IEWT program doubles outcomes!

As of June 2024, the Inclusive Employment and Workforce Transition (IEWT) program has doubled employment outcomes from the previous financial year.

With a whopping 83 employment outcomes in the 2023-2024 financial year, including 29 full time, 7 part time, 31 casual, and 16 apprenticeships. Boom!

IEWT, running since 2021 in partnership with Gippsland Trades & Labour Council (GTLC), focuses on helping priority groups in Gippsland find employment. Priority groups that face barriers to employment include: people with disability, youth from disadvantaged backgrounds, and culturally and linguistically diverse people. The program began as a way to bring the highly successful Worker Transition Scheme, which was established to help ex-Hazelwood employees find new roles, to the broader community.

One part of IEWT is the Domestic Building course which gives participants a condensed course in building and trades and the opportunity to earn tickets such as their white card.  GTLC then provides ongoing support to participants in finding employment through case management. Focusing on enhancing the case management offering has led to a significant increase in employment outcomes.

As the IEWT program has grown, it has become recognised in the Latrobe Valley as a great pathway for young people. An early participant who described himself as lacking a clear direction, getting in trouble a lot, and dropping out of school, went on to gain an apprenticeship through the program. Years later when his younger brother was in a similar situation, he recommended him to take the course.