The Victorian government’s funding will help people enter the freight and logistics sector
A new Victorian government employment project will provide a direct pathway to critical roles in the freight and logistics sector, allowing more women to enter the industry.
Freight Victoria is fast-tracking 125 jobs in the sector in partnership with the Victorian Transport Association (VTA) to fill workforce shortages with freight companies over the next two years.
The announcement comes as the freight industry contributes $21 billion to the state’s economy each year.
The new Freight Industry Training for Jobseekers Project will train candidates to secure long-term job opportunities to ensure essential supplies get to where they need to be.
The program focuses specifically on women, who currently make up just 16 per cent of employees in the sector.
The $3 million employment project through Jobs Victoria will deliver freight industry-specific training programs in critical areas such as heavy vehicle driving, forklift driving and warehousing.
Upon completing at least two of these programs, job seekers will be job-ready for a career in the transport and logistics sector says the VTA, with it pledging to provide ongoing support to both employees and transport companies to ensure they are set up for long-term success.
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A specific focus will be on recruiting those whose employment was heavily affected by the pandemic, women (specifically those over 45 years old), people under 25, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people and people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Victoria’s freight industry employs more than 260,000 people and is home to the country’s biggest and busiest port at the Port of Melbourne to help keep goods on the move and link farmers and local producers with the rest of Australia.