VICTORIA – BARWON SOUTH WEST 2012 – 2014 REGIONAL ...
Transcript of VICTORIA – BARWON SOUTH WEST 2012 – 2014 REGIONAL ...
VICTORIA ndash BARWON SOUTH WEST
2012 ndash 2014 JULY 2013
REGIONAL EDUCATION SKILLS AND JOBS PLAN
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 2
wwwdeewrgovauresj
This plan was first published in July 2012 This is the July 2013 edition Details in this report are correct at time of drafting This report can be found at the Regional Education Skills and Jobs webpage (wwwdeewrgovauresj) or the My Region website (wwwmyregiongovau)
For more information about this plan please contact The Office of Regional Education Skills and Jobs GPO Box 9880 Canberra ACT 2601 Email oresjdeewrgovau
ISBN 978-0-642-78675-3 [PDF] 978-0-642-78676-0 [DOCX]
With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and where otherwise noted all material presented in this document is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 30 Australia licence (httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby30au)
The details of the relevant licence conditions (httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby30aulegalcode) are available on the Creative Commons website (accessible using the links provided) as is the full legal code for the CC BY 30 AU licence
The document must be attributed as the Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan 2012-14 ndash Barwon South West
Disclaimer about data used in this plan Data used in the development of this plan comes from a variety of sources and was correct at time of drafting This document should not be used as a data source as data referred to may have been updated or reformulated since the publication of the plan Refer to primary sources for confirmation of data
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CONTENTS
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans 4
Map of Barwon South West 5
Executive summary 6
Characteristics of the region 9
Population 9
Early childhood education and care 9
School education 11
Trade Training Centres 12
Tertiary education and training 12
Jobs skills and workforce development 14
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region 16
Other characteristics 17
Advancing Country Towns Initiative 17
Socio-Economic Disadvantage 17
DisabilityCare Australia 18
A Digital Economy 18
Issues goals and strategies 19
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and
employment 20
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for
skilled labour 22
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region 24
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy 26
Appendices 27
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders 27
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies 28
Abbreviations 32
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 4
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REGIONAL EDUCATION SKILLS AND JOBS PLANS The Australian Government announced the Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans initiative in the 2011ndash12 Budget as part of the Building Australiarsquos Future Workforce package The initiative addresses four key areas of the Australian Governmentrsquos productivity and social inclusion agendas early childhood education and care Year 12 attainment participation in vocational and higher education and local job opportunities
The Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has deployed 34 Regional Education Skills and Jobs (RESJ) Coordinators to work with local stakeholders to develop Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans for the 46 Regional Development Australia (RDA) areas that cover non-metropolitan Australia
The plans present locally identified opportunities and challenges and outline local strategies to improve education skills and jobs outcomes in regional Australia
For more information including the contact details of your local RESJ Coordinator please refer to the Regional Education Skills and Jobs webpage at wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Each plan reflects community priorities and includes goals and local strategies to achieve the communityrsquos objectives based on four key themes early childhood education and care school education tertiary education and training and jobs skills and workforce development
The plans build on the range of services and programs already offered by DEEWR and the strategies draw on the programs of other government agencies and the opportunities arising from major local projects
Community engagement The plans were developed by RESJ Coordinators with close community engagement and include views from young people parents employers educators service providers peak bodies community leaders government organisations and agencies and other interested individuals and organisations The plans draw strongly upon existing strategic plans in each region including the local RDA regional plan
DEEWR acknowledges the traditional owners of the Barwon South West RDA region and their elders past and present recognising their continuing connection to country This plan strives to build and harness mutually respectful relationships and reflect community priorities in education skills and jobs development for the region
Implementation The RESJ Coordinator on behalf of DEEWR will oversee the implementation of the strategies and promote and coordinate linkages between the government agencies providers and stakeholders involved in this planrsquos implementation
Progress towards achieving the goals within each plan will be closely monitored while stakeholders will be kept informed through participation in plan strategies
This edition incorporates strategies that respond to changes in local circumstances identified through continuing community input or changing government priorities in regional Australia as well as access to new data The plans continue to be living and responsive documents that will be revisited throughout their implementation to June 2014
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 5
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MAP OF BARWON SOUTH WEST
Source Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts and Sport
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 6
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Barwon South West Regional Development Australia (RDA) region takes in the south west of Victoria
and covers the natural and built environment from the South Australian border to Geelong and
Queenscliff and from the south coast to the Southern Grampians Economically and socially diverse the
region has three economies one inland while the coast is dominated by tourism and amenity lifestyles
and Geelong with a diverse economic and social base
The region covers 32340 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 366900 It includes
the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Queenscliffe Greater Geelong Surf Coast Colac Otway
Corangamite Moyne Warrnambool Southern Grampians and Glenelg The region has 800 kilometres of
coastline representing 40 per cent of Victoriarsquos coastline
The Barwon South West RDA region comprises two subregions Geelong (G21) and the Great South Coast
(GSC) Both subregions have developed alliances of municipalities and other regional stakeholders to
complete extensive consultative planning processes The G21 subregion encompasses the LGAs of
Greater Geelong Queenscliffe Surf Coast and part of Colac Otway The GSC subregion encompasses the
LGAs of Warrnambool Moyne Corangamite Glenelg and Southern Grampians it also includes
Colac Otway
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the G21 Alliancersquos Education and Training Pillar and the Position for
Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars of the Great South Coast Group The work of
these Pillar groups aligns with the strategic direction of the Barwon South West Regional Development
Australia (RDA) Roadmap and this RESJ Plan
A comprehensive environmental scan and community consultation have been carried out to identify the
key education skills and jobs challenges for the region The challenges include
low rates of participation in early childhood education and care programs and low rates of tertiary qualified staff to meet community services and health workforce requirements
low rates of regional participation in education training and employment
low participation rates in VET and higher education in the region
industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
need to promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
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The goals of this Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan are to
increase participation rates in early childhood development services and increase qualifications for staff in the community services and health sector
improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
identify barriers to participation in vocational education and training and employment to assist meet the regionrsquos employment demand
improve young peoplersquos career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
improve tertiary education enrolments and completion rates in the region
support the development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing
industries
increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of
the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in
education training and employment
Some outcomes achieved by the RESJ Coordinator working with local stakeholders include
Facilitating the launch of the 2012 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland which has seen
27 students return to complete Year 12 and one student employed in a full-time apprenticeship
The program involves providing mentors to Year 11 students from four secondary schools who
support student participation in leadership and personal development and provide them with
exposure to local industry learning and career opportunities to improve career aspirations and
retention to Year 12
Delivering information on programs that support workforce development at a Small Business
Festival held in Geelong in August 2012 Funding for Training and Skills Development One impact
of this was to connect local businesses to Industry Skills Councils which has resulted in ongoing
collaboration on development of Workplace English Language and Literacy programs in the
transport and logistics and community services and health sectors
Convening an Early Childhood Education and Care Roundtable in Warrnambool in June 2012
attended by 45 participants from the early childhood education and care sector organisations
training and Job Services Australia provider networks The roundtable provided the opportunity
for service providers to strengthen linkages with groups in attendance and for agencies to
promote the benefits of funding programs and careers in the early years sector as a preferred
destination for students Projects explored as part of the roundtable conversations included
mapping current sector skills to identify the Great South Coast position in relation to meeting the
standards of the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care and service
demand drivers to inform regional workforce recruitment retention and professional
development strategies
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Facilitating a planning forum that helped identify priority projects for the Great South Coast
Position for Economic Growth pillar group to focus on Priority areas identified included
providing support for a nature based tourism project as part of a broader regional tourism
strategy maximising opportunities to grow the food and fibre industries and exploring
opportunities in alternative energy and provide access to and participation in life-long learning
These projects have been developed and undertaken in 2013 Projects include
o Establishment of the Ag Reference Group to work on the Regional Food Plan
o The Foundation Workforce Action Group developing and implementing workforce
strategies in the region
o The Education Attainment Strategy
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region
To guide the RESJ Coordinatorrsquos identification of issues and engagement with the community various
data sets have supported the development of this plan Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals for example unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
stateterritory figures and quarterly for regions
Population According to the 2011 Census the estimated residential population of the Barwon-Western District
region in 2011 was 366900 people representing an increase of 05 per cent over the year to 2011 The
distribution of residents in the region is highly concentrated in two main age cohorts of 0-24 and 35-
59 year olds The increase in population was spread across most age cohorts and statistical local areas
Greater Geelong (up 17010 people or 83) had the regionrsquos highest population growth The 25-29 year
olds (up 3364 people or 163) and 60-69 year olds (up 8771 people or 254) age cohorts recorded the
strongest growth The 10-14 year olds was the only age cohort to record a decline in the region
According to the 2011 Census approximately 10 per cent of the population of Barwon South West
identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander on Census night For Victoria this figure is 36 per cent
2011 Census data also indicates that 146 per cent of the population in the region was born overseas
compared to the state average of 234 per cent The movement of rsquosea and tree changersrsquo has also
increased the net migration of older people into the coastal areas Skilled migration and refugee
resettlement are of increasing interest to local government and industry as a response to unmet skilled
and unskilled labour
Early childhood education and care There are around 200 licensed early childhood education and care services in the region Services include
long day care family day care kindergarten and occasional care A high proportion of outside school
hours care is delivered through local primary schools
Most shires and councils in the region offer maternal child health kindergarten family day care and
long day care Some also offer Indigenous playgroups and mobile playgroups Local governments report
that the early childhood sector is at capacity and plans for expansion are being made In the more
isolated areas in the region there is a shortage of early childhood services due to irregular demand and
difficulty in sourcing qualified staff which presents a challenge to the viability of some services Early
childhood education and care is not available in a number of smaller towns in some local government
areas such as Corangamite Lack of public transport also limits the ability of some parents to access early
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childhood education and care and these issues can represent barriers to parents wishing to return to
work
Local governments play a significant role in delivering a range of early childhood education and care
services A key responsibility for local governments is to develop and implement Municipal Early Years
Plans Local Government Associations in the Barwon South West have developed or are currently
updating municipal early yearsrsquo plans that articulate policies to integrate health and early childhood
services
The Greater Geelong area has access to a large number of early childhood education and care services
including private not for profit and community child care Approved Child Care Benefit services are
spread across the City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire
and Golden Plains Shire Greater Geelong also supports an Inclusion Support Agency Multifunctional
Aboriginal Childrenrsquos Services mobile child care toy libraries and playgroups
The Geelong Kindergarten Association is a kindergarten cluster managing 32 community based
kindergartens which includes the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast The five Local Government Areas in
the Great South Coast Cluster manage their kindergartens which range from nine in Warrnambool to
four in Glenelg There is also private childcare available in all but the Corangamite Shire
The Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic
Plan and G21 Geelong Region Plan) has a strong focus on access to education and employment also
recognising that the early childhood years are predictors of good education health and social outcomes
The Warrnambool City Council and the Shires of Glenelg Southern Grampians Moyne and Corangamite
have collaborated to develop a Great South Coast Early Years Project Action Plan 2011-2012 that will
target specific action in supporting and developing the regionrsquos early yearsrsquo workforce
The plan identifies a number of priority areas including greater collaboration between early childhood
education and care providers and education and training providers staff pooling shared service delivery
support for vulnerable families localised training and support for isolated educators and workforce
attraction retention and development
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young childrenrsquos development across five
domains physical health and well-being social competence emotional maturity school-based language
and cognitive skills and general knowledge 2009 AEDI data indicated at a national level 236 per cent of
children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 118 per cent were vulnerable on two or more
domains The AEDI found that in the Barwon South West RDA region the communities of Glenelg and
Surf Coast had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region less than the national rates
on both measures The AEDI community of Colac-Otway had the highest proportions of vulnerable
childrenmdashbut rates were only slightly more than the national averages on both measures
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) operates in Colac Geelong and
Winchelsea HIPPY supports parents in the year before formal education with pre-literacy and pre-
numeracy skills Further support into the first year of formal schooling extends this support to focus on
childrenrsquos learning and development
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The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
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In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
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TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
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Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
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The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
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The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
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Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 2
wwwdeewrgovauresj
This plan was first published in July 2012 This is the July 2013 edition Details in this report are correct at time of drafting This report can be found at the Regional Education Skills and Jobs webpage (wwwdeewrgovauresj) or the My Region website (wwwmyregiongovau)
For more information about this plan please contact The Office of Regional Education Skills and Jobs GPO Box 9880 Canberra ACT 2601 Email oresjdeewrgovau
ISBN 978-0-642-78675-3 [PDF] 978-0-642-78676-0 [DOCX]
With the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms and where otherwise noted all material presented in this document is provided under a Creative Commons Attribution 30 Australia licence (httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby30au)
The details of the relevant licence conditions (httpcreativecommonsorglicensesby30aulegalcode) are available on the Creative Commons website (accessible using the links provided) as is the full legal code for the CC BY 30 AU licence
The document must be attributed as the Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan 2012-14 ndash Barwon South West
Disclaimer about data used in this plan Data used in the development of this plan comes from a variety of sources and was correct at time of drafting This document should not be used as a data source as data referred to may have been updated or reformulated since the publication of the plan Refer to primary sources for confirmation of data
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 3
wwwdeewrgovauresj
CONTENTS
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans 4
Map of Barwon South West 5
Executive summary 6
Characteristics of the region 9
Population 9
Early childhood education and care 9
School education 11
Trade Training Centres 12
Tertiary education and training 12
Jobs skills and workforce development 14
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region 16
Other characteristics 17
Advancing Country Towns Initiative 17
Socio-Economic Disadvantage 17
DisabilityCare Australia 18
A Digital Economy 18
Issues goals and strategies 19
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and
employment 20
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for
skilled labour 22
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region 24
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy 26
Appendices 27
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders 27
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies 28
Abbreviations 32
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 4
wwwdeewrgovauresj
REGIONAL EDUCATION SKILLS AND JOBS PLANS The Australian Government announced the Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans initiative in the 2011ndash12 Budget as part of the Building Australiarsquos Future Workforce package The initiative addresses four key areas of the Australian Governmentrsquos productivity and social inclusion agendas early childhood education and care Year 12 attainment participation in vocational and higher education and local job opportunities
The Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has deployed 34 Regional Education Skills and Jobs (RESJ) Coordinators to work with local stakeholders to develop Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans for the 46 Regional Development Australia (RDA) areas that cover non-metropolitan Australia
The plans present locally identified opportunities and challenges and outline local strategies to improve education skills and jobs outcomes in regional Australia
For more information including the contact details of your local RESJ Coordinator please refer to the Regional Education Skills and Jobs webpage at wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Each plan reflects community priorities and includes goals and local strategies to achieve the communityrsquos objectives based on four key themes early childhood education and care school education tertiary education and training and jobs skills and workforce development
