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REGIONAL EDUCATION, SKILLS AND JOBS PLAN

Victoria Barwon South West

2012 2014

JULY 2013

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 (www.deewr.gov.au/resj) or the MyRegion website (www.myregion.gov.au).

For more information about this plan, please contact:

The Office of Regional Education, Skills and Jobs

GPO Box 9880

Canberra ACT 2601

Email: [email protected]

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 3.0 Australia licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/).

The details of the relevant licence conditions (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/legalcode) are available on the Creative Commons website (accessible using the links provided) as is the full legal code for the CCBY 3.0 AU licence.

The document must be attributed as the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan 2012-14 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.

Contents

Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans4

Strategies4

Community engagement4

Implementation4

Executive summary5

Characteristics of the region8

Population8

Early childhood education and care8

School education10

Trade Training Centres11

Tertiary education and training11

Jobs, skills and workforce development13

Future trends and workforce demands in the Great South Coast region15

Other characteristics16

Advancing Country Towns Initiative16

Socio-Economic Disadvantage16

DisabilityCare Australia17

A Digital Economy17

Issues, goals and strategies18

Issue 1Low rates of regional participation in early childhood development, education, training and employment.19

Issue 2The region is facing significant industry restructure, a patchy economy and competition for skilled labour.21

Issue 3Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region.23

Issue 4Promote awareness of opportunities for industry and the community in a digital economy.25

Appendices26

Appendix A Stakeholders26

Appendix B Existing related plans and strategies27

Abbreviations31

Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan Barwon South West 8

www.deewr.gov.au/resj

Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan Barwon South West 7

www.deewr.gov.au/resj

Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans

The Australian Government announced the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans initiative in the 201112 Budget, as part of the Building Australias Future Workforce package. The initiative addresses four key areas of the Australian Governments 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 www.deewr.gov.au/resj.

Strategies

Each plan reflects community priorities and includes goals and local strategies to achieve the communitys 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 plans 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.

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 32,340 square kilometres and has a population of approximately 366,900. 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 800kilometres of coastline, representing 40 per cent of Victorias 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 ColacOtway.

The RESJ Coordinator is a member of the G21 Alliances 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.

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 regions employment demand

improve young peoples career aspirations, connection to industry/employment 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.

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;

Establishment of the Ag Reference Group to work on the Regional Food Plan

The Foundation Workforce Action Group developing and implementing workforce strategies in the region

The Education Attainment Strategy.

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 Coordinators 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 state/territory figures and quarterly for regions.

Population

According to the 2011 Census, the estimated residential population of the Barwon-Western District region in 2011 was 366,900 people representing, an increase of 0.5percent over the year to 2011. The distribution of residents in the region is highly concentrated in two main age cohorts of 0-24 and 35-59year olds. The increase in population was spread across most age cohorts and statistical local areas. Greater Geelong (up 17,010 people or 8.3%) had the regions highest population growth. The 25-29 year olds (up 3364 people or 16.3%) and 60-69 year olds (up 8771 people or 25.4%) 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 1.0percent of the population of Barwon South West identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander on Census night. For Victoria, this figure is 3.6percent.

2011 Census data also indicates that 14.6percent of the population in the region was born overseas, compared to the state average of 23.4percent. The movement of sea and tree changers 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 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 years 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 Childrens 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 regions early years 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 childrens 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, 23.6 per cent of children were vulnerable on one or more domain and 11.8 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 childrenbut 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 childrens learning and development.

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 childrens 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 childs 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 LLENs Annual Report 2011 states that the 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 problem.

The GSG LLEN Environmental Scan 2012 indicates that the Glenelg and Southern Grampians Shires 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 30percent.

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 40,899 adolescents aged 10 to 17 residing in the Barwon South West region, representing 11 per cent of the area's total population. The region provides educational services to 39,913 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 (93.9) performs well against Victoria (92.3) but Glenelg drops behind (86.3). 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.

In 2009, 76.6 per cent of young people aged 19 years in the Barwon South West region had attained Year12 or its equivalent. Based on DEECD 2010 On Track destination data, 13.5 per cent of early school leavers in the region were looking for work six months later. This was lower than the percentage across Victoria (16.6%).

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 $2.5 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 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 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 cluster TTCs and two single TTCs 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 TTCs 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 (15years and over) with a post-school qualification is 42.6percent. This is lower than Victorias figure of 45.2percent.

Deakin University offer courses in a broad range of disciplines through their Geelong and Warrnambool campuses. The Deakin at your Doorstep 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) University's Regional and Rural Futures Group is located at Hamilton in the Southern Grampians Shire and aligned tothe 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.

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 Colleges 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 Educations 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 III/IV level and the bachelor degree level across the Barwon South West region. In 2009, 45,000 people across the Barwon South West region engaged in some form of vocational education and training program. Of these, 15percent of enrolments were with Adult Community Education, 17percent with a private RTO and the remaining 68percent 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.

Jobs, skills and workforce development

In September 2012, there were 205,604 people in the Barwon South West labour force. At the same time, the unemployment rate was 5.4percent, the same as Australia as a whole and slightly lower than Victoria (5.6%). Unemployment rates across the region vary from 2.4percent in Queenscliffe, to 6.2percent 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)

5.0

5.5

Corangamite (S)

3.5

3.2

Glenelg (S)

6.4

5.9

Greater Geelong (C)

6.0

6.2

Moyne (S)

3.2

3.1

Queenscliffe (B)

2.6

2.4

Southern Grampians (S)

4.5

4.6

Surf Coast (S)

3.4

3.5

Warrnambool (C)

5.3

5.2

Unincorporated Vic

4.6

4.9

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 9.5percent in September 2012, over double the unemployment rate in South Barwon-Inner (4.0% for the same time period). Similarly, the impact of a downturn in the Glenelg Portland economy can be seen through its unemployment rate of 6.6percent while the LGA of Glenelg is 5.9percent.

