A LACK of public transport across the wider Mildura region is the single largest hindrance for disadvantaged jobseekers, an inquiry has been told.
A Mildura Council submission to the Victorian parliamentary Inquiry into Sustainable Employment for Disadvantaged Jobseekers said most of the employment opportunities existed on large horticultural farms up to 60km from the city.
However, it said most disadvantaged jobseekers did not have a driver’s licence or vehicle to get to work and relied on public transport.
“The lack of public transport is the major disadvantage for jobseekers in the region,” the council’s submission said.
“The City of Mildura is not only the regional centre of the municipality for economic, social and environmental services and industries, it is also required to accommodate transient and cross-border residents.
“Due to the region’s economic reliance on primary production of cereal crops, viticulture and horticulture and associated production industries such as wineries and fruit and vegetable processing … these industries are primarily seasonal and this has created a limited economic environment for ongoing employment for people living in the region.”
The inquiry is examining barriers to the employment of disadvantaged jobseekers, how well current programs or activities are meeting needs, outcomes of efforts to encourage greater participation, education and training needs, as well as interstate and overseas best-practice models.
The Mildura Council submission said those most at risk, isolated and vulnerable in the region faced significant barriers to entering employment.
It said they frequently had a combination of issues including drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness, cultural barriers, language and literacy barriers, physical and mental health issues, records of serious offending or were victims of serious crime.
“Federally funded employment programs in the region focus predominantly on employment outcomes for jobseekers who are ‘easy to place’ and do not support long term unemployed jobseekers who face multiple barriers to employment,” the submission said.
“Many disadvantaged jobseekers get lost in a system of attending regular appointments with Centrelink and service providers who refer jobseekers to activities, eg. work for the dole or inappropriate training to maintain their Centrelink payments.
“This approach to servicing is not meeting the needs of disadvantaged jobseekers, but delaying addressing their barriers to employment.”
The council said education and training needed to support disadvantaged jobseekers’ transition into work.
“English classes running at night or over the weekend would be very valuable,” the council said.
“Currently classes are delivered during the day, which becomes a hindrance to some employers who require work completed in specific timeframes.
“Although this cohort are generally reliable and hardworking, employers face an unstable workforce which in turn deters employers from employing people from this group.”
The inquiry into the social and economic benefits of seeking to place disadvantaged jobseekers into sustainable employment is due to report to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee by next July.
