Pat Conaghan, MP shares Nambucca Valley Care’s vision for future workforce.
Employers sometimes struggle to find candidates with the perfect mix of skills, particularly in regional locations like the Nambucca Valley.
Twelve
students are now in training at a special-purpose Nambucca Valley college for the next round of local jobs in aged care.
“Expanding your business to open a registered training organisation is an innovative solution to a skills shortage,” Pat Conaghan MP, Federal Member for Cowper said.
“This creative approach by a large employer like NVC Group has helped them to recruit and train the skilled staff they need and provide local people with jobs,” Mr Conaghan said.
The NVC Group, previously known as Nambucca Valley Care, employs more than 330 staff at their residential care homes in Macksville and Nambucca Heads and soon, will open another service in Macksville.
“Our Nambucca Vocational College trains three cohorts a year of potential employees in aged care, hospitality and horticulture to grow the workforce required at NVC,” Janine Reed, NVC Group Chairman said.
“Successful completion of our courses is very likely to lead to employment and as a registered training organisation, the skills these students gain are transferable as well,” Mrs Reed said.
While few regional employers are large enough to start a training college, innovative solutions are critical to sustainable workforces in our region
“59% of businesses on the Mid North Coast do not employ anyone and only 412 employ more than 20 people. These are the businesses which are more likely to have capacity to create positions for new industry entrants,” John O’Neill, Regional Development Australia MNC Chair said.
“We need to find smarter ways to satisfy the workforce needs of our employers, starting with engaging young people in high school into pathways to industries that have jobs,” Mr O’Neill said.
“These pathways could incorporate work experience, industry learning experiences, the development of soft skills or even formal skill sets,” he said.
“Single purpose colleges like Nambucca Vocational College or partner training initiatives could be one of the solutions to connecting our youth into employment opportunities,” Pat Conaghan said.