According to the 2011 Census, healthcare and social assistance was the largest employing industry in the region, accounting for 13.2percent of total employment. Retail trade (11.8%), manufacturing (10.7%) and construction (9.2%) 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 22.10%), professional services (up 4400 workers or 55.8%) and financial services (up 3900 workers or 113.5%), while agriculture experienced the largest job losses (down 1400 workers or 13.3%).

The employment by occupation structure of Barwon-Western District reflected the regions industry composition, with the highest proportion of residents in the region working as professionals (19.6%) and technicians and trades workers (14.2%). In the year to November 2012, occupations with the largest job gains were professionals (up 9200 workers or 28.6%) and sales workers (up 6300 workers 36.7%) while labourers (down 6200 workers or 21.4%) recorded the largest loss.

There were 34,204 businesses based in Barwon-Western District in 2011 (6.5% of the Victorian total). Most of the businesses based in the region were in the agriculture (7430 businesses or 21.7%) and construction (6090 businesses or 17.8%) 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 20percent of Australias forestry plantations. Monash Centre of Policy Studies (CoPS) employment forecasts June 2012 indicated that the Barwon South West region employed a total of 14,600 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 2.1 billion litres of milk, which is nearly one quarter of Australias total milk production and, together with processors and service providers, generates a third ($3.6 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 Australias largest dairy production region providing approximately 25percent 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 250,000 homes. The region is home to a large number of wind turbines, with more under planning/construction. 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.

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 regions 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 $14.1 billion; manufacturing is the dominant sector, with an output of $4.6 billion.

Other characteristicsAdvancing 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 10percent 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

14,928

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.

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 and/or 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 Victorias 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.

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 communitys 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.

The four key themes of the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plans initiative are:

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.

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.

Theme(s): 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 Heywood/Colac 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 opportunities/programs.

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), TAFEs and other agencies to investigate options for the development of training and employment to support economic growth and to promote a learning culture 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 Deakin at your Doorstep 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 and/or professional development opportunity.

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.

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

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

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

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.


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, establish/maintain 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 real jobs 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 market/industry data and government policy and processes to develop sustainable models that respond to opportunities in the Australian Governments 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.

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 employers 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 and/or 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 RDA/RDV 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.

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


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


Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers




Schools and Trade Training Centres/Boards

TAFEs

Universities

Accelerated Apprenticeship Program

Apprenticeship mentoring program

Australian Apprenticeships Access Program

Department of Immigration and Citizenships Skills Select On Line Service

DES

Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support Program

Education Investment Fund

Investing in Skills and Experience: skills recognition

JSA


Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) formerly Language, Literacy and Numeracy program

Support for Adult Australian Apprentices

Tools for your Trade

Trade Training Centres in Schools

Issue 3 Low rates of participation in VET and Higher Education in the region.

Goals:Improve career aspirations, connection to industry/employment 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.

Theme(s): 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.

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 jobs 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.

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


JSA providers




School Business Community Partnership Brokers

South West TAFE

Toward Liveable Communities Groups

Trade Training Centres

Workforce Action Group Great South Coast

Apprenticeships Mentoring Program

Australian Accelerated Apprenticeships

Australian Apprenticeship Programs


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

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.


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, University/TAFE, RTOs business), support the development of a digital/broadband 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:

disseminating information through various industry groups (e.g. through business networks, and pillar groups);

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 Careers/Jobs App that supports local job communities.

ACFE Learn Local

Deakin University

Department of Broadband Communication and the Digital Economy

Department of Human Services (Centrelink)


G21

GSC Group

Horizon21

Industry and business networks

Job Services Australia (JSA) providers




NBN Contractor

Regional Development Australia Committee Barwon South West


RMIT University

Schools

TAFEs


Indigenous Employment Program

National Broadband Network Enabled Skills Services Program

National Resources Sector Workforce Strategy


Productive Ageing through Community Education (PAtCE)

RDA Fund

Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) (formerly Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program)

VET National Support Program

AppendicesAppendix A Stakeholders

Below is a list of organisations consulted during the development of this RESJ Plan, listed by sector.

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 Groups/Networks.

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.

Appendix B Existing related plans and strategies

This section includes some of the related strategic plans in the region which have:

influenced the direction of this RESJ Plan

have complementary goals and strategies and/or

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 used/linked/expanded

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 regions economic success.

This RESJ Plans 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.

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 Plans 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 Portlands 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 Plans 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.

Driving Down The Track 2014

An Action Plan to grow the dairy industry in south west Victoria and increase milk production to 3billion 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) 20112014

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 20112018

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.


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 Plans goals to support school transition and access to workplace learning strategies, and to increase Certificate III and higher education completions, will support these priorities.

Barwon Youth Strategic Plan 20122014

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 Plans 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 regional plans) 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 Victorias Early Childhood Workforce: Working to Give Children the Best Start in Life

This strategy responds to Victorias 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 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.

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

LGA

Local Government Area

LLEN

Local Learning and Employment Network

NAPLAN

National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy

NBN

National Broadband Network

NWDF


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

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