Dozens of people left jobless by the coronavirus pandemic will be recruited to work in bushfire recovery efforts, helping Victorians affected by two very different types of emergencies.
More than 80 jobs in bushfire recovery in Gippsland and the north-east will be advertised over the next three weeks. These roles are part of almost 200 special land-care positions to be offered under the Victorian Government's $500 million Working for Victoria program.
The initiative will support vital bushfire recovery projects such as track repairs, dangerous tree removal and repairs to damaged infrastructure in national parks and state forests so that they are ready for Victorians to enjoy when it is safe to do so.
The Victorian Government is supporting the jobs with investment from the Working for Victoria fund, enabling recovery work to continue in regions that were devastated by the summer bushfires and elsewhere, and for important environment-protection works to proceed.
The workers will be employed across the state by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), Parks Victoria and the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority.
DELWP has worked with agencies including Parks Victoria and catchment management authorities to identify jobs that can begin immediately with relatively little training. Authorities will ensure that workers maintain required physical distancing and adhere to hygiene requirements to ensure safe operations across the state.
These roles build on hundreds of Working for Victoria jobs in rural and regional communities already announced, with hundreds more to come.
More than 4,300 people have been employed through the Working for Victoria program, which is part of the government's $1.7 billion Economic Survival Package.
Working for Victoria matches people who have lost their job due to the economic impacts of coronavirus with employers that need staff, providing an avenue for a quick return to work and access to training where required.
Jobseekers can register their details at vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.
