Macedon Ranges Shire will be part of a new State Government initiative involving an army of cleaners and community support workers battle to slow the spread of COVID-19.
The $500 million Working for Victoria program is matching people who have lost their job due to the economic impacts of coronavirus with employers who need staff.
Macedon Ranges Shire will be among 28 Victorian councils, including Mitchell and City of Whittlesea, to support more than 2300 people into jobs including land and asset management, community outreach, hardship relief delivery and crisis co-ordination.
Macedon Ranges Shire Council will welcome 92 temporary staff over coming weeks.
The short-term staff will be with council for up to six months and form a mainly remote workforce performing roles such as community support, providing food services and catering for vulnerable people, planting and environment works at Hanging Rock and beautification works in parks and gardens.
Chief executive Margot Stork said council was looking forward to welcoming the new staff on board and providing them with meaningful work.
“These temporary new workers are our fellow Victorians, who are out of work due to the pandemic and through no fault of their own,” she said.
“We’ve identified a range of new short-term roles above and beyond our normal program of work to help us with pandemic-related work such as assisting vulnerable members of the community.
“As the level of government which is closest to the community, we are well placed to know what residents and businesses need to get back on their feet.
“We thank the Victorian Government for this opportunity to access additional assistance in the form of trained and experienced staff to help us best support our community at this challenging time.”
Council has encouraged its casual staff to register for the Working for Victoria initiative – many normally work in centres and facilities which have been closed since the onset of the pandemic.
More than 2750 Victorians have found positions through Working for Victoria since the program was launched last month, providing a quick return to work and access to training where required.
For more information on Working for Victoria and to register, visit vic.gov.au/workingforvictoria.
