A state government jobs initiative has proved a roaring success for both Werribee’s Open Range Zoo and long-term job-seekers.
About 850 job-seekers across the western suburbs, including Sudanese migrants Charity, Margaret, Rieta and Salwa, have gained secure employment as part of the Jobs Victoria program.
The four women have secured jobs in customer service and in the kitchen at Werribee Open Range Zoo after the Westgate Community Initiatives Group and Wyndham Community and Education Centre helped fix up their resumes and mentored them as part of the program.
Since arriving in Australia in 2002, Charity had only been able to secure intermittent work to support herself and her daughter, despite having completed tourism qualifications. She is now in customer service, alongside Margaret, who has a diploma in hospitality but had also struggled to find work.
Rieta and Salwa, who work as kitchen hands at the zoo, have gained further qualifications since starting work.
Werribee MP Tim Pallas said the Westgate Community Initiative Group and Wyndham Community and Education Centre have been instrumental in the success of the program, helping long-term job-seekers find stable work.
Employment minister Ben Carroll added: “Unlike national jobs programs, which have a one size fits all approach, Jobs Victoria is delivering tailored assistance to job-seekers and is helping employers to find the workers they need.”