The plans build on the range of services and programs already offered by DEEWR and the strategies draw on the programs of other government agencies and the opportunities arising from major local projects
Community engagement The plans were developed by RESJ Coordinators with close community engagement and include views from young people parents employers educators service providers peak bodies community leaders government organisations and agencies and other interested individuals and organisations The plans draw strongly upon existing strategic plans in each region including the local RDA regional plan
DEEWR acknowledges the traditional owners of the Barwon South West RDA region and their elders past and present recognising their continuing connection to country This plan strives to build and harness mutually respectful relationships and reflect community priorities in education skills and jobs development for the region
Implementation The RESJ Coordinator on behalf of DEEWR will oversee the implementation of the strategies and promote and coordinate linkages between the government agencies providers and stakeholders involved in this planrsquos implementation
Progress towards achieving the goals within each plan will be closely monitored while stakeholders will be kept informed through participation in plan strategies
This edition incorporates strategies that respond to changes in local circumstances identified through continuing community input or changing government priorities in regional Australia as well as access to new data The plans continue to be living and responsive documents that will be revisited throughout their implementation to June 2014
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 5
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MAP OF BARWON SOUTH WEST
Source Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts and Sport
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 6
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Barwon South West Regional Development Australia (RDA) region takes in the south west of Victoria
and covers the natural and built environment from the South Australian border to Geelong and
Queenscliff and from the south coast to the Southern Grampians Economically and socially diverse the
region has three economies one inland while the coast is dominated by tourism and amenity lifestyles
and Geelong with a diverse economic and social base
The region covers 32340 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 366900 It includes
the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Queenscliffe Greater Geelong Surf Coast Colac Otway
Corangamite Moyne Warrnambool Southern Grampians and Glenelg The region has 800 kilometres of
coastline representing 40 per cent of Victoriarsquos coastline
The Barwon South West RDA region comprises two subregions Geelong (G21) and the Great South Coast
(GSC) Both subregions have developed alliances of municipalities and other regional stakeholders to
complete extensive consultative planning processes The G21 subregion encompasses the LGAs of
Greater Geelong Queenscliffe Surf Coast and part of Colac Otway The GSC subregion encompasses the
LGAs of Warrnambool Moyne Corangamite Glenelg and Southern Grampians it also includes
Colac Otway
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the G21 Alliancersquos Education and Training Pillar and the Position for
Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars of the Great South Coast Group The work of
these Pillar groups aligns with the strategic direction of the Barwon South West Regional Development
Australia (RDA) Roadmap and this RESJ Plan
A comprehensive environmental scan and community consultation have been carried out to identify the
key education skills and jobs challenges for the region The challenges include
low rates of participation in early childhood education and care programs and low rates of tertiary qualified staff to meet community services and health workforce requirements
low rates of regional participation in education training and employment
low participation rates in VET and higher education in the region
industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
need to promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 7
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The goals of this Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan are to
increase participation rates in early childhood development services and increase qualifications for staff in the community services and health sector
improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
identify barriers to participation in vocational education and training and employment to assist meet the regionrsquos employment demand
improve young peoplersquos career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
improve tertiary education enrolments and completion rates in the region
support the development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing
industries
increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of
the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in
education training and employment
Some outcomes achieved by the RESJ Coordinator working with local stakeholders include
Facilitating the launch of the 2012 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland which has seen
27 students return to complete Year 12 and one student employed in a full-time apprenticeship
The program involves providing mentors to Year 11 students from four secondary schools who
support student participation in leadership and personal development and provide them with
exposure to local industry learning and career opportunities to improve career aspirations and
retention to Year 12
Delivering information on programs that support workforce development at a Small Business
Festival held in Geelong in August 2012 Funding for Training and Skills Development One impact
of this was to connect local businesses to Industry Skills Councils which has resulted in ongoing
collaboration on development of Workplace English Language and Literacy programs in the
transport and logistics and community services and health sectors
Convening an Early Childhood Education and Care Roundtable in Warrnambool in June 2012
attended by 45 participants from the early childhood education and care sector organisations
training and Job Services Australia provider networks The roundtable provided the opportunity
for service providers to strengthen linkages with groups in attendance and for agencies to
promote the benefits of funding programs and careers in the early years sector as a preferred
destination for students Projects explored as part of the roundtable conversations included
mapping current sector skills to identify the Great South Coast position in relation to meeting the
standards of the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care and service
demand drivers to inform regional workforce recruitment retention and professional
development strategies
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 8
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Facilitating a planning forum that helped identify priority projects for the Great South Coast
Position for Economic Growth pillar group to focus on Priority areas identified included
providing support for a nature based tourism project as part of a broader regional tourism
strategy maximising opportunities to grow the food and fibre industries and exploring
opportunities in alternative energy and provide access to and participation in life-long learning
These projects have been developed and undertaken in 2013 Projects include
o Establishment of the Ag Reference Group to work on the Regional Food Plan
o The Foundation Workforce Action Group developing and implementing workforce
strategies in the region
o The Education Attainment Strategy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 9
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region
To guide the RESJ Coordinatorrsquos identification of issues and engagement with the community various
data sets have supported the development of this plan Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals for example unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
stateterritory figures and quarterly for regions
Population According to the 2011 Census the estimated residential population of the Barwon-Western District
region in 2011 was 366900 people representing an increase of 05 per cent over the year to 2011 The
distribution of residents in the region is highly concentrated in two main age cohorts of 0-24 and 35-
59 year olds The increase in population was spread across most age cohorts and statistical local areas
Greater Geelong (up 17010 people or 83) had the regionrsquos highest population growth The 25-29 year
olds (up 3364 people or 163) and 60-69 year olds (up 8771 people or 254) age cohorts recorded the
strongest growth The 10-14 year olds was the only age cohort to record a decline in the region
According to the 2011 Census approximately 10 per cent of the population of Barwon South West
identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander on Census night For Victoria this figure is 36 per cent
2011 Census data also indicates that 146 per cent of the population in the region was born overseas
compared to the state average of 234 per cent The movement of rsquosea and tree changersrsquo has also
increased the net migration of older people into the coastal areas Skilled migration and refugee
resettlement are of increasing interest to local government and industry as a response to unmet skilled
and unskilled labour
Early childhood education and care There are around 200 licensed early childhood education and care services in the region Services include
long day care family day care kindergarten and occasional care A high proportion of outside school
hours care is delivered through local primary schools
Most shires and councils in the region offer maternal child health kindergarten family day care and
long day care Some also offer Indigenous playgroups and mobile playgroups Local governments report
that the early childhood sector is at capacity and plans for expansion are being made In the more
isolated areas in the region there is a shortage of early childhood services due to irregular demand and
difficulty in sourcing qualified staff which presents a challenge to the viability of some services Early
childhood education and care is not available in a number of smaller towns in some local government
areas such as Corangamite Lack of public transport also limits the ability of some parents to access early
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 10
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childhood education and care and these issues can represent barriers to parents wishing to return to
work
Local governments play a significant role in delivering a range of early childhood education and care
services A key responsibility for local governments is to develop and implement Municipal Early Years
Plans Local Government Associations in the Barwon South West have developed or are currently
updating municipal early yearsrsquo plans that articulate policies to integrate health and early childhood
services
The Greater Geelong area has access to a large number of early childhood education and care services
including private not for profit and community child care Approved Child Care Benefit services are
spread across the City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire
and Golden Plains Shire Greater Geelong also supports an Inclusion Support Agency Multifunctional
Aboriginal Childrenrsquos Services mobile child care toy libraries and playgroups
The Geelong Kindergarten Association is a kindergarten cluster managing 32 community based
kindergartens which includes the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast The five Local Government Areas in
the Great South Coast Cluster manage their kindergartens which range from nine in Warrnambool to
four in Glenelg There is also private childcare available in all but the Corangamite Shire
The Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic
Plan and G21 Geelong Region Plan) has a strong focus on access to education and employment also
recognising that the early childhood years are predictors of good education health and social outcomes
The Warrnambool City Council and the Shires of Glenelg Southern Grampians Moyne and Corangamite
have collaborated to develop a Great South Coast Early Years Project Action Plan 2011-2012 that will
target specific action in supporting and developing the regionrsquos early yearsrsquo workforce
The plan identifies a number of priority areas including greater collaboration between early childhood
education and care providers and education and training providers staff pooling shared service delivery
support for vulnerable families localised training and support for isolated educators and workforce
attraction retention and development
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young childrenrsquos development across five
domains physical health and well-being social competence emotional maturity school-based language
and cognitive skills and general knowledge 2009 AEDI data indicated at a national level 236 per cent of
children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 118 per cent were vulnerable on two or more
domains The AEDI found that in the Barwon South West RDA region the communities of Glenelg and
Surf Coast had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region less than the national rates
on both measures The AEDI community of Colac-Otway had the highest proportions of vulnerable
childrenmdashbut rates were only slightly more than the national averages on both measures
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) operates in Colac Geelong and
Winchelsea HIPPY supports parents in the year before formal education with pre-literacy and pre-
numeracy skills Further support into the first year of formal schooling extends this support to focus on
childrenrsquos learning and development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 11
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The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
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In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
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TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
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Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
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The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
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The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
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Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
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Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
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ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
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Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
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Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
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Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
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Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 3
wwwdeewrgovauresj
CONTENTS
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans 4
Map of Barwon South West 5
Executive summary 6
Characteristics of the region 9
Population 9
Early childhood education and care 9
School education 11
Trade Training Centres 12
Tertiary education and training 12
Jobs skills and workforce development 14
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region 16
Other characteristics 17
Advancing Country Towns Initiative 17
Socio-Economic Disadvantage 17
DisabilityCare Australia 18
A Digital Economy 18
Issues goals and strategies 19
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and
employment 20
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for
skilled labour 22
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region 24
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy 26
Appendices 27
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders 27
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies 28
Abbreviations 32
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 4
wwwdeewrgovauresj
REGIONAL EDUCATION SKILLS AND JOBS PLANS The Australian Government announced the Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans initiative in the 2011ndash12 Budget as part of the Building Australiarsquos Future Workforce package The initiative addresses four key areas of the Australian Governmentrsquos productivity and social inclusion agendas early childhood education and care Year 12 attainment participation in vocational and higher education and local job opportunities
The Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has deployed 34 Regional Education Skills and Jobs (RESJ) Coordinators to work with local stakeholders to develop Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans for the 46 Regional Development Australia (RDA) areas that cover non-metropolitan Australia
The plans present locally identified opportunities and challenges and outline local strategies to improve education skills and jobs outcomes in regional Australia
For more information including the contact details of your local RESJ Coordinator please refer to the Regional Education Skills and Jobs webpage at wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Each plan reflects community priorities and includes goals and local strategies to achieve the communityrsquos objectives based on four key themes early childhood education and care school education tertiary education and training and jobs skills and workforce development
The plans build on the range of services and programs already offered by DEEWR and the strategies draw on the programs of other government agencies and the opportunities arising from major local projects
Community engagement The plans were developed by RESJ Coordinators with close community engagement and include views from young people parents employers educators service providers peak bodies community leaders government organisations and agencies and other interested individuals and organisations The plans draw strongly upon existing strategic plans in each region including the local RDA regional plan
DEEWR acknowledges the traditional owners of the Barwon South West RDA region and their elders past and present recognising their continuing connection to country This plan strives to build and harness mutually respectful relationships and reflect community priorities in education skills and jobs development for the region
Implementation The RESJ Coordinator on behalf of DEEWR will oversee the implementation of the strategies and promote and coordinate linkages between the government agencies providers and stakeholders involved in this planrsquos implementation
Progress towards achieving the goals within each plan will be closely monitored while stakeholders will be kept informed through participation in plan strategies
This edition incorporates strategies that respond to changes in local circumstances identified through continuing community input or changing government priorities in regional Australia as well as access to new data The plans continue to be living and responsive documents that will be revisited throughout their implementation to June 2014
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 5
wwwdeewrgovauresj
MAP OF BARWON SOUTH WEST
Source Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts and Sport
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 6
wwwdeewrgovauresj
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Barwon South West Regional Development Australia (RDA) region takes in the south west of Victoria
and covers the natural and built environment from the South Australian border to Geelong and
Queenscliff and from the south coast to the Southern Grampians Economically and socially diverse the
region has three economies one inland while the coast is dominated by tourism and amenity lifestyles
and Geelong with a diverse economic and social base
The region covers 32340 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 366900 It includes
the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Queenscliffe Greater Geelong Surf Coast Colac Otway
Corangamite Moyne Warrnambool Southern Grampians and Glenelg The region has 800 kilometres of
coastline representing 40 per cent of Victoriarsquos coastline
The Barwon South West RDA region comprises two subregions Geelong (G21) and the Great South Coast
(GSC) Both subregions have developed alliances of municipalities and other regional stakeholders to
complete extensive consultative planning processes The G21 subregion encompasses the LGAs of
Greater Geelong Queenscliffe Surf Coast and part of Colac Otway The GSC subregion encompasses the
LGAs of Warrnambool Moyne Corangamite Glenelg and Southern Grampians it also includes
Colac Otway
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the G21 Alliancersquos Education and Training Pillar and the Position for
Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars of the Great South Coast Group The work of
these Pillar groups aligns with the strategic direction of the Barwon South West Regional Development
Australia (RDA) Roadmap and this RESJ Plan
A comprehensive environmental scan and community consultation have been carried out to identify the
key education skills and jobs challenges for the region The challenges include
low rates of participation in early childhood education and care programs and low rates of tertiary qualified staff to meet community services and health workforce requirements
low rates of regional participation in education training and employment
low participation rates in VET and higher education in the region
industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
need to promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 7
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The goals of this Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan are to
increase participation rates in early childhood development services and increase qualifications for staff in the community services and health sector
improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
identify barriers to participation in vocational education and training and employment to assist meet the regionrsquos employment demand
