Locals are being encouraged to apply for 20 new jobs at Ararat Rural City Council under the State Government's Working for Victoria fund.
Under Working for Victoria, Council will provide jobs for 20 unemployed people – whether they have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic or have been without work for longer.
Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison said the $500 million fund aims to match unemployed people with employers who need staff to get through the pandemic and the recovery phase.
Dr Harrison said the Council was recently successful in applying for the fund after it was announced by the State Government last month.
Council will offer full-time roles on six-month terms in the following jobs:
- 2 x Plant Operators to work in the Operational Services Team;
- 11 x Council Amenity Assistants;
- 5 x Relief Centre Assistants to help deliver Meals on Wheels, vouchers, food and other necessities;
- 1 x Recovery Planner; and,
- 1 x Economic and Social Recovery Officer.
More than 2,750 Victorians have found positions through Working for Victoria since the program was launched, providing a quick return to work and access to training.
"Ararat Rural City Council is really pleased to be able to take part in Working for Victoria and is looking forward to welcoming our 20 new employees on board," Dr Harrison said.
"We know there are a lot of people doing it tough in our municipality after losing their jobs due to the pandemic, but these roles are open to any unemployed person. This is one way the Council can help get our residents back on their feet while keeping our community safe and working through the social and economic recovery phase."
The State Government has struck agreements with an initial 28 councils across Victoria to support more than 2,300 people into jobs that include land and asset management, community outreach, hardship relief delivery and crisis co-ordination.
Under the fund, people have been employed and trained to perform tasks such as deep-cleaning public assets such as drinking fountains and disinfecting surfaces such as handrails, street furniture, playgrounds, traffic signal boxes and mailboxes.
