Jobs Fund supports Victorian bushfire reconstruction

The Rudd Government today announced more than $2.6 million for bushfire-affected areas in Victoria under Round 2 of the Australian Government’s Jobs Fund.

Minister for Employment Participation Mark Arbib and Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction Bill Shorten said two projects in bushfire-affected Victoria were among 21 Local Jobs projects.

The projects shared in $17.5 million under the Local Jobs stream of the Australian Government’s Jobs Fund to link disadvantaged job-seekers with training and employment opportunities.

The two Victorian bushfire reconstruction projects to receive funding are:

• Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE will receive $1.7 million for the Latrobe Bushfire Community Jobs project to support the regeneration of environmental resources and the restoration of community areas damaged in the Latrobe City regions that were impacted by the bushfire crisis. The project will create or retain 28 jobs, 16 work experience positions and 14 traineeships.
• Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE will receive $750,000 for the Kinglake Sustainability Leadership Centre Outdoor Recreation Training Facility which will be used to rebuild a training, sport and recreation centre at Kinglake West. The project will use local tradespeople and job-seekers to rebuild the training centre and construct the outdoor activities used at the centre. The project will support 20 jobs, two work experience positions, two traineeships and six apprenticeships.

“Projects like this will support and create jobs in these bushfire-affected communities, which are continuing the long process of rebuilding,” Senator Arbib said.

Mr Shorten welcomed the funding for the Central Gippsland and Goulburn Ovens TAFEs.

“Both projects will help support the restoration efforts of the Kinglake and Morwell communities following the devastation to the area caused by last year’s bushfires,” Mr Shorten said.

“The previous Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE’s Training Centre was destroyed in Victoria’s Black Saturday bushfires. The funding will now enable this important community resource to be rebuilt.

“It’s great to see communities support the Government’s plan to create jobs and training opportunities for local workers, and build infrastructure that will benefit the communities well into the future.”

Funding for Local Jobs projects was negotiated with the support of the Australian Greens.

These projects will see a further 596 jobs created and retained, in addition to 150 traineeship and apprenticeship positions and 304 work experience placements.

A full list of Round 2 Local Jobs projects and more information on the Jobs Fund is available at the Keep Australia Working website.