improve young peoplersquos career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
improve tertiary education enrolments and completion rates in the region
support the development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing
industries
increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of
the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in
education training and employment
Some outcomes achieved by the RESJ Coordinator working with local stakeholders include
Facilitating the launch of the 2012 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland which has seen
27 students return to complete Year 12 and one student employed in a full-time apprenticeship
The program involves providing mentors to Year 11 students from four secondary schools who
support student participation in leadership and personal development and provide them with
exposure to local industry learning and career opportunities to improve career aspirations and
retention to Year 12
Delivering information on programs that support workforce development at a Small Business
Festival held in Geelong in August 2012 Funding for Training and Skills Development One impact
of this was to connect local businesses to Industry Skills Councils which has resulted in ongoing
collaboration on development of Workplace English Language and Literacy programs in the
transport and logistics and community services and health sectors
Convening an Early Childhood Education and Care Roundtable in Warrnambool in June 2012
attended by 45 participants from the early childhood education and care sector organisations
training and Job Services Australia provider networks The roundtable provided the opportunity
for service providers to strengthen linkages with groups in attendance and for agencies to
promote the benefits of funding programs and careers in the early years sector as a preferred
destination for students Projects explored as part of the roundtable conversations included
mapping current sector skills to identify the Great South Coast position in relation to meeting the
standards of the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care and service
demand drivers to inform regional workforce recruitment retention and professional
development strategies
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 8
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Facilitating a planning forum that helped identify priority projects for the Great South Coast
Position for Economic Growth pillar group to focus on Priority areas identified included
providing support for a nature based tourism project as part of a broader regional tourism
strategy maximising opportunities to grow the food and fibre industries and exploring
opportunities in alternative energy and provide access to and participation in life-long learning
These projects have been developed and undertaken in 2013 Projects include
o Establishment of the Ag Reference Group to work on the Regional Food Plan
o The Foundation Workforce Action Group developing and implementing workforce
strategies in the region
o The Education Attainment Strategy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 9
wwwdeewrgovauresj
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region
To guide the RESJ Coordinatorrsquos identification of issues and engagement with the community various
data sets have supported the development of this plan Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals for example unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
stateterritory figures and quarterly for regions
Population According to the 2011 Census the estimated residential population of the Barwon-Western District
region in 2011 was 366900 people representing an increase of 05 per cent over the year to 2011 The
distribution of residents in the region is highly concentrated in two main age cohorts of 0-24 and 35-
59 year olds The increase in population was spread across most age cohorts and statistical local areas
Greater Geelong (up 17010 people or 83) had the regionrsquos highest population growth The 25-29 year
olds (up 3364 people or 163) and 60-69 year olds (up 8771 people or 254) age cohorts recorded the
strongest growth The 10-14 year olds was the only age cohort to record a decline in the region
According to the 2011 Census approximately 10 per cent of the population of Barwon South West
identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander on Census night For Victoria this figure is 36 per cent
2011 Census data also indicates that 146 per cent of the population in the region was born overseas
compared to the state average of 234 per cent The movement of rsquosea and tree changersrsquo has also
increased the net migration of older people into the coastal areas Skilled migration and refugee
resettlement are of increasing interest to local government and industry as a response to unmet skilled
and unskilled labour
Early childhood education and care There are around 200 licensed early childhood education and care services in the region Services include
long day care family day care kindergarten and occasional care A high proportion of outside school
hours care is delivered through local primary schools
Most shires and councils in the region offer maternal child health kindergarten family day care and
long day care Some also offer Indigenous playgroups and mobile playgroups Local governments report
that the early childhood sector is at capacity and plans for expansion are being made In the more
isolated areas in the region there is a shortage of early childhood services due to irregular demand and
difficulty in sourcing qualified staff which presents a challenge to the viability of some services Early
childhood education and care is not available in a number of smaller towns in some local government
areas such as Corangamite Lack of public transport also limits the ability of some parents to access early
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 10
wwwdeewrgovauresj
childhood education and care and these issues can represent barriers to parents wishing to return to
work
Local governments play a significant role in delivering a range of early childhood education and care
services A key responsibility for local governments is to develop and implement Municipal Early Years
Plans Local Government Associations in the Barwon South West have developed or are currently
updating municipal early yearsrsquo plans that articulate policies to integrate health and early childhood
services
The Greater Geelong area has access to a large number of early childhood education and care services
including private not for profit and community child care Approved Child Care Benefit services are
spread across the City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire
and Golden Plains Shire Greater Geelong also supports an Inclusion Support Agency Multifunctional
Aboriginal Childrenrsquos Services mobile child care toy libraries and playgroups
The Geelong Kindergarten Association is a kindergarten cluster managing 32 community based
kindergartens which includes the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast The five Local Government Areas in
the Great South Coast Cluster manage their kindergartens which range from nine in Warrnambool to
four in Glenelg There is also private childcare available in all but the Corangamite Shire
The Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic
Plan and G21 Geelong Region Plan) has a strong focus on access to education and employment also
recognising that the early childhood years are predictors of good education health and social outcomes
The Warrnambool City Council and the Shires of Glenelg Southern Grampians Moyne and Corangamite
have collaborated to develop a Great South Coast Early Years Project Action Plan 2011-2012 that will
target specific action in supporting and developing the regionrsquos early yearsrsquo workforce
The plan identifies a number of priority areas including greater collaboration between early childhood
education and care providers and education and training providers staff pooling shared service delivery
support for vulnerable families localised training and support for isolated educators and workforce
attraction retention and development
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young childrenrsquos development across five
domains physical health and well-being social competence emotional maturity school-based language
and cognitive skills and general knowledge 2009 AEDI data indicated at a national level 236 per cent of
children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 118 per cent were vulnerable on two or more
domains The AEDI found that in the Barwon South West RDA region the communities of Glenelg and
Surf Coast had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region less than the national rates
on both measures The AEDI community of Colac-Otway had the highest proportions of vulnerable
childrenmdashbut rates were only slightly more than the national averages on both measures
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) operates in Colac Geelong and
Winchelsea HIPPY supports parents in the year before formal education with pre-literacy and pre-
numeracy skills Further support into the first year of formal schooling extends this support to focus on
childrenrsquos learning and development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 11
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The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
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In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
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TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
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Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
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The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
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The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
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Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
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ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 4
wwwdeewrgovauresj
REGIONAL EDUCATION SKILLS AND JOBS PLANS The Australian Government announced the Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans initiative in the 2011ndash12 Budget as part of the Building Australiarsquos Future Workforce package The initiative addresses four key areas of the Australian Governmentrsquos productivity and social inclusion agendas early childhood education and care Year 12 attainment participation in vocational and higher education and local job opportunities
The Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has deployed 34 Regional Education Skills and Jobs (RESJ) Coordinators to work with local stakeholders to develop Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plans for the 46 Regional Development Australia (RDA) areas that cover non-metropolitan Australia
The plans present locally identified opportunities and challenges and outline local strategies to improve education skills and jobs outcomes in regional Australia
For more information including the contact details of your local RESJ Coordinator please refer to the Regional Education Skills and Jobs webpage at wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Each plan reflects community priorities and includes goals and local strategies to achieve the communityrsquos objectives based on four key themes early childhood education and care school education tertiary education and training and jobs skills and workforce development
The plans build on the range of services and programs already offered by DEEWR and the strategies draw on the programs of other government agencies and the opportunities arising from major local projects
Community engagement The plans were developed by RESJ Coordinators with close community engagement and include views from young people parents employers educators service providers peak bodies community leaders government organisations and agencies and other interested individuals and organisations The plans draw strongly upon existing strategic plans in each region including the local RDA regional plan
DEEWR acknowledges the traditional owners of the Barwon South West RDA region and their elders past and present recognising their continuing connection to country This plan strives to build and harness mutually respectful relationships and reflect community priorities in education skills and jobs development for the region
Implementation The RESJ Coordinator on behalf of DEEWR will oversee the implementation of the strategies and promote and coordinate linkages between the government agencies providers and stakeholders involved in this planrsquos implementation
Progress towards achieving the goals within each plan will be closely monitored while stakeholders will be kept informed through participation in plan strategies
This edition incorporates strategies that respond to changes in local circumstances identified through continuing community input or changing government priorities in regional Australia as well as access to new data The plans continue to be living and responsive documents that will be revisited throughout their implementation to June 2014
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 5
wwwdeewrgovauresj
MAP OF BARWON SOUTH WEST
Source Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts and Sport
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 6
wwwdeewrgovauresj
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Barwon South West Regional Development Australia (RDA) region takes in the south west of Victoria
and covers the natural and built environment from the South Australian border to Geelong and
Queenscliff and from the south coast to the Southern Grampians Economically and socially diverse the
region has three economies one inland while the coast is dominated by tourism and amenity lifestyles
and Geelong with a diverse economic and social base
The region covers 32340 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 366900 It includes
the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Queenscliffe Greater Geelong Surf Coast Colac Otway
Corangamite Moyne Warrnambool Southern Grampians and Glenelg The region has 800 kilometres of
coastline representing 40 per cent of Victoriarsquos coastline
The Barwon South West RDA region comprises two subregions Geelong (G21) and the Great South Coast
(GSC) Both subregions have developed alliances of municipalities and other regional stakeholders to
complete extensive consultative planning processes The G21 subregion encompasses the LGAs of
Greater Geelong Queenscliffe Surf Coast and part of Colac Otway The GSC subregion encompasses the
LGAs of Warrnambool Moyne Corangamite Glenelg and Southern Grampians it also includes
Colac Otway
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the G21 Alliancersquos Education and Training Pillar and the Position for
Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars of the Great South Coast Group The work of
these Pillar groups aligns with the strategic direction of the Barwon South West Regional Development
Australia (RDA) Roadmap and this RESJ Plan
A comprehensive environmental scan and community consultation have been carried out to identify the
key education skills and jobs challenges for the region The challenges include
low rates of participation in early childhood education and care programs and low rates of tertiary qualified staff to meet community services and health workforce requirements
low rates of regional participation in education training and employment
low participation rates in VET and higher education in the region
industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
need to promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 7
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The goals of this Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan are to
increase participation rates in early childhood development services and increase qualifications for staff in the community services and health sector
improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
identify barriers to participation in vocational education and training and employment to assist meet the regionrsquos employment demand
improve young peoplersquos career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
improve tertiary education enrolments and completion rates in the region
support the development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing
industries
increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of
the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in
education training and employment
Some outcomes achieved by the RESJ Coordinator working with local stakeholders include
Facilitating the launch of the 2012 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland which has seen
27 students return to complete Year 12 and one student employed in a full-time apprenticeship
The program involves providing mentors to Year 11 students from four secondary schools who
support student participation in leadership and personal development and provide them with
exposure to local industry learning and career opportunities to improve career aspirations and
retention to Year 12
Delivering information on programs that support workforce development at a Small Business
Festival held in Geelong in August 2012 Funding for Training and Skills Development One impact
of this was to connect local businesses to Industry Skills Councils which has resulted in ongoing
collaboration on development of Workplace English Language and Literacy programs in the
transport and logistics and community services and health sectors
Convening an Early Childhood Education and Care Roundtable in Warrnambool in June 2012
attended by 45 participants from the early childhood education and care sector organisations
training and Job Services Australia provider networks The roundtable provided the opportunity
for service providers to strengthen linkages with groups in attendance and for agencies to
promote the benefits of funding programs and careers in the early years sector as a preferred
destination for students Projects explored as part of the roundtable conversations included
mapping current sector skills to identify the Great South Coast position in relation to meeting the
standards of the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care and service
demand drivers to inform regional workforce recruitment retention and professional
development strategies
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 8
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Facilitating a planning forum that helped identify priority projects for the Great South Coast
Position for Economic Growth pillar group to focus on Priority areas identified included
providing support for a nature based tourism project as part of a broader regional tourism
strategy maximising opportunities to grow the food and fibre industries and exploring
opportunities in alternative energy and provide access to and participation in life-long learning
These projects have been developed and undertaken in 2013 Projects include
o Establishment of the Ag Reference Group to work on the Regional Food Plan
o The Foundation Workforce Action Group developing and implementing workforce
strategies in the region
o The Education Attainment Strategy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 9
wwwdeewrgovauresj
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region
To guide the RESJ Coordinatorrsquos identification of issues and engagement with the community various
data sets have supported the development of this plan Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals for example unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
stateterritory figures and quarterly for regions
Population According to the 2011 Census the estimated residential population of the Barwon-Western District
region in 2011 was 366900 people representing an increase of 05 per cent over the year to 2011 The
distribution of residents in the region is highly concentrated in two main age cohorts of 0-24 and 35-
59 year olds The increase in population was spread across most age cohorts and statistical local areas
Greater Geelong (up 17010 people or 83) had the regionrsquos highest population growth The 25-29 year
olds (up 3364 people or 163) and 60-69 year olds (up 8771 people or 254) age cohorts recorded the
strongest growth The 10-14 year olds was the only age cohort to record a decline in the region
According to the 2011 Census approximately 10 per cent of the population of Barwon South West
identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander on Census night For Victoria this figure is 36 per cent
2011 Census data also indicates that 146 per cent of the population in the region was born overseas
compared to the state average of 234 per cent The movement of rsquosea and tree changersrsquo has also
increased the net migration of older people into the coastal areas Skilled migration and refugee
resettlement are of increasing interest to local government and industry as a response to unmet skilled
and unskilled labour
Early childhood education and care There are around 200 licensed early childhood education and care services in the region Services include
long day care family day care kindergarten and occasional care A high proportion of outside school
hours care is delivered through local primary schools
Most shires and councils in the region offer maternal child health kindergarten family day care and
long day care Some also offer Indigenous playgroups and mobile playgroups Local governments report
that the early childhood sector is at capacity and plans for expansion are being made In the more
isolated areas in the region there is a shortage of early childhood services due to irregular demand and
difficulty in sourcing qualified staff which presents a challenge to the viability of some services Early
childhood education and care is not available in a number of smaller towns in some local government
areas such as Corangamite Lack of public transport also limits the ability of some parents to access early
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 10
wwwdeewrgovauresj
childhood education and care and these issues can represent barriers to parents wishing to return to
work
Local governments play a significant role in delivering a range of early childhood education and care
services A key responsibility for local governments is to develop and implement Municipal Early Years
Plans Local Government Associations in the Barwon South West have developed or are currently
updating municipal early yearsrsquo plans that articulate policies to integrate health and early childhood
