698 233) or email info@wodongatafe.edu.au
Funding for the Reconnect grant program is being provided by the Victorian Government, through the Department of Education and Training.