South Australia Minister for Industry and Skills David Pisoni

Regional Funding Secured To Assist Job Seekers

Victor P Taffa

Marshall Government has secured Commonwealth funding to help support South Australian job seekers in the Yorke and Mid North region.

Department for Industry and Skills has been allocated $220,000 in annual funding to deliver the Regional Employment Trials (RET) program until June 2020.

Minister for Industry and Skills David Pisoni who praised the partnership between his department and the Federal Department of Jobs and Small Business, said collaboration between State and Federal Governments is vital to improving employment outcomes.

“Regional Employment Trials program is an important initiative which is funding employment programs that have been developed and designed to support local people so there is no disconnect between the needs of the area and the assistance that can be provided.” Minister Pisoni said.

“Yorke and Mid North was identified as one of 10 Australian regions targeted to improve employment outcomes.”

RET program provides a Local Employment Initiative Fund of $1 Million by subsidising grants of between $7,500 and $200,000 to local stakeholders for employment-related projects.

“This investment will help the Marshall Government continue delivering job and business opportunities for South Australians.” Minister Pisoni said.

Member for Narungga, Fraser Ellis MP, has welcomed the funding initiative and said the recent appointment of a regional employment facilitator will connect stakeholders with appropriate employment programs and help more people find work.

“This is a proactive program that will especially benefit those in the Yorke and Mid North region who have been struggling to find work including unemployed people who are not registered with an employment service.” Mr. Ellis said.

“This will be welcome news to local business owners who have spoken with me in recent months about the need for employment incentive programs such as this, and I am confident more employment opportunities for local young people in our region will result from this important initiative.”

“One of the drivers behind my decision to run for office at the 2018 election was concern at having to watch young people leave our region because there were so few available jobs for them. The Regional Employment Trials program will help address this issue, and skills shortages in the region.” Mr. Ellis said.