services
The Greater Geelong area has access to a large number of early childhood education and care services
including private not for profit and community child care Approved Child Care Benefit services are
spread across the City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire
and Golden Plains Shire Greater Geelong also supports an Inclusion Support Agency Multifunctional
Aboriginal Childrenrsquos Services mobile child care toy libraries and playgroups
The Geelong Kindergarten Association is a kindergarten cluster managing 32 community based
kindergartens which includes the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast The five Local Government Areas in
the Great South Coast Cluster manage their kindergartens which range from nine in Warrnambool to
four in Glenelg There is also private childcare available in all but the Corangamite Shire
The Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic
Plan and G21 Geelong Region Plan) has a strong focus on access to education and employment also
recognising that the early childhood years are predictors of good education health and social outcomes
The Warrnambool City Council and the Shires of Glenelg Southern Grampians Moyne and Corangamite
have collaborated to develop a Great South Coast Early Years Project Action Plan 2011-2012 that will
target specific action in supporting and developing the regionrsquos early yearsrsquo workforce
The plan identifies a number of priority areas including greater collaboration between early childhood
education and care providers and education and training providers staff pooling shared service delivery
support for vulnerable families localised training and support for isolated educators and workforce
attraction retention and development
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young childrenrsquos development across five
domains physical health and well-being social competence emotional maturity school-based language
and cognitive skills and general knowledge 2009 AEDI data indicated at a national level 236 per cent of
children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 118 per cent were vulnerable on two or more
domains The AEDI found that in the Barwon South West RDA region the communities of Glenelg and
Surf Coast had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region less than the national rates
on both measures The AEDI community of Colac-Otway had the highest proportions of vulnerable
childrenmdashbut rates were only slightly more than the national averages on both measures
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) operates in Colac Geelong and
Winchelsea HIPPY supports parents in the year before formal education with pre-literacy and pre-
numeracy skills Further support into the first year of formal schooling extends this support to focus on
childrenrsquos learning and development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 11
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The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
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In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
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TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
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Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
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The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
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The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
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Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
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Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
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APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
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Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
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Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 5
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MAP OF BARWON SOUTH WEST
Source Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts and Sport
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 6
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Barwon South West Regional Development Australia (RDA) region takes in the south west of Victoria
and covers the natural and built environment from the South Australian border to Geelong and
Queenscliff and from the south coast to the Southern Grampians Economically and socially diverse the
region has three economies one inland while the coast is dominated by tourism and amenity lifestyles
and Geelong with a diverse economic and social base
The region covers 32340 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 366900 It includes
the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Queenscliffe Greater Geelong Surf Coast Colac Otway
Corangamite Moyne Warrnambool Southern Grampians and Glenelg The region has 800 kilometres of
coastline representing 40 per cent of Victoriarsquos coastline
The Barwon South West RDA region comprises two subregions Geelong (G21) and the Great South Coast
(GSC) Both subregions have developed alliances of municipalities and other regional stakeholders to
complete extensive consultative planning processes The G21 subregion encompasses the LGAs of
Greater Geelong Queenscliffe Surf Coast and part of Colac Otway The GSC subregion encompasses the
LGAs of Warrnambool Moyne Corangamite Glenelg and Southern Grampians it also includes
Colac Otway
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the G21 Alliancersquos Education and Training Pillar and the Position for
Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars of the Great South Coast Group The work of
these Pillar groups aligns with the strategic direction of the Barwon South West Regional Development
Australia (RDA) Roadmap and this RESJ Plan
A comprehensive environmental scan and community consultation have been carried out to identify the
key education skills and jobs challenges for the region The challenges include
low rates of participation in early childhood education and care programs and low rates of tertiary qualified staff to meet community services and health workforce requirements
low rates of regional participation in education training and employment
low participation rates in VET and higher education in the region
industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
need to promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 7
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The goals of this Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan are to
increase participation rates in early childhood development services and increase qualifications for staff in the community services and health sector
improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
identify barriers to participation in vocational education and training and employment to assist meet the regionrsquos employment demand
improve young peoplersquos career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
improve tertiary education enrolments and completion rates in the region
support the development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing
industries
increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of
the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in
education training and employment
Some outcomes achieved by the RESJ Coordinator working with local stakeholders include
Facilitating the launch of the 2012 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland which has seen
27 students return to complete Year 12 and one student employed in a full-time apprenticeship
The program involves providing mentors to Year 11 students from four secondary schools who
support student participation in leadership and personal development and provide them with
exposure to local industry learning and career opportunities to improve career aspirations and
retention to Year 12
Delivering information on programs that support workforce development at a Small Business
Festival held in Geelong in August 2012 Funding for Training and Skills Development One impact
of this was to connect local businesses to Industry Skills Councils which has resulted in ongoing
collaboration on development of Workplace English Language and Literacy programs in the
transport and logistics and community services and health sectors
Convening an Early Childhood Education and Care Roundtable in Warrnambool in June 2012
attended by 45 participants from the early childhood education and care sector organisations
training and Job Services Australia provider networks The roundtable provided the opportunity
for service providers to strengthen linkages with groups in attendance and for agencies to
promote the benefits of funding programs and careers in the early years sector as a preferred
destination for students Projects explored as part of the roundtable conversations included
mapping current sector skills to identify the Great South Coast position in relation to meeting the
standards of the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care and service
demand drivers to inform regional workforce recruitment retention and professional
development strategies
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 8
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Facilitating a planning forum that helped identify priority projects for the Great South Coast
Position for Economic Growth pillar group to focus on Priority areas identified included
providing support for a nature based tourism project as part of a broader regional tourism
strategy maximising opportunities to grow the food and fibre industries and exploring
opportunities in alternative energy and provide access to and participation in life-long learning
These projects have been developed and undertaken in 2013 Projects include
o Establishment of the Ag Reference Group to work on the Regional Food Plan
o The Foundation Workforce Action Group developing and implementing workforce
strategies in the region
o The Education Attainment Strategy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 9
wwwdeewrgovauresj
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region
To guide the RESJ Coordinatorrsquos identification of issues and engagement with the community various
data sets have supported the development of this plan Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals for example unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
stateterritory figures and quarterly for regions
Population According to the 2011 Census the estimated residential population of the Barwon-Western District
region in 2011 was 366900 people representing an increase of 05 per cent over the year to 2011 The
distribution of residents in the region is highly concentrated in two main age cohorts of 0-24 and 35-
59 year olds The increase in population was spread across most age cohorts and statistical local areas
Greater Geelong (up 17010 people or 83) had the regionrsquos highest population growth The 25-29 year
olds (up 3364 people or 163) and 60-69 year olds (up 8771 people or 254) age cohorts recorded the
strongest growth The 10-14 year olds was the only age cohort to record a decline in the region
According to the 2011 Census approximately 10 per cent of the population of Barwon South West
identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander on Census night For Victoria this figure is 36 per cent
2011 Census data also indicates that 146 per cent of the population in the region was born overseas
compared to the state average of 234 per cent The movement of rsquosea and tree changersrsquo has also
increased the net migration of older people into the coastal areas Skilled migration and refugee
resettlement are of increasing interest to local government and industry as a response to unmet skilled
and unskilled labour
Early childhood education and care There are around 200 licensed early childhood education and care services in the region Services include
long day care family day care kindergarten and occasional care A high proportion of outside school
hours care is delivered through local primary schools
Most shires and councils in the region offer maternal child health kindergarten family day care and
long day care Some also offer Indigenous playgroups and mobile playgroups Local governments report
that the early childhood sector is at capacity and plans for expansion are being made In the more
isolated areas in the region there is a shortage of early childhood services due to irregular demand and
difficulty in sourcing qualified staff which presents a challenge to the viability of some services Early
childhood education and care is not available in a number of smaller towns in some local government
areas such as Corangamite Lack of public transport also limits the ability of some parents to access early
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 10
wwwdeewrgovauresj
childhood education and care and these issues can represent barriers to parents wishing to return to
work
Local governments play a significant role in delivering a range of early childhood education and care
services A key responsibility for local governments is to develop and implement Municipal Early Years
Plans Local Government Associations in the Barwon South West have developed or are currently
updating municipal early yearsrsquo plans that articulate policies to integrate health and early childhood
services
The Greater Geelong area has access to a large number of early childhood education and care services
including private not for profit and community child care Approved Child Care Benefit services are
spread across the City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire
and Golden Plains Shire Greater Geelong also supports an Inclusion Support Agency Multifunctional
Aboriginal Childrenrsquos Services mobile child care toy libraries and playgroups
The Geelong Kindergarten Association is a kindergarten cluster managing 32 community based
kindergartens which includes the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast The five Local Government Areas in
the Great South Coast Cluster manage their kindergartens which range from nine in Warrnambool to
four in Glenelg There is also private childcare available in all but the Corangamite Shire
The Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic
Plan and G21 Geelong Region Plan) has a strong focus on access to education and employment also
recognising that the early childhood years are predictors of good education health and social outcomes
The Warrnambool City Council and the Shires of Glenelg Southern Grampians Moyne and Corangamite
have collaborated to develop a Great South Coast Early Years Project Action Plan 2011-2012 that will
target specific action in supporting and developing the regionrsquos early yearsrsquo workforce
The plan identifies a number of priority areas including greater collaboration between early childhood
education and care providers and education and training providers staff pooling shared service delivery
support for vulnerable families localised training and support for isolated educators and workforce
attraction retention and development
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young childrenrsquos development across five
domains physical health and well-being social competence emotional maturity school-based language
and cognitive skills and general knowledge 2009 AEDI data indicated at a national level 236 per cent of
children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 118 per cent were vulnerable on two or more
domains The AEDI found that in the Barwon South West RDA region the communities of Glenelg and
Surf Coast had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region less than the national rates
on both measures The AEDI community of Colac-Otway had the highest proportions of vulnerable
childrenmdashbut rates were only slightly more than the national averages on both measures
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) operates in Colac Geelong and
Winchelsea HIPPY supports parents in the year before formal education with pre-literacy and pre-
numeracy skills Further support into the first year of formal schooling extends this support to focus on
childrenrsquos learning and development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 11
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
wwwdeewrgovauresj
In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
wwwdeewrgovauresj
TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
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The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
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Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
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Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 6
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Barwon South West Regional Development Australia (RDA) region takes in the south west of Victoria
and covers the natural and built environment from the South Australian border to Geelong and
Queenscliff and from the south coast to the Southern Grampians Economically and socially diverse the
region has three economies one inland while the coast is dominated by tourism and amenity lifestyles
and Geelong with a diverse economic and social base
The region covers 32340 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 366900 It includes
the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Queenscliffe Greater Geelong Surf Coast Colac Otway
Corangamite Moyne Warrnambool Southern Grampians and Glenelg The region has 800 kilometres of
coastline representing 40 per cent of Victoriarsquos coastline
The Barwon South West RDA region comprises two subregions Geelong (G21) and the Great South Coast
(GSC) Both subregions have developed alliances of municipalities and other regional stakeholders to
complete extensive consultative planning processes The G21 subregion encompasses the LGAs of
Greater Geelong Queenscliffe Surf Coast and part of Colac Otway The GSC subregion encompasses the
LGAs of Warrnambool Moyne Corangamite Glenelg and Southern Grampians it also includes
Colac Otway
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the G21 Alliancersquos Education and Training Pillar and the Position for
Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars of the Great South Coast Group The work of
these Pillar groups aligns with the strategic direction of the Barwon South West Regional Development
Australia (RDA) Roadmap and this RESJ Plan
A comprehensive environmental scan and community consultation have been carried out to identify the
key education skills and jobs challenges for the region The challenges include
low rates of participation in early childhood education and care programs and low rates of tertiary qualified staff to meet community services and health workforce requirements
low rates of regional participation in education training and employment
low participation rates in VET and higher education in the region
industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
need to promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 7
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The goals of this Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan are to
increase participation rates in early childhood development services and increase qualifications for staff in the community services and health sector
improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
identify barriers to participation in vocational education and training and employment to assist meet the regionrsquos employment demand
improve young peoplersquos career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
improve tertiary education enrolments and completion rates in the region
support the development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing
industries
increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of
the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in
education training and employment
Some outcomes achieved by the RESJ Coordinator working with local stakeholders include
Facilitating the launch of the 2012 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland which has seen
27 students return to complete Year 12 and one student employed in a full-time apprenticeship
The program involves providing mentors to Year 11 students from four secondary schools who
support student participation in leadership and personal development and provide them with
exposure to local industry learning and career opportunities to improve career aspirations and
retention to Year 12
Delivering information on programs that support workforce development at a Small Business
Festival held in Geelong in August 2012 Funding for Training and Skills Development One impact
of this was to connect local businesses to Industry Skills Councils which has resulted in ongoing
collaboration on development of Workplace English Language and Literacy programs in the
transport and logistics and community services and health sectors
Convening an Early Childhood Education and Care Roundtable in Warrnambool in June 2012
attended by 45 participants from the early childhood education and care sector organisations
training and Job Services Australia provider networks The roundtable provided the opportunity
for service providers to strengthen linkages with groups in attendance and for agencies to
promote the benefits of funding programs and careers in the early years sector as a preferred
destination for students Projects explored as part of the roundtable conversations included
mapping current sector skills to identify the Great South Coast position in relation to meeting the
standards of the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care and service
demand drivers to inform regional workforce recruitment retention and professional
development strategies
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 8
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Facilitating a planning forum that helped identify priority projects for the Great South Coast
Position for Economic Growth pillar group to focus on Priority areas identified included
providing support for a nature based tourism project as part of a broader regional tourism
strategy maximising opportunities to grow the food and fibre industries and exploring
opportunities in alternative energy and provide access to and participation in life-long learning
These projects have been developed and undertaken in 2013 Projects include
o Establishment of the Ag Reference Group to work on the Regional Food Plan
o The Foundation Workforce Action Group developing and implementing workforce
