A strategy developed by the Playford, Salisbury and Gawler Councils, under the umbrella of the Northern Adelaide Development Board (NADB), aims to halve unemployment in this region.
The Councils believe Government funding should be directed to regional programs which match training programs with employer needs through industry specific training programs. Introducing Professional career counselling in schools with structured career training for school leavers not going directly to employment or further education, is also being advocated.
NADB Manager, Max Davids, said that the region has participated in a number of labour market programs and less than 25 percent could be viewed as effective in helping people to get work.
“In addressing the unemployment issue, we believe the Federal and State Governments need to move away from band aid, ad hoc labour market programs and look at the employment opportunities created by regional development initiatives,” he said. “A focus on regional development initiatives in recent years had helped to stabilise a rise in unemployment in the area.”
Central to the NADB program is the establishment of the Northern Adelaide Skills Training Centre. Operating in conjunction with industry, the Centre conducts training programs adaptable to changing industry needs.
Max Davids believes that there is little point in tackling unemployment by promoting economic growth if the available job skills do not match the skills needs of new industry. The Skills Training Centre brings industry, the education sector and the unemployed together to develop matching goals.
“These initiatives have proved so successful that we are now in a position where there are currently more than 1500 job vacancies in the northern area awaiting people with the appropriate education and training,” he said. “With future government support and funding to extend these program, we believe unemployment in the region can be cut by 50 percent within five years.”
Other initiatives of the NADB include a program to accelerate the commercial opportunities arising from research and development, a proactive role in schools to promote specific industry training and the employment of people to work in urban renewal programs including the refurbishment of public housing in the region.
For further information contact Max Davids, telephone (08) 8250 8606.
