North Coast Employment Strategy
North Coast Employment Strategy – The future of work in the North Coast of NSW 2020-2025
Regional Development Australia Northern Rivers (RDANR) and Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDAMNC) have launched their discussion paper, survey and call for submissions to help inform the North Coast Employment Strategy 2020-2025.
The project is a collaboration between the two organisations and aims to be a catalyst for change and the beginnings of a new approach to solving regional employment issues.
“Impact of bushfires and Covid-19 during 2019/20 have highlighted the need to work together at a regional level to address the challenges impacting both businesses and jobseekers.” said Tim Williamson, Director of RDANR.
The Grattan Institute has recently released modelling that suggests between 14 and 26 per cent of Australian workers could soon be unemployed due to the coronavirus shutdown, and the crisis will have an impact on jobs and the economy for years to come.
Whilst not the initial motivation for the project, the timing and need for discussions around how employment programmes and initiatives are approached and delivered has reinforced the importance of RDA’s joint project.
“Our intention is to stimulate a robust conversation about employment in the regions and to use this project as a tool to better drive initiatives. said Kerry Grace, CEO of RDAMNC.
The Grattan Institute research highlights the impact that the current crisis will have on young people, women and those on lower incomes as they are “likely to work in occupations and industries most affected by the shutdowns and spatial distancing measures imposed to slow the spread of the virus.”
“Key organisations, jobseekers, long-term unemployed, carers need to be at the centre of any proposed solutions. Currently initiatives are too often replicated and repeated over time, as funding expires for one focus group and ultimately replaced to be directed towards another.” explains Ms Grace
Rather than writing this strategy for the region, RDAMNC and RDANR are pursuing a collaborative approach to this project and engaging with all key stakeholders in the region. Research and information are being gathered via a discussion paper, online survey and consultation via online submissions.
On completion of this consultation process information will be compiled to help inform the North Coast Employment Strategy. This document will then be workshopped by the two RDAs with key influencing government agencies with the aim of laying the foundations for programs that align with the recommendations of the strategy.
The Regional Australia Institute have also partnered with the program and will contribute to the final document and advocacy.
The project timeframe includes distribution of the discussion paper to North Coast stakeholders, online survey now open for submissions and written feedback is also invited. Submissions will close on May 12 and the release of the North Coast Employment Strategy is scheduled for June 23rd.
How can you get involved?