strategies in the region
o The Education Attainment Strategy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 9
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region
To guide the RESJ Coordinatorrsquos identification of issues and engagement with the community various
data sets have supported the development of this plan Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals for example unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
stateterritory figures and quarterly for regions
Population According to the 2011 Census the estimated residential population of the Barwon-Western District
region in 2011 was 366900 people representing an increase of 05 per cent over the year to 2011 The
distribution of residents in the region is highly concentrated in two main age cohorts of 0-24 and 35-
59 year olds The increase in population was spread across most age cohorts and statistical local areas
Greater Geelong (up 17010 people or 83) had the regionrsquos highest population growth The 25-29 year
olds (up 3364 people or 163) and 60-69 year olds (up 8771 people or 254) age cohorts recorded the
strongest growth The 10-14 year olds was the only age cohort to record a decline in the region
According to the 2011 Census approximately 10 per cent of the population of Barwon South West
identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander on Census night For Victoria this figure is 36 per cent
2011 Census data also indicates that 146 per cent of the population in the region was born overseas
compared to the state average of 234 per cent The movement of rsquosea and tree changersrsquo has also
increased the net migration of older people into the coastal areas Skilled migration and refugee
resettlement are of increasing interest to local government and industry as a response to unmet skilled
and unskilled labour
Early childhood education and care There are around 200 licensed early childhood education and care services in the region Services include
long day care family day care kindergarten and occasional care A high proportion of outside school
hours care is delivered through local primary schools
Most shires and councils in the region offer maternal child health kindergarten family day care and
long day care Some also offer Indigenous playgroups and mobile playgroups Local governments report
that the early childhood sector is at capacity and plans for expansion are being made In the more
isolated areas in the region there is a shortage of early childhood services due to irregular demand and
difficulty in sourcing qualified staff which presents a challenge to the viability of some services Early
childhood education and care is not available in a number of smaller towns in some local government
areas such as Corangamite Lack of public transport also limits the ability of some parents to access early
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 10
wwwdeewrgovauresj
childhood education and care and these issues can represent barriers to parents wishing to return to
work
Local governments play a significant role in delivering a range of early childhood education and care
services A key responsibility for local governments is to develop and implement Municipal Early Years
Plans Local Government Associations in the Barwon South West have developed or are currently
updating municipal early yearsrsquo plans that articulate policies to integrate health and early childhood
services
The Greater Geelong area has access to a large number of early childhood education and care services
including private not for profit and community child care Approved Child Care Benefit services are
spread across the City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire
and Golden Plains Shire Greater Geelong also supports an Inclusion Support Agency Multifunctional
Aboriginal Childrenrsquos Services mobile child care toy libraries and playgroups
The Geelong Kindergarten Association is a kindergarten cluster managing 32 community based
kindergartens which includes the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast The five Local Government Areas in
the Great South Coast Cluster manage their kindergartens which range from nine in Warrnambool to
four in Glenelg There is also private childcare available in all but the Corangamite Shire
The Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic
Plan and G21 Geelong Region Plan) has a strong focus on access to education and employment also
recognising that the early childhood years are predictors of good education health and social outcomes
The Warrnambool City Council and the Shires of Glenelg Southern Grampians Moyne and Corangamite
have collaborated to develop a Great South Coast Early Years Project Action Plan 2011-2012 that will
target specific action in supporting and developing the regionrsquos early yearsrsquo workforce
The plan identifies a number of priority areas including greater collaboration between early childhood
education and care providers and education and training providers staff pooling shared service delivery
support for vulnerable families localised training and support for isolated educators and workforce
attraction retention and development
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young childrenrsquos development across five
domains physical health and well-being social competence emotional maturity school-based language
and cognitive skills and general knowledge 2009 AEDI data indicated at a national level 236 per cent of
children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 118 per cent were vulnerable on two or more
domains The AEDI found that in the Barwon South West RDA region the communities of Glenelg and
Surf Coast had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region less than the national rates
on both measures The AEDI community of Colac-Otway had the highest proportions of vulnerable
childrenmdashbut rates were only slightly more than the national averages on both measures
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) operates in Colac Geelong and
Winchelsea HIPPY supports parents in the year before formal education with pre-literacy and pre-
numeracy skills Further support into the first year of formal schooling extends this support to focus on
childrenrsquos learning and development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 11
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The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
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In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
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TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
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The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
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The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
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Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 7
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The goals of this Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan are to
increase participation rates in early childhood development services and increase qualifications for staff in the community services and health sector
improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
identify barriers to participation in vocational education and training and employment to assist meet the regionrsquos employment demand
improve young peoplersquos career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
improve tertiary education enrolments and completion rates in the region
support the development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing
industries
increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of
the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in
education training and employment
Some outcomes achieved by the RESJ Coordinator working with local stakeholders include
Facilitating the launch of the 2012 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland which has seen
27 students return to complete Year 12 and one student employed in a full-time apprenticeship
The program involves providing mentors to Year 11 students from four secondary schools who
support student participation in leadership and personal development and provide them with
exposure to local industry learning and career opportunities to improve career aspirations and
retention to Year 12
Delivering information on programs that support workforce development at a Small Business
Festival held in Geelong in August 2012 Funding for Training and Skills Development One impact
of this was to connect local businesses to Industry Skills Councils which has resulted in ongoing
collaboration on development of Workplace English Language and Literacy programs in the
transport and logistics and community services and health sectors
Convening an Early Childhood Education and Care Roundtable in Warrnambool in June 2012
attended by 45 participants from the early childhood education and care sector organisations
training and Job Services Australia provider networks The roundtable provided the opportunity
for service providers to strengthen linkages with groups in attendance and for agencies to
promote the benefits of funding programs and careers in the early years sector as a preferred
destination for students Projects explored as part of the roundtable conversations included
mapping current sector skills to identify the Great South Coast position in relation to meeting the
standards of the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care and service
demand drivers to inform regional workforce recruitment retention and professional
development strategies
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 8
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Facilitating a planning forum that helped identify priority projects for the Great South Coast
Position for Economic Growth pillar group to focus on Priority areas identified included
providing support for a nature based tourism project as part of a broader regional tourism
strategy maximising opportunities to grow the food and fibre industries and exploring
opportunities in alternative energy and provide access to and participation in life-long learning
These projects have been developed and undertaken in 2013 Projects include
o Establishment of the Ag Reference Group to work on the Regional Food Plan
o The Foundation Workforce Action Group developing and implementing workforce
strategies in the region
o The Education Attainment Strategy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 9
wwwdeewrgovauresj
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region
To guide the RESJ Coordinatorrsquos identification of issues and engagement with the community various
data sets have supported the development of this plan Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals for example unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
stateterritory figures and quarterly for regions
Population According to the 2011 Census the estimated residential population of the Barwon-Western District
region in 2011 was 366900 people representing an increase of 05 per cent over the year to 2011 The
distribution of residents in the region is highly concentrated in two main age cohorts of 0-24 and 35-
59 year olds The increase in population was spread across most age cohorts and statistical local areas
Greater Geelong (up 17010 people or 83) had the regionrsquos highest population growth The 25-29 year
olds (up 3364 people or 163) and 60-69 year olds (up 8771 people or 254) age cohorts recorded the
strongest growth The 10-14 year olds was the only age cohort to record a decline in the region
According to the 2011 Census approximately 10 per cent of the population of Barwon South West
identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander on Census night For Victoria this figure is 36 per cent
2011 Census data also indicates that 146 per cent of the population in the region was born overseas
compared to the state average of 234 per cent The movement of rsquosea and tree changersrsquo has also
increased the net migration of older people into the coastal areas Skilled migration and refugee
resettlement are of increasing interest to local government and industry as a response to unmet skilled
and unskilled labour
Early childhood education and care There are around 200 licensed early childhood education and care services in the region Services include
long day care family day care kindergarten and occasional care A high proportion of outside school
hours care is delivered through local primary schools
Most shires and councils in the region offer maternal child health kindergarten family day care and
long day care Some also offer Indigenous playgroups and mobile playgroups Local governments report
that the early childhood sector is at capacity and plans for expansion are being made In the more
isolated areas in the region there is a shortage of early childhood services due to irregular demand and
difficulty in sourcing qualified staff which presents a challenge to the viability of some services Early
childhood education and care is not available in a number of smaller towns in some local government
areas such as Corangamite Lack of public transport also limits the ability of some parents to access early
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 10
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childhood education and care and these issues can represent barriers to parents wishing to return to
work
Local governments play a significant role in delivering a range of early childhood education and care
services A key responsibility for local governments is to develop and implement Municipal Early Years
Plans Local Government Associations in the Barwon South West have developed or are currently
updating municipal early yearsrsquo plans that articulate policies to integrate health and early childhood
services
The Greater Geelong area has access to a large number of early childhood education and care services
including private not for profit and community child care Approved Child Care Benefit services are
spread across the City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire
and Golden Plains Shire Greater Geelong also supports an Inclusion Support Agency Multifunctional
Aboriginal Childrenrsquos Services mobile child care toy libraries and playgroups
The Geelong Kindergarten Association is a kindergarten cluster managing 32 community based
kindergartens which includes the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast The five Local Government Areas in
the Great South Coast Cluster manage their kindergartens which range from nine in Warrnambool to
four in Glenelg There is also private childcare available in all but the Corangamite Shire
The Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic
Plan and G21 Geelong Region Plan) has a strong focus on access to education and employment also
recognising that the early childhood years are predictors of good education health and social outcomes
The Warrnambool City Council and the Shires of Glenelg Southern Grampians Moyne and Corangamite
have collaborated to develop a Great South Coast Early Years Project Action Plan 2011-2012 that will
target specific action in supporting and developing the regionrsquos early yearsrsquo workforce
The plan identifies a number of priority areas including greater collaboration between early childhood
education and care providers and education and training providers staff pooling shared service delivery
support for vulnerable families localised training and support for isolated educators and workforce
attraction retention and development
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young childrenrsquos development across five
domains physical health and well-being social competence emotional maturity school-based language
and cognitive skills and general knowledge 2009 AEDI data indicated at a national level 236 per cent of
children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 118 per cent were vulnerable on two or more
domains The AEDI found that in the Barwon South West RDA region the communities of Glenelg and
Surf Coast had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region less than the national rates
on both measures The AEDI community of Colac-Otway had the highest proportions of vulnerable
childrenmdashbut rates were only slightly more than the national averages on both measures
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) operates in Colac Geelong and
Winchelsea HIPPY supports parents in the year before formal education with pre-literacy and pre-
numeracy skills Further support into the first year of formal schooling extends this support to focus on
childrenrsquos learning and development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 11
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The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
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In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
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TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
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Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
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The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
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The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
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Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
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Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 8
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Facilitating a planning forum that helped identify priority projects for the Great South Coast
Position for Economic Growth pillar group to focus on Priority areas identified included
providing support for a nature based tourism project as part of a broader regional tourism
strategy maximising opportunities to grow the food and fibre industries and exploring
opportunities in alternative energy and provide access to and participation in life-long learning
These projects have been developed and undertaken in 2013 Projects include
o Establishment of the Ag Reference Group to work on the Regional Food Plan
o The Foundation Workforce Action Group developing and implementing workforce
strategies in the region
o The Education Attainment Strategy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 9
wwwdeewrgovauresj
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region
To guide the RESJ Coordinatorrsquos identification of issues and engagement with the community various
data sets have supported the development of this plan Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals for example unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
stateterritory figures and quarterly for regions
Population According to the 2011 Census the estimated residential population of the Barwon-Western District
region in 2011 was 366900 people representing an increase of 05 per cent over the year to 2011 The
distribution of residents in the region is highly concentrated in two main age cohorts of 0-24 and 35-
59 year olds The increase in population was spread across most age cohorts and statistical local areas
Greater Geelong (up 17010 people or 83) had the regionrsquos highest population growth The 25-29 year
olds (up 3364 people or 163) and 60-69 year olds (up 8771 people or 254) age cohorts recorded the
strongest growth The 10-14 year olds was the only age cohort to record a decline in the region
According to the 2011 Census approximately 10 per cent of the population of Barwon South West
identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander on Census night For Victoria this figure is 36 per cent
2011 Census data also indicates that 146 per cent of the population in the region was born overseas
compared to the state average of 234 per cent The movement of rsquosea and tree changersrsquo has also
increased the net migration of older people into the coastal areas Skilled migration and refugee
resettlement are of increasing interest to local government and industry as a response to unmet skilled
and unskilled labour
Early childhood education and care There are around 200 licensed early childhood education and care services in the region Services include
long day care family day care kindergarten and occasional care A high proportion of outside school
hours care is delivered through local primary schools
Most shires and councils in the region offer maternal child health kindergarten family day care and
long day care Some also offer Indigenous playgroups and mobile playgroups Local governments report
that the early childhood sector is at capacity and plans for expansion are being made In the more
isolated areas in the region there is a shortage of early childhood services due to irregular demand and
difficulty in sourcing qualified staff which presents a challenge to the viability of some services Early
childhood education and care is not available in a number of smaller towns in some local government
areas such as Corangamite Lack of public transport also limits the ability of some parents to access early
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 10
wwwdeewrgovauresj
childhood education and care and these issues can represent barriers to parents wishing to return to
work
Local governments play a significant role in delivering a range of early childhood education and care
services A key responsibility for local governments is to develop and implement Municipal Early Years
Plans Local Government Associations in the Barwon South West have developed or are currently
updating municipal early yearsrsquo plans that articulate policies to integrate health and early childhood
services
The Greater Geelong area has access to a large number of early childhood education and care services
including private not for profit and community child care Approved Child Care Benefit services are
spread across the City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire
and Golden Plains Shire Greater Geelong also supports an Inclusion Support Agency Multifunctional
Aboriginal Childrenrsquos Services mobile child care toy libraries and playgroups
The Geelong Kindergarten Association is a kindergarten cluster managing 32 community based
kindergartens which includes the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast The five Local Government Areas in
the Great South Coast Cluster manage their kindergartens which range from nine in Warrnambool to
four in Glenelg There is also private childcare available in all but the Corangamite Shire
The Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic
