The 12-month opportunities offer paid pre-employment and work-readiness training, plus on the job training so people can develop the skills they need while they earn an income.

New recruits will also receive wrap around support including mentoring and workplace buddies to help them succeed in their new careers.

Jobs Victoria and their partners will connect people facing barriers to employment with employers in construction, healthcare, retail, transport and logistics, horticulture, information and communications technology, trade and commercial cookery.

Priority will be given to young people, women aged 45 and over, people with disability, long-term jobseekers, people seeking asylum and refugees and newly arrived migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds.

The package is valued at $19 million with an aim to create 995 jobs.

Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford said: “By supporting those who want to work in industries that need staff, we’re responding rapidly and effectively to an evolving labour market.”

Jobs Victoria conference

The Victorian Chamber continues to work alongside employers and the government to lift employment and grow jobs, filling skills shortages and boosting growth. According to the Chamber’s recent Business Voice survey, 60 per cent of businesses are looking to hire new staff in the next two months.

The Victorian Chamber attended the Jobs Victoria conference, which brought together Jobs Victoria partners, employers, industry and government representatives to showcase innovative solutions to labour market challenges.

The conference explored the theme of inclusive employment, where the importance of educating employers on unconscious bias and opportunities for target cohorts was highlighted.

Conference participants acknowledged greater support and capacity building was required for smaller businesses to improve outcomes in this space.

Financial incentives for employers were noted in discussions as a strong driver of placing target cohorts into roles, with evidence showing most people placed through incentives are subsequently offered full-time employment.

On the technology front, opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR) to demonstrate inclusive ways of working and recruiting were outlined.

A keynote address from social advocate, four-time Paralympic Gold Medalist and Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott emphasised lifting the profile of people with a disability. Mr Alcott revealed plans to launch his disability employment platform ‘The Field’ as an app.