Help is at hand for job seekers tired of clicking through all those online job applications, only to see their efforts disappear into the digital abyss. The Eurobodalla's Community Services Jobs Drive is back so people looking for jobs can have real conversations about real jobs with employers direct.
From 10am to 12pm on Thursday 19 March at Moruya's Memorial RSL Hall, Eurobodalla Council's Job Shop is running the tenth iteration of the event. Project officer Amy Kovacs says each year keeps building on previous successes.
"Last year our target was 50 job seekers but we had over 100 turn up, leading to seventy-five interviews. Three months later, 56 locals were in work," Ms Kovacs says.
"In a small shire like Eurobodalla, that's a significant number."
The 2026 event will focus on health and social assistance – the second largest employment sector in the shire, after construction.
"Census stats show health and assistance generated more than 2,900 jobs in the 2023-24 reporting period. These are jobs that last, jobs that can take you all the way to retirement," says Ms Kovacs.
"Jobs range from entry-level domestic assistance and hospitality roles, through to nursing, support work and government roles. The health sector has more scope than people realise. Employers from aged care, disability and health will be there, alongside training providers who can chat about career progression.
"What makes this different is you get to talk to the people you could actually end up working alongside."
From its inception, the Community Services Jobs Drive has been about humanising the employment process and removing technological barriers. It also gives employers the chance to meet motivated job seekers, resumes in hand, and ready to start.
Ms Kovacs says the sector is surprisingly accessible, and personal values are more important than direct experience.
"From school leavers to parents returning to work, or older tradies looking to get off the tools, it's life skills that matter in this game," Ms Kovacs says.
And there's flexibility too.
"Home-care roles can start at entry level with part-time hours to suit. For those who want it, progression is built in – from domestic assistance roles, Certificate III qualifications, palliative or facilities-based roles," says Ms Kovacs.
"Our message is simple – if you're ready for work, then turn up. Bring a copy of your resume, in fact, bring 10. And if you need help polishing it up before, pop in to the Job Shop and we'll help you with that for free.