Plan and G21 Geelong Region Plan) has a strong focus on access to education and employment also
recognising that the early childhood years are predictors of good education health and social outcomes
The Warrnambool City Council and the Shires of Glenelg Southern Grampians Moyne and Corangamite
have collaborated to develop a Great South Coast Early Years Project Action Plan 2011-2012 that will
target specific action in supporting and developing the regionrsquos early yearsrsquo workforce
The plan identifies a number of priority areas including greater collaboration between early childhood
education and care providers and education and training providers staff pooling shared service delivery
support for vulnerable families localised training and support for isolated educators and workforce
attraction retention and development
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young childrenrsquos development across five
domains physical health and well-being social competence emotional maturity school-based language
and cognitive skills and general knowledge 2009 AEDI data indicated at a national level 236 per cent of
children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 118 per cent were vulnerable on two or more
domains The AEDI found that in the Barwon South West RDA region the communities of Glenelg and
Surf Coast had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region less than the national rates
on both measures The AEDI community of Colac-Otway had the highest proportions of vulnerable
childrenmdashbut rates were only slightly more than the national averages on both measures
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) operates in Colac Geelong and
Winchelsea HIPPY supports parents in the year before formal education with pre-literacy and pre-
numeracy skills Further support into the first year of formal schooling extends this support to focus on
childrenrsquos learning and development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 11
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
wwwdeewrgovauresj
In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
wwwdeewrgovauresj
TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
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Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
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Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 9
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CHARACTERISTICS OF THE REGION This section sets out the characteristics of the region identified through a comprehensive environmental
scan and local consultations The information detailed in this section is not exhaustive of the
characteristics of the region but provides an overview and insight to some of the challenges facing the
region
To guide the RESJ Coordinatorrsquos identification of issues and engagement with the community various
data sets have supported the development of this plan Data used in the development of this plan was
sourced from DEEWR the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and other relevant sources Data referred
to may have been reformulated and was correct at time of drafting Different data sets are refreshed at
different intervals for example unemployment rates are updated monthly for national and
stateterritory figures and quarterly for regions
Population According to the 2011 Census the estimated residential population of the Barwon-Western District
region in 2011 was 366900 people representing an increase of 05 per cent over the year to 2011 The
distribution of residents in the region is highly concentrated in two main age cohorts of 0-24 and 35-
59 year olds The increase in population was spread across most age cohorts and statistical local areas
Greater Geelong (up 17010 people or 83) had the regionrsquos highest population growth The 25-29 year
olds (up 3364 people or 163) and 60-69 year olds (up 8771 people or 254) age cohorts recorded the
strongest growth The 10-14 year olds was the only age cohort to record a decline in the region
According to the 2011 Census approximately 10 per cent of the population of Barwon South West
identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander on Census night For Victoria this figure is 36 per cent
2011 Census data also indicates that 146 per cent of the population in the region was born overseas
compared to the state average of 234 per cent The movement of rsquosea and tree changersrsquo has also
increased the net migration of older people into the coastal areas Skilled migration and refugee
resettlement are of increasing interest to local government and industry as a response to unmet skilled
and unskilled labour
Early childhood education and care There are around 200 licensed early childhood education and care services in the region Services include
long day care family day care kindergarten and occasional care A high proportion of outside school
hours care is delivered through local primary schools
Most shires and councils in the region offer maternal child health kindergarten family day care and
long day care Some also offer Indigenous playgroups and mobile playgroups Local governments report
that the early childhood sector is at capacity and plans for expansion are being made In the more
isolated areas in the region there is a shortage of early childhood services due to irregular demand and
difficulty in sourcing qualified staff which presents a challenge to the viability of some services Early
childhood education and care is not available in a number of smaller towns in some local government
areas such as Corangamite Lack of public transport also limits the ability of some parents to access early
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 10
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childhood education and care and these issues can represent barriers to parents wishing to return to
work
Local governments play a significant role in delivering a range of early childhood education and care
services A key responsibility for local governments is to develop and implement Municipal Early Years
Plans Local Government Associations in the Barwon South West have developed or are currently
updating municipal early yearsrsquo plans that articulate policies to integrate health and early childhood
services
The Greater Geelong area has access to a large number of early childhood education and care services
including private not for profit and community child care Approved Child Care Benefit services are
spread across the City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire
and Golden Plains Shire Greater Geelong also supports an Inclusion Support Agency Multifunctional
Aboriginal Childrenrsquos Services mobile child care toy libraries and playgroups
The Geelong Kindergarten Association is a kindergarten cluster managing 32 community based
kindergartens which includes the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast The five Local Government Areas in
the Great South Coast Cluster manage their kindergartens which range from nine in Warrnambool to
four in Glenelg There is also private childcare available in all but the Corangamite Shire
The Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic
Plan and G21 Geelong Region Plan) has a strong focus on access to education and employment also
recognising that the early childhood years are predictors of good education health and social outcomes
The Warrnambool City Council and the Shires of Glenelg Southern Grampians Moyne and Corangamite
have collaborated to develop a Great South Coast Early Years Project Action Plan 2011-2012 that will
target specific action in supporting and developing the regionrsquos early yearsrsquo workforce
The plan identifies a number of priority areas including greater collaboration between early childhood
education and care providers and education and training providers staff pooling shared service delivery
support for vulnerable families localised training and support for isolated educators and workforce
attraction retention and development
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young childrenrsquos development across five
domains physical health and well-being social competence emotional maturity school-based language
and cognitive skills and general knowledge 2009 AEDI data indicated at a national level 236 per cent of
children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 118 per cent were vulnerable on two or more
domains The AEDI found that in the Barwon South West RDA region the communities of Glenelg and
Surf Coast had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region less than the national rates
on both measures The AEDI community of Colac-Otway had the highest proportions of vulnerable
childrenmdashbut rates were only slightly more than the national averages on both measures
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) operates in Colac Geelong and
Winchelsea HIPPY supports parents in the year before formal education with pre-literacy and pre-
numeracy skills Further support into the first year of formal schooling extends this support to focus on
childrenrsquos learning and development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 11
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The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
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In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
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TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
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Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
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The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
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The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
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Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 10
wwwdeewrgovauresj
childhood education and care and these issues can represent barriers to parents wishing to return to
work
Local governments play a significant role in delivering a range of early childhood education and care
services A key responsibility for local governments is to develop and implement Municipal Early Years
Plans Local Government Associations in the Barwon South West have developed or are currently
updating municipal early yearsrsquo plans that articulate policies to integrate health and early childhood
services
The Greater Geelong area has access to a large number of early childhood education and care services
including private not for profit and community child care Approved Child Care Benefit services are
spread across the City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Borough of Queenscliffe Colac Otway Shire
and Golden Plains Shire Greater Geelong also supports an Inclusion Support Agency Multifunctional
Aboriginal Childrenrsquos Services mobile child care toy libraries and playgroups
The Geelong Kindergarten Association is a kindergarten cluster managing 32 community based
kindergartens which includes the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast The five Local Government Areas in
the Great South Coast Cluster manage their kindergartens which range from nine in Warrnambool to
four in Glenelg There is also private childcare available in all but the Corangamite Shire
The Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic
Plan and G21 Geelong Region Plan) has a strong focus on access to education and employment also
recognising that the early childhood years are predictors of good education health and social outcomes
The Warrnambool City Council and the Shires of Glenelg Southern Grampians Moyne and Corangamite
have collaborated to develop a Great South Coast Early Years Project Action Plan 2011-2012 that will
target specific action in supporting and developing the regionrsquos early yearsrsquo workforce
The plan identifies a number of priority areas including greater collaboration between early childhood
education and care providers and education and training providers staff pooling shared service delivery
support for vulnerable families localised training and support for isolated educators and workforce
attraction retention and development
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) measures young childrenrsquos development across five
domains physical health and well-being social competence emotional maturity school-based language
and cognitive skills and general knowledge 2009 AEDI data indicated at a national level 236 per cent of
children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 118 per cent were vulnerable on two or more
domains The AEDI found that in the Barwon South West RDA region the communities of Glenelg and
Surf Coast had the lowest proportions of vulnerable children for the region less than the national rates
on both measures The AEDI community of Colac-Otway had the highest proportions of vulnerable
childrenmdashbut rates were only slightly more than the national averages on both measures
The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) operates in Colac Geelong and
Winchelsea HIPPY supports parents in the year before formal education with pre-literacy and pre-
numeracy skills Further support into the first year of formal schooling extends this support to focus on
childrenrsquos learning and development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 11
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
wwwdeewrgovauresj
In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
wwwdeewrgovauresj
TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
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Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
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The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
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Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
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Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
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ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 11
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The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) program is a community-driven program for
parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and young people (up to 19 years of
age) The program supports families and communities to be involved in their childrenrsquos education by
helping them connect with schools to get the best results for their children
helping them build relationships with principals and teachers
supporting them to help children and young people to learn at home
In 2013 funding was provided to Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative and Oz Child under the PaCE
program to set up a supported playgroup for Aboriginal parents (including teenage parents) of children
six weeks to three years of age The supported playgroup will focus on community education about the
importance of parenting skills in the first three years of a childrsquos life
School education Retention rates for young people to Year 12 or equivalent has been specifically highlighted by the
Glenelg and Southern Grampians (GSG) and the South West Local Learning and Employment Networks
(SW LLEN) as an issue The SW LLENrsquos Annual Report 2011 states that lsquothe number of young people in the
Warrnambool area who are disengaged from education employment or training is unacceptably high
Although there is not a consensus on the actual number of disengaged people aged 10 to 19 (Centrelink
data puts it at 300 while Skills Victoria data shows almost 700 in the same category) there is deep
concern in the local community about the breadth of the problemrsquo
The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shirersquos
retention rates are substantially below that for Victoria with retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students remaining an issue Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
compared to the overall retention rate of students in the two shires for 2010 Years 7 to 12 was only
30 per cent
Data sourced from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)
2010 Adolescent Community Profiles indicate that at 30 June 2009 there was an estimated 40899
adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region representing 11 per cent of the
areas total population The region provides educational services to 39913 students in 92 primary
schools 13 primary to Year 12 colleges eight secondary schools and seven specialist schools There are a
number of non-government education institutions across the region Most government secondary
schools in the region deliver both Victorian Certificate of Education and Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning at Year 11 and 12
The DEECD 2010 NAPLAN literacy and numeracy report indicates that reading skills are slightly lower in
Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires for grades 5 and 7 than the Victoria average In Year 9 Southern
Grampians (939) performs well against Victoria (923) but Glenelg drops behind (863) Southern
Grampians was ranked 29 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the national minimum
standard in reading Glenelg was ranked 73 out of 79 LGAs in terms of Year 9 students at or above the
national minimum standard in reading A ranking of 1 was assigned to the LGA with the highest
percentage
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
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In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
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TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
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Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
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The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
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The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
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Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
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Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
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Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 12
wwwdeewrgovauresj
In 2009 766 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained
Year 12 or its equivalent Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data 135 per cent of early school
leavers in the region were looking for work six months later This was lower than the percentage across
Victoria (166)
The Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas show students from disadvantaged backgrounds typically have
poorer results than students from higher ranked quartiles There are a number of smaller towns in the
Barwon South West RDA region where reduced access to services lowers career path opportunities and
can add to lower educational aspirations generational vulnerability and disadvantage
In 2012 the DEECD underwent a significant restructure including merging the previously identified
Grampians Barwon South West and Western Metropolitan Education Regions to form what is now the
South Western Victoria region Regional staff support learners and their families and service providers
across the region Regional offices are based in Ballarat West Footscray and Geelong
Trade Training Centres
The Trade Training Centres in Schools Program (the Program) will provide $25 billion from 2008 to 2018
to enable secondary schools across Australia to seek funding for Trade Training Centres The Program
allows students from Years 9 ndash 12 to access vocational education and training through Trade Training
Centres to give them a broader range of options to help improve Year 12 retention rates and enhance
pathways into vocational careers
The Program supports the implementation of the National Trade Cadetship initiative which will be an
option for students in Years 9 ndash 12 under the National Curriculum and will be delivered through Trade
Training Centres and other accredited training providers
In the Barwon South West region four lsquoclusterrsquo TTCrsquos and two single TTCrsquos have been funded including
Colac Otway Vocational Educational Cluster Geelong Industry TTC Cluster Portland-Heywood TTC
Cluster Joseph Innovation TTC Cluster and Balmoral TTC and the Casterton and District TTC
Qualifications being offered through these TTCrsquos include automotive studies building and construction
agriculture food processing hospitality health services and engineering
Tertiary education and training
According to the 2011 Census the proportion of the population in the Barwon South West (15 years and
over) with a post-school qualification is 426 per cent This is lower than Victoriarsquos figure of 452 per cent
Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool
campuses The lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo initiative has been established to provide a supportive
environment to rural and regional school leavers and non-school leavers by providing learning
opportunities close to home Courses studied through this initiative in 2013 include an Associate Degree
of Arts Business and Sciences and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) Universitys Regional and Rural Futures Group is
located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned to the Potter Regional Community
Research Network The emphasis on applied research responding to regional needs currently covers
themes of workforce telehealth food and food regulation youth education and landscapes in
transition
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
wwwdeewrgovauresj
TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 13
wwwdeewrgovauresj
TAFE courses are provided through the Gordon and the South West TAFE campuses They offer
accredited and short courses across a wide range of disciplines including adult education
apprenticeships school-based apprenticeships vocational education and training in schools
traineeships certificates diplomas and advanced diplomas The Gordon TAFE has two campuses one in
Geelong and one at Colac The South West TAFE has four main campuses spread across the South West
Victoria region at Glenormiston Hamilton Portland and Warrnambool
The Marcus Oldham College situated at Geelong is a farm business management agribusiness and
equine business management college It also provides live-in student residences The College delivers
undergraduate courses in agriculture agribusiness and equine studies It also has enrolments in
Postgraduate Studies Agribusiness The Centre also acts as the interface for the Collegersquos community
engagement commitments
