A project to research and identify areas of demand for employees and the skills required to satisfy the demand is being supported with a $20,000 Brumby Government grant announced today by Liz Beattie, State Member for Yuroke.

The project will involve Hume City Council and the City of Whittlesea working together on the skills audit.

Ms Beattie said the project would seek to address the miss-match between the shortage of skills in the growth industries in the region and the training needs of locally retrenched employees who could fill available positions if they possessed appropriate skills.

“Our local economy relies heavily on the manufacturing industry which is currently under stress because of international competition, the current global economic crisis and technology changes,” Ms Beattie said.

“A number of these businesses have announced closure or downsizing, resulting in significant retrenchments.”

Ms Beattie said the objective of the project was to reduce unemployment and alleviate the social and economic stresses already being experienced throughout the region.

“The Brumby Government is supporting the project because it will provide current information on local positions available for immediate take up by any retrenched workers,” Ms Beattie said.

“The project will identify skills gaps which will guide the workers into training appropriate to the needs of the region’s industry and it will be a ready tool for immediate use should there be additional job losses in the area.”

“It will better direct training initiatives to address the gaps and enable retrenched workers to gain the skills needed for ongoing employment.”

Ms Beattie said the $20,000 grant for the $40,000 Hume Whittlesea Skills Audit project was being provided to Hume City Council through Regional Development Victoria’s Living Regions Living Suburbs Program.

“Living Regions Living Suburbs is helping to deliver on the Brumby Government’s commitment to provide communities with greater opportunities for growth by supporting community and economic development,” Ms Beattie said.