There are a large number of registered training organisations (RTOs) and local community adult
education facilities in towns across the Barwon South West region These include the Adult Community
and Further Educationrsquos Learn Local and adult education institutions Centre for Adult Education and the
Adult Migrant English Service
According to March 2011 data from the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development increased attainment is required at the Certificate IIIIV level and the bachelor degree
level across the Barwon South West region In 2009 45000 people across the Barwon South West region
engaged in some form of vocational education and training program Of these 15 per cent of enrolments
were with Adult Community Education 17 per cent with a private RTO and the remaining 68 per cent
with TAFE
In the western part of the region RTOs responding to specific regional agricultural skills include the Rural
Industries Skill Training Centre at Hamilton providing vocational training in pasture production
management animal health animal nutrition marketing genetics cropping and wool classing At Terang
the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia through their training alliance with Goulburn Ovens
TAFE offer a number of dairy farming and processing courses They share their Terang site with the
DemoDairy Co-operative Ltd a not-for-profit research demonstration experimental dairy farm providing
dairy focused research applied demonstration and educational activities to members
Students wishing to undertake courses not provided at these institutions need to relocate to Melbourne
or elsewhere For families in the western part of the region the costs associated with relocation places
significant financial burden on them and may contribute to lack of uptake of out of region university
offers high deferral rates and low Year 12 completion rates in the region
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 14
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Jobs skills and workforce development In September 2012 there were 205604 people in the Barwon South West labour force At the same
time the unemployment rate was 54 per cent the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than
Victoria (56) Unemployment rates across the region vary from 24 per cent in Queenscliffe to
62 per cent in Greater Geelong Table 1 provides further detail on unemployment in the region
Table 1 Unemployment rates in Barwon South West Victoria
Unemployment rate ()
September 2011 September 2012
Colac-Otway (S) 50 55
Corangamite (S) 35 32
Glenelg (S) 64 59
Greater Geelong (C) 60 62
Moyne (S) 32 31
Queenscliffe (B) 26 24
Southern Grampians (S) 45 46
Surf Coast (S) 34 35
Warrnambool (C) 53 52
Unincorporated Vic 46 49
Source DEEWR Small Area Labour Market Estimates September 2011 and 2012
S = shires
C = cities
B = boroughs
There is also variance in the unemployment rates within the LGAs Within the Greater Geelong LGA
Corio-Inner had an unemployment rate of 95 per cent in September 2012 over double the
unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (40 for the same time period) Similarly the impact of a
downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 66 per cent
while the LGA of Glenelg is 59 per cent
According to the 2011 Census healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the
region accounting for 132 per cent of total employment Retail trade (118) manufacturing (107)
and construction (92) were the other major employing industries
In the year to November 2012 the industries with the largest increase in employment were construction
(up 4800 workers or 2210) professional services (up 4400 workers or 558) and financial services (up
3900 workers or 1135) while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or
133)
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 15
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regionrsquos industry
composition with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (196) and
technicians and trades workers (142) In the year to November 2012 occupations with the largest job
gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 286) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 367) while
labourers (down 6200 workers or 214) recorded the largest loss
There were 34204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (65 of the Victorian total)
Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 217) and
construction (6090 businesses or 178) industries The proportions of businesses in the agriculture
industry were well above the state average
Industry projections for the Barwon South West for 2016-2017 indicate that employment in the
agriculture forestry and fisheries manufacturing wholesale financial services and public administration
and safety is expected to decrease There is significant growth predicted for the health care and social
assistance industry and to a lesser extent construction education and training administration and
support services transport postal and logistics and retail industries
The Barwon South West region hosts nearly 20 per cent of Australiarsquos forestry plantations Monash
Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West
region employed a total of 14600 people in forestry wood and paper product manufacturing The
harvest of blue gum plantations (the Green Triangle region) is experiencing a demand for workers with
skills across the sector and in particular at Certificate III level Monash reports note highly advanced
technology that assists in forest planning and forest operations as well as in fire and pathogen
management and in the cultivation of trees is widely used in this sector Technical and digital skills to
use these new information technologies (including remote sensing technologies mobile geographic
information system (GIS) applications and forest information management and decision support tools)
are important for the development of this sector There is potential to develop skills to meet this growing
need and the industries that support it such as transport and logistics and automotive mechanical
engineering
The RDA Barwon South West commissioned impact study Filling the Glass August 2012 notes that the
Western Victorian and south east South Australian dairy industry produces 21 billion litres of milk which
is nearly one quarter of Australiarsquos total milk production and together with processors and service
providers generates a third ($36 billion) of all economic activity in the region The industry has
identified a goal of producing 3 billion litres by 2020 The Barwon South West is Australiarsquos largest dairy
production region providing approximately 25 per cent of the national yields Recommendations from
this study included responding to the specific demand and supply of future labour and development of
strategies to ensure the industry has access to an appropriately skilled workforce
New energy facilities under development include planned investments in gas wind geothermal and
wave energy power plants The Otway Basin has significant natural gas reserves and when completed
the Mortlake gas power station will have the capacity to supply the equivalent of peak power to 250000
homes The region is home to a large number of wind turbines with more under planningconstruction
Portland and Geelong are both deep water ports with exports including oil grain wood chips alumina
mineral sands and fertiliser Avalon Airport located to the north of Geelong in close proximity to
Melbourne presents an opportunity for growth in domestic and freight numbers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 16
wwwdeewrgovauresj
The Australian Government has identified Geelong as a Priority Employment Area and through the 2013-
14 Budget has provided additional support to the region to focus on localised solutions to employment
skills and workforce development issues As of July 2013 a Local Employment Coordinator will be
engaged to identify and work on labour market strategies and maximise government investment in the
Geelong area
The Great South Coast is internationally recognised as a significant tourist destination Visitors to the
Great Ocean Road account for more than half of all international overnight stays in regional Victoria The
Great South Coast has a rich cultural heritage from Aboriginal cultural heritage sites of the Gunditjmara
people to early white settlement There is significant potential for tourism growth from both Coastal and
hinterland nature based tourism and the regionrsquos cultural heritage and amenity
A snapshot of other significant industries include mineral sands ($700 million export revenue)
aluminium (Alcoa is responsible for 30 of national production) oil and gas (from two offshore gas
fields with an onshore gas processing facility near Port Campbell) tourism (there were seven million
visitors to the Great Ocean Road in 2011) clean energy (a $9 billion investment in gas wind geothermal
and wave energy) and sheep used for meat and wool
A priority in the Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan is to implement actions to address skills
shortages in the Great South Coast region The disproportionate ageing of the rural population
exacerbated by the loss of rural youth and young adults to larger urban centres combined with
increased skill and labour competition between sectors could be a constraint to the anticipated
economic development of the area
Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region The Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study April 2011 reports that nationally
significant socio-economic investment into the region over the next five years will require the local state
and federal governments to collaborate and strategically plan to achieve long-term sustainable benefits
across a diverse range of social environmental and economic factors
Key findings include the following
growth is strongest in Warrnambool City
the potential for jobs growth within the existing economy is solid with over 1500 new jobs
expected in the next five years
some 62 per cent of businesses surveyed in a 2010 workforce study expect to increase their
workforce in the next three years (compared to 35 for the state as a whole)
unemployment in the region is below the Victorian average
average annual employment growth in all areas in the region is forecast to outstrip population
growth over the next decade a rate higher than that in any other region in the state
the region is facing critical skills and people shortages
the economic output for the region for 2011 is estimated at $141 billion manufacturing is the
dominant sector with an output of $46 billion
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 17
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Other characteristics
Advancing Country Towns Initiative
The Victorian State Government has identified nine sites across rural Victoria that will be the focus for
assistance under the Advancing Country Towns initiative The initiative supports local communities to
develop a range of solutions such as improved access to early childhood education and care services
educational attainment employment opportunities and economic participation The RESJ Coordinator is
a representative on the Steering Group for the Advancing Country Towns initiatives in Heywood and
Colac
Socio-Economic Disadvantage The ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage describes disadvantage from a geographic
perspective based on information relating to income education occupation wealth and living
conditions
In March 2011 the Department of Planning and Community Development published a report Change
and disadvantage in the Barwon South West Region Victoria which identifies localities in Barwon South
West that are relatively disadvantaged in Victoria and also contribute to the most disadvantaged
10 per cent of the population in Australia The table below provides more detail
Table 2 Disadvantaged localities in the Barwon South West region
Shire or city Locality No of Population disadvantaged
City of Greater Geelong
Corio Norlane 14928
Whittington 4651
North Geelong (postcode 3215) 2142
City of Warrnambool Warrnambool 2495
Colac Otway Shire Colac 2044
Cressy 123
Glenelg Shire
Portland 1730
Heywood 863
Merino 220
Corangamite Shire Camperdown 881
Lismore 285
Southern Grampians Shire Glenthompson 139
Source Department of Planning and Community Development Change and disadvantage in the BSW Region Victoria March 2011
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 18
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Disadvantaged people in the region include people with relatively low levels of education teenagers
people with disability and families without employment The most vulnerable people often rely on jobs
in lower skilled areas that are under pressure from low global wage levels
Less than 1 per cent of the population in the region use public transport significantly below the Victorian
state average This may be attributed to a lack of available or suitable transport andor transport that
aligns with the education training or employment demands of the community Providing access to
services for young people and an increasingly older population living outside Geelong is a significant
challenge
DisabilityCare Australia The Australian Government is establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) DisabilityCare
Australia which will take a lifelong approach to providing care and support for people with disability The
site for Victoriarsquos launch of DisabilityCare Australia is in the Barwon South West region specifically the
City of Greater Geelong the Colac-Otway Shire the Surf Coast and the Borough of Queenscliffe This will
commence from July 2013 for new clients from birth to 65 years and existing clients and will be phased
in over three years Around 4000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the first stage in
year one By the third year around 5000 people with disability are expected to benefit from the launch
stage of the scheme in Victoria
A Digital Economy
The roll out of the National Broadband Network (NBN) and its impact on the Barwon South West region
and particularly Greater Geelong was the focus of a meeting in Geelong in November 2012 This meeting
provided a series of insights into the digital fibre roll out and its effect on the community as well as
opportunities for the region including barriers and future service delivery for business and industry and
for essential services such as health and education The City of Greater Geelong is taking the lead in the
NBN rollout for the Barwon South West region and has formed the G21 NBN Working Group which will
initiate a digital economy strategy for the community
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 19
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ISSUES GOALS AND STRATEGIES This section sets out the issues and goals identified through local consultation It also details the specific
strategies that will help achieve the communityrsquos objectives The issues and strategies will be reviewed
and may be modified throughout the implementation of the plan to June 2014 to ensure they respond to
emerging issues and opportunities or changing community or government priorities in the Barwon South
West RDA region
The programs and stakeholders listed in the following tables are indicative only Both may vary over time and any listing does not guarantee either the availability of program funding or stakeholder involvement
Colour codes indicate how each issue relates to the four key themes of the Regional Education Skills and
Jobs Plans initiative
Early childhood education and care
School education
Tertiary education and training
Jobs skills and workforce development
The numbering of each issue is for ease of reference only and does not indicate its priority within the region They are generally sequenced according to the life cycle of the four key themes listed above
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 20
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 1 Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development education training and employment
Goal Improve access to education and economic opportunity and continuity of care and services for young people and families
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Act as a conduit for information and support by facilitating linkages across DEEWR and other government programs to support community action and the work of the Advancing Country Towns HeywoodColac Steering Groups
Work with community stakeholders to develop education and economic projects that increase training and employment outcomes for Indigenous Australians including support for World Heritage listing of the Budj Bim National Heritage Landscape
Work with community stakeholder groups to develop transition to school projects that will increase parent and child participation in early childhood development and care programs
Support progress of priorities and projects identified in the Great South Coast Early Years Regional Action Plan
Provide information to early childhood education and care and aged care stakeholders on training and development opportunitiesprograms
Liaise with early childhood education and care aged care and community services networks to maintain and increase awareness of training development and inclusion support opportunities associated with DEEWR and other Australian Government programs
Work with the community Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) TAFErsquos and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a lsquolearning culturersquo in the community
Work with community and agencies to identify gaps in access to and provision of early years projects including establishing engagement and learning programs such as the Parental and Community Engagement (PaCE) Program
Support promotion of the lsquoDeakin at your Doorsteprsquo study program through schools careers and provider networks through information sessions to increase enrolments in the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and promote it as a career pathway option andor professional development opportunity
Aboriginal organisations and networks
Adult education providers
Deakin University
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
Disability Employment Service (DES) Providers
Early Childhood Development and Care Providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance and Education and Training Pillar
Gordon Institute
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Pillar Groups
Heywood and Colac Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups
Industry and business networks
Industry Skills Councils
Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Kindergartens
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Australian Government Skills Connect
Child Care Benefit
Child Care Services Support Program
Childcare Rebate
DES
Education Investment Fund
Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
Inclusion Professional Support Program
Indigenous Employment Program
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
Investing In Skills Recognition and Experience
National Workforce Development Fund
Parental and Community Engagement
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Tools for your Trade
Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 21
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Work with Great South Coast communities and early childhood education and care providers to strengthen engagement with and access to Aboriginal early childhood education and care programs and linkages to Kindergarten for 4 year olds
Represent DEEWR on Advancing Country Towns Steering Groups for Heywood and Colac to assist development of initiatives that focus on Workforce Development and Participation Pathways
Encourage networks to collaborate to pool resources and increase training and employment outcomes across the region
Koorie Transition Officers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
National Disability Coordination Officer
Regional Development Australian Government Regional Development Victoria
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
State and local government
SW TAFE
Wurreker Brokers
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 22
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 2 The region is facing significant industry restructure a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour
Goals Barriers are identified to inform strategies that increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in high demand and emerging industries
Support development of a skilled workforce to meet demands for existing and developing industries
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with industry government and training providers to establish a Workforce Action Group in the Great South Coast (GSC) to assist the development and implementation of a framework that supports regional sector workforce development strategies to respond to industry restructure and labour demands
Work with the GSC Pillar Groups and careers networks establishmaintain partnerships with industry and education providers to identify opportunities to deliver targeted workforce and careers information
Support a smooth client transition and implementation of the DisabilityCare Australia pilot in Geelong by assisting the agency with successful client interface and recruitment of skilled staffing with particular reference to client need and the recommendations and processes of the Barwon Health Regional Workforce Strategy Action Plans
Participate in the Regional Living Expo in Melbourne to promote the region as an attractive destination for skilled workers and families and to promote availability of lsquoreal jobsrsquo in the region
Through participation on the G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar Committee promote engagement and participation of industry in education training and employment programs
Support Education Authorities schools and community groups through provision of advice on labour marketindustry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governmentrsquos Trade Training Centre in Schools program
Support development and implementation of an integrated Barwon South West region Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and associated Action Plans
Contribute to the development of a Regional Food Plan and promotion of the region and regional products through a Food Summit in 2013
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Department of Business Innovation (Vic)
Department of Education Early Childhood Development (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Vic)
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
DisabilityCare Australia
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers
G21 Alliance Education and Training Pillar
Great South Coast Workforce Action Group
GSC Group Position for Economic Growth and Strengthen our Communities Pillars
Horizon 21
Accelerated Apprenticeship Program
Apprenticeship mentoring program
Australian Apprenticeships Access Program
Department of Immigration and Citizenshiprsquos Skills Select On Line Service
DES
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program
Education Investment Fund
Investing in Skills and Experience skills recognition
JSA
National Workforce Development Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy program
Support for Adult Australian Apprentices
lsquoTools for your Tradersquo
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 23
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Provide employers and industry with information collected through the DEEWR Survey of Employers Recruitment Experiences to provide local context and increased participation in workforce planning and training
Partner with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator to provide information to and facilitate employersrsquo access to brokers and programs that will increase employment participation rates and professional development within small to medium sized enterprises
In collaboration with community groups and providers develop careers information material andor web based products that will improve community access to career and learning pathways
As part of a working group of the G21 Education and Training Pillar assist in convening a workshop in mid-2013 to determine current progress priorities achievability and other measures to advance the RDARDV Barwon South West Tertiary Attainment project
Support three workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group to help drive development of a regional food plan and promote the food forum and the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other GSC stakeholders
Industry Skills Councils Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Schools and Trade Training CentresBoards
TAFEs
Universities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 24
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region
Goals Improve career aspirations connection to industryemployment opportunities and reduce disengagement from school education and training
Improve tertiary education enrolments and completions in the region to increase the number of skilled workers
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Collaborate with key stakeholders to engage schools and other agencies to promote student aspiration retention investment in careers information and advice and work placement
In collaboration with community stakeholders and other agencies in the Great South Coast and Greater Geelong region support the development of strategies that promote and increase participation in tertiary education and training and contribute to the economic growth and community wellbeing of the region
Actively work with community networks industry training providers and employment service providers to ensure training meets the needs of industry and responds to skills demand
Support the Expansive Learning Network Geelong to promote industry and education provider relationships that will provide better education economic and community outcomes
Assist stakeholders to promote local success stories
Collaborate with training institutions such as Deakin South West TAFE Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and the Gordon Institute to ensure that Australian Government programs concerning VET pathways to higher education are fully utilised
Work with registered training organisations employers and industry to share best practice regarding apprenticeship attraction commencement and completion
Coordinate partnerships between the local agency being established to deliver DisabilityCare Australia and the education sector Job Services Australia (JSA) and Disability Employment Services (DES) providers and industry to maximise benefits from existing and new Trade Training Centres in Schools projects across the region
Work collaboratively with stakeholders to maximise opportunities from VET and higher education providers in the region to increase the number of people with bachelor degree qualifications
Australian Apprenticeship Centres
Committees for Geelong and Portland
Deakin University
Department of Business and Innovation
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Higher Education Skills Group (Vic State Training Authority)
Department of Industry Innovation Climate Change Science Research and Tertiary Education
DES providers
Expansive Learning Network Geelong
G21 Alliance
Gordon Institute
GSC Inc
Industry and business groups
Industry Skills Councils
JSA providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Learning and Employment Networks
Registered training organisations
Apprenticeships Mentoring Program
Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships
Australian Apprenticeship Programs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Deakin at your Doorstep
DES
Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program
Skills Recognition Investing in Skills and Experience (IIERST)
Indigenous Youth Mobility Program
JSA
Parent and Community Engagement
School Business Community Partnership
School Chaplaincy Program
Skills for Education and Employment (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
Trade Training Centres in Schools
Youth Connections
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 25
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
Support the 2013 Future Leaders of Industry program in Portland as part of a broader promotion and engagement strategy between schools industry business and education providers
Provide updated labour market data to education providers schools students and families to highlight the relationship between education qualifications and labour market participation
Support Job Services Australia (JSA) providers Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and careers networks to engage with parents and young people to strengthen connection to schools and training institutions and career pathway options
Partner with LLENs and key stakeholders to develop a multi-channel careers app project and improvements to software capability as an integral part of a broader lsquojobsrsquo platform
Promote foundation programs to industry and business as a means of increasing labour participation and to increase the capacity and capability of the local workforce
Work with the Local Employment Coordinator local government industry JSA providers and migrant settlement groups to increase the engagement training and retention of migrants unemployed people and workers in transition into areas where there is an increasing demand for labour
Participate in and support actions through the Toward Liveable Communities place-based working groups to focus efforts on addressing disadvantage in existing Portland neighbourhoods
School Business Community Partnership Brokers
South West TAFE
Toward Liveable Communities Groups
Trade Training Centres
Workforce Action Group Great South Coast
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 26
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Issue 4 Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy
Goal Increase understanding and awareness of the National Broadband Network rollout and aims of the National Digital Economy Strategy that underpin opportunities to access and participate in education training and employment
Early childhood education and care
School education Tertiary education and
training Jobs skills and workforce
development
Strategies Stakeholders Programs
In collaboration with stakeholders facilitate access to community industry and schools to National Broadband Network (NBN) information on fibre and wireless provision as well as the proposed rollout
Promote opportunities to develop and deliver flexible learning opportunities to communities where total numbers and access to local face-to-face training has not been viable for registered training organisations
Participate in community and government forums that contribute to the regional NBN employment and training response during rollout in the region to enable a coordinated regional approach to addressing NBN rollout labour demand
Support the work of the City of Greater Geelong NBN Working Group and key stakeholders to assist the development of a digital economy strategy for the region
In collaboration with key stakeholders (local councils UniversityTAFE RTOrsquos business) support the development of a digitalbroadband engagement plan with strategies related to connectivity and how the Great South Coast business and residential communities are being made aware of advantages and benefits from digital economy and intended installation of high speed broadband This may include
o disseminating information through various industry groups (eg through business networks and pillar groups)
o assisting businesses to firstly see advantage arising from the digital age and then more specifically high speed broadband connection
Collaborate on the development of a CareersJobs App that supports local job communities
ACFE Learn Local
Deakin University
Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy
Department of Human Services (Centrelink)
Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic)
G21
GSC Group
Horizon21
Industry and business networks
Job Services Australia (JSA) providers
Local Employment Coordinator
Local Government Associations
Local Learning and Employment Networks
NBN Contractor
Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West
Registered training organisations
RMIT University
Schools
TAFEs
Australian Government Skills Connect
Indigenous Employment Program
National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program
National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy
National Workforce Development Fund
Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)
RDA Fund
Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language Literacy and Numeracy Program)
VET National Support Program
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 27
wwwdeewrgovauresj
APPENDICES
Appendix A mdash Stakeholders Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan listed by sector
Stakeholders involved in the RESJ Plan development
Sector Stakeholder
Local government Borough of Queenscliffe City of Greater Geelong Surf Coast Shire Colac Otway
Shire Corangamite Shire Moyne Shire Warrnambool City Southern
Grampians Shire Glenelg Shire
State government Skills Victoria Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
Department of Planning and Community Development Department of Business
and Innovation Regional Development Victoria
Government service
providers
Job Services Australia providers Disability Employment Services providers
Australian Apprenticeships Centres
Education A range of Government Catholic and private education and early years
providers
Vocational Education and
Training
South West Institute of TAFE Gordon Institute of TAFE National Centre for
Dairy Education Australia (GOTAFE) registered training organisations Industry
Skills Councils
Higher education Deakin University Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
Youth Geelong Local Learning and Employment Network Glenelg and Southern
Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network South West Local
Learning and Employment Network
Employment Industry and Business GroupsNetworks
Indigenous organisations Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Winda-Mara
Aboriginal Corporation Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative Gunditjmara
Aboriginal Cooperative local Aboriginal education consultative groups
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc
Regional development Regional Development Australia Barwon South West G21 Alliance Great South
Coast Group Inc Department of Regional Australia Local Government Arts
and Sport Regional Development Victoria Department of Planning and
Community Development
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 28
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Appendix BmdashExisting related plans and strategies This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have
influenced the direction of the RESJ Plan
have complementary goals and strategies andor
have significance in the region in relation to education skills and jobs
It provides an overview of how each strategy or plan has had an impact on this RESJ Plan and how it may
be utilised to maximise outcomes
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon South West Regional Strategic Plan 2012-2015 (incorporating the Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan and the G21 Geelong Region Plan)
The Regional Development Australia (RDA) plan is built on extensive community collaboration and environmental scanning which include strategies that seek to increase participation in education training tertiary attainment and employment
The RDA plan also considers the views of governance bodies industry and other regional organisations which continue to drive significant work
In late 2012 the RDA Committee developed a second release of the Plan the Barwon South West Strategic Regional Plan 2012-2015 The RDA Plan identifies the diverse economy of the region and opportunities for growth through key areas for attention including food digital economy skills and education and energy
The RDA plan has identified the need to attract and develop a skilled workforce as a key to the regionrsquos economic success
This RESJ Planrsquos strategies build on and complement the Barwon South West RDA goals
Great South Coast Major Projects Cumulative Impacts Study 2011 (including the Great South Coast Industry Workforce Development Strategy)
These initiatives provide information on labour supply and workforce development in the region including goals to
promote local career opportunities
increase the supply of labour by helping people who have barriers to employment
provide industry with a greater say in training
This RESJ Plan has goals such as partnering with industry and education and training providers that will support the aims of the Great South Coast communities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 29
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Committee for Portland Business Plan
The Committee for Portland Business Plan has five strategic goals
encourage adaptable people
develop and recruit skilled people
establish quality and accessible services
strengthen business
attract investment
This RESJ Planrsquos strategy such as partnering with industry and education and training providers to deliver information and skills training appropriate to local and regional demand supports the Committee for Portlandrsquos goals
Great South Coast Early Years Network Action Plan 2012-2014
The Great South Coast Early Years Network (GSC EYN) is an established network of agencies working strategically across the Great South Coast to improve outcomes for children and families The Network membership includes representatives from local governments state and federal government departments and community sector and health organisations
The Network works across five local government areas Corangamite Glenelg Moyne Southern Grampians and Warrnambool and is guided by the GSC EYN Action Plan The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the network and has a strong focus on areas outlined in the Action Plan including
strong leadership on Early Years
a capable and sustainable regional Early Years Workforce
a network that supports child health wellbeing learning and development and
quality accessible and affordable Early Years services
This RESJ Plan responds to both service delivery and workforce capability issues including increasing the skills of the Great South Coast Early Years workforce and increasing engagement and collaboration between the early years and education and training providers
Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans 2012-2022
The key objectives of the strategy include
enabling a better managed and coordinated local workforce
linking local action with national and state health wellbeing education and training
creating an ongoing environment for local innovation by strengthening local workforce leadership governance and collaboration mechanisms
strengthening the nexus between the Barwon South West health wellbeing education and training sector in a planning process led and owned by them
This RESJ Planrsquos goal to identify barriers and inform strategies that seek to increase participation in vocational education and training and employment in the Health and Community Services industry supports the objectives of the Barwon South West Regional Health and Wellbeing Workforce Strategy and Action Plans
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 30
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Driving Down The Track 2014
An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3 billion litres by 2020
The actions in the Driving Down The Track Action Plan include
attracting building and sustaining skilled people
providing dairy extension education technical and professional services that lead demand and
finding developing and supporting leaders who work to achieve the regional goals
This RESJ Plan includes a strategy to support workshops across the region to attract support from farmers processors and service providers to form a reference group This reference group would help to drive the development of a regional food plan promote the food forum the work of Great South Coast the Workforce Action Group and other Great South Coast stakeholders
DEEWR Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2011ndash2014
The Reconciliation Action Plan has set targets to
halve the gap in reading writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018)
halve the gap in Year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020 and
halve the gap in employment outcomes within a decade (by 2018)
This RESJ Plans strategy to collaborate with the Heywood community on a project to increase the engagement and participation rates of vulnerable families supports the RAP targets
Australian Government Indigenous Economic Development Strategy 2011ndash2018
The five priorities of the strategy are to
strengthen foundations to create an environment that supports economic development
invest in education
encourage participation and improve access to skills development and jobs
support the growth of Indigenous business and entrepreneurship and
help individuals and communities to achieve financial security and independence by increasing their ability to identify build and make the most of economic assets
This RESJ Plan recognises and supports the strategic direction of the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy and aligns the actions to representation on the Geelong Aboriginal Partnership forum to help identify and link initiatives that focus on improving education health and employment outcomes for the Indigenous community
Local Learning and Employment Networks
The Greater Geelong Glenelg and Southern Grampians and South West Local Learning and Employment Networks have priorities that include working with disengaged students and improving work readiness and career aspirations
This RESJ Planrsquos goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions will support these priorities
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 31
wwwdeewrgovauresj
Plan or strategy Impact on RESJ Plan
How it can be
usedlinkedexpanded
Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 2012ndash2014
The Barwon Youth Strategic Plan seeks to empower young people to lead fulfilling and independent lives focusing on providing effective youth participation through purposeful engagement and inclusiveness
This RESJ Planrsquos goals of collaborating to provide support to disengaged young people and improve continuity of care and service support for vulnerable families will complement the goals of the Barwon Youth Strategic Plan
Great South Coast (GSC) Regional Growth Plan 2013
Corangamite
Glenelg
Moyne
Southern Grampians Shire Councils and
Warrnambool City Council
Department of Planning and Community Development
Regional growth plans provide broad direction for land use and development across regional Victoria They also provide more detailed planning frameworks for key regional centres
The plans will respond to the directions in the regional strategic plans (originally called lsquoregional plansrsquo) that were prepared by regional groupings of councils in Victoria in 2010
The RESJ Coordinator is a member of two Pillars of the GSC Group and collaborates on responses to priorities identified in the GSC Plan 2013 and supported by the evidence provided in the GSC Regional Growth Plan 2013
Improving Victoriarsquos Early Childhood Workforce Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life
This strategy responds to Victoriarsquos increasing demand for early childhood services
This RESJ Plan has strategies that support greater access and participation in accredited training for the early years workforce across the region
Priority Employment Area initiative ndash Geelong region
The RESJ Coordinator will work closely with the Local Employment Coordinator to support projects to improve employment and participation outcomes
The Priority Employment Area initiative will improve employment and workforce development outcomes This RESJ Plan has strategies that will support this initiative
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy
Regional Education Skills and Jobs Plan ndash Barwon South West 32
wwwdeewrgovauresj
ABBREVIATIONS Abbreviation Full Term
ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics
AEDI Australian Early Development Index
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic)
DEEWR Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations
DES Disability Employment Services
G21 Geelong Region Alliance
GSC Great South Coast
GSG LLEN Glenelg and Southern Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network
HIPPY Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters
JSA Job Services Australia
LEC Local Employment Coordinator
LGA Local Government Area
LLEN Local Learning and Employment Network
NAPLAN National Assessment Program ndash Literacy and Numeracy
NBN National Broadband Network
NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme
NWDF National Workforce Development Fund
PaCE Parental and Community Engagement
RDA Regional Development Australia
RESJ Regional Education Skills and Jobs
RPL Recognition of Prior Learning
RTO Registered Training Organisation
SEE Skills for Education and Employment
SW LLEN South West Local Learning and Employment Network
TAFE Training and Further Education
WELL Workplace English Language and